Dog Owner Reality

Hey folks, this is Jasper (Police K-9 #7.

Yeah, I'm the dog that trained Bill all things he knows about dog training. You see, when Bill first got into the K-9 unit, the trainer asked everyone: who owned a dog, and for how long. Well, every prospective handler said they had a dog all their lives. The trainer then proceeded to say "OK, if you want to succeed in this program, then I advise you to forget everything you thought you knew about dogs and listen to me".

This was a hard dose of reality for the boys to take. Those who took his advise became great handlers. Those that didn't, well you can answer that. You see they all thought that since they had dogs, they were experts. Nothing could be further from the truth.

We, the canine furry creatures you will be listening to, can give you a perspective that you might not have considered when dealing with your dog.

We're not going to make this a long lesson so stay tuned for more to come.

Thanks for your time,

Jasper, Police K-9 Shepherd/Lab mix

Winter Hazards

Hello again folks, this is Jasper.

I have another precaution for you to keep in mind in cold locations.

After walking your dog in an area that has ice, check it's paws for any type of ice melting compound. This could be salt, calcium or any other commercial compound. Dog paws have pads (fingers). Between the pads is a piece of skin called a web. Foreign objects can get caught in this area. These substances taste salty, which could be very appealing. If they lick it, in most cases, the worst case scenario will be an upset stomach. The area could become irritated if left there, especially if it is wet.

Check their paws and wipe them with a damp paper towel.

If you have an icy condition, Jasper recommends that you use an alternative such as kitty litter (non-scented) or sand. These are non toxic. But, still clean there feet after returning from a walk.

Thanks again for taking care of my furry friend,

Jasper

Shephard/lab mix (Bills, first Police K-9)