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I can hardly believe the first day of winter is almost upon us! Where did the warm summer sunshine go?

Cold weather is just around the corner, and I must be honest: My dog loves winter and I do not. This means we must meet in the middle. Meeting in the middle will look different for many dogs and owners.

For me, it means I put on extra layers of clothes in the house, but I get to save on the heating bill! In the winter, my Alaskan Malamute, “Lake Monster,” might move off the cool tile floor and onto one of the seldom used dog beds around the house. If it snows in Oklahoma, he will surely be begging to do zoomies around the yard, and I will be digging out his snow booties and sled in preparation for snow play!

Winter Wear: For my dog owning friends with Chihuahuas, Italian Greyhounds, Chinese Cresteds, Xolo’s and other thin- or non-coated breeds, they surely will be cranking up the heat and putting polar fleece dog “jammies” on the whole crew.

Check out the AKC Online store for stylish breed specific winter wear to keep you warm: https://shop.akc.org/collections/gifts-for-dog-lovers-breed-embroidery-apparel

Stay Active: Keeping active during the winter months can be a challenge. Let’s all join AKC Fit Dog today to make sure we don’t add too many unwanted winter pounds. https://www.akc.org/sports/akc-family-dog-program/akc-fit-dog/

Make sure you and your dog(s) are visible on your walks with good reflective winter gear. I have an Ororo heated vest and love it because it makes those cold winter dog walks much warmer. Watch https://www.ororowear.com/  — word has it they are working on a heated dog vest.

Keep Training: Use your nose to sniff out what all the excitement is about when it comes to AKC Scent Work! Scent training can make those cold or chilly walks more interesting for both you and your dog(s). Fun fact, the moisture in snow just might make it a bit easier for your dog(s) to make a “find.”  https://www.akc.org/sports/akc-scent-work/

AKC Scent Work Logo_SM

Winter is also a great season to use the extra time inside to work on some fun AKC activities, like Trick Dog and Rally training! https://www.akc.org/sports/companion-dog-sports/

Use this winter to start a new activity with your four-legged friend(s). You can earn titles virtually in many sports!

Fire Prevention: All types of heat sources have a fire danger or burn risk for homes, kennels and/or dogs. These devices are even riskier for homes or kennels with multiple dogs. As a dog owning home, I believe the safety of my dog(s) and home depends on a pre-winter deep clean. Dust, dirt, dander and dog hair can all build up to be scary in out of sight places. I make sure to dust and/or vacuum all my corners, behind the furniture and under appliances.

I want to make sure I have gotten all the fine particles and stray hairs that may have been missed by vacuuming, sweeping or during dusting. Don’t laugh, but have you tried a leaf blower to get to some of those hard to reach and out of the way places? Secure your breakables, wear a dust mask, and open a door.  You will be surprised what you have missed. Don’t forget to clean or change air filters, blowers and vents. Spiderwebs and “dog fur dust bunnies” are a major contributor to home and kennel fires during the winter. Heaters, motors and appliances can overheat or short out when “dog fur dust bunnies” get sucked into the wrong places.

Don’t forget to put us a secure barrier between your dog and your heat source. Check out the photograph with this article that shows a great example of how to keep your pets safe with a sturdy prefab fence around stoves and other heaters.

Beware of Scammers: With winter comes the holiday season. Criminals are always looking for an easy way to take advantage of people and put ill-gained profits into their own pockets. As many of you know, dog owners and breeders have been targeted by unscrupulous members of society and unfortunately, I don’t expect this will change in the future. Dog breeders have been swindled out of puppies with fraudulent checks, counterfeit money and fake cashier’s checks.

Security Measures: In the news, we sadly see that some dog owners and dog breeders have been the victims of violent crimes. It is a well-known fact that puppy sales increase during the holiday season. Here are some ways that dog breeders can keep themselves, families and dogs safe.

  1. Cameras: Video cameras, video cameras and more video cameras that backup to the internet or cloud storage are the best safety net you can have. Cameras can also be used to help you watch your dog’s behavior and to keep an eye on any pending litters of puppies.
  2. Questionnaires: A puppy buyer questionnaire is not just to find out if your puppy is the right fit for their new family; it may help you find out if you are talking to a real person, a scammer, or a person with ill intentions.
  3. Check location: Google Maps https://www.google.com/maps and similar websites can help you get a virtual feeling of your puppy customer. If something feels off, trust your gut!
  4. Video: FaceTime or another video chat platform can help share how cute your puppies are with potential customers, but it can also help you see the type of environment your puppies will be going to as well as give you a “face” of whom you are talking with.
  5. Safety Net: Please make sure you have a “safety net” in place. This can be a friend or family member that knows when you are going to have puppy customers picking up a puppy. Make sure to keep a log of the people you talk to and share this log with your network and in your cloud storage. Always try to make sure you have someone else on the property when puppy customer meets you.
  6. Identification: If possible, get a photo identification of the person or people coming to get their new family member. Make sure you have a “safe word” and that your safety net knows what steps they should immediately take if you share your safe word.
  7. Look-loos: Be wary of “look-loos.” If someone wants to come and look and does not sound serious or the hair on the back of your neck is giving you a tingle, you have the right to refuse. Do not share your information.
  8. Payments: Do your homework on the types of payments that you should accept. Know which payment methods are the most secure and which ones are reversible. Know how to spot and/or verify fake currency, checks or money orders, if you take these types of payment.
  9. Dog ID: Make sure your dogs and puppies are microchipped with AKC Reunite. Do not be afraid to tell potential customers and/or post it on your website that your dogs are microchipped. https://www.akcreunite.org/

 

I hope these tips are helpful and wish Happy Holidays to All and Best Wishes for a Wonderful New Year!

Stacy Mason is a Senior Breeder Field Representative for the American Kennel Club.