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How to Keep Your House from Smelling Like Dog

The other night, Violet told her first joke.

We talked to her about smelling things, as one does to a two-year old in spring, and John asked her, “What does Cooper smell like?”

She grinned.

“Cat poop!”

And then she laughed maniacally.

While I appreciate her developing sense of humor, I can assure you: Cooper does not smell like cat poop. In fact, we work to make sure our house doesn’t smell like animals at all, and that includes the litter boxes!

Baby jokes aside, no one wants to live in a house that smells like wet dog or cat or litter box or pet accident. Luckily, it’s not hard to keep your home odor-free.

In this post, I’m breaking down the basics on how to keep your house from smelling like dog AND how to eliminate pet odors as you go. Because they will happen. It’s part of the charm of our pets. 😉 Finally, I want to note that I’m focused on dog odors here. If anyone’s interested in cat odors or how we handle the litter boxes, let me know in the comments below!

In this post, we cover 7 tips on wow to keep your house from smelling like dog! #springcleaning #dogmomhacks

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How to Keep Your House from Smelling Like Dog

  1. Fresh air: This is first because I can’t overstate its importance. For one thing, if you live in a new or a new-ish house, they’re built so well as to be virtually air-tight. That’s great for saving energy but not so great for letting out stink and letting in fresh air. So, open a window whenever you can! Our house, btw, is super leaky and does not fall into that air-tight category. We still have a lot of work to do to fix those problems, but I still make a point to crack or open a window when I’m cleaning or when I start to smell a smell. If you do nothing else on this list, open a window. It’ll make a huge difference.
  2. Filter: Keep your air as clean as possible with HEPA filters. HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air. It basically works by forcing air through super-fine mesh filters to trap tiny gunk like dander… and pollen, dust mites, smoke particles. So, make sure you buy HEPA filters for your furnace (we buy this kind). If possible, get a HEPA filter for your vacuum, too. Some vacuums allow you to swap filters, but if not, and if you’re in the market for a new vacuum, here’s my quick thought on that: Cheap is expensive in the long run. We’ve gone through more vacuums than I can remember. They’ve all burnt out, except for our Dyson Animal. (It’s like this one, but they actually don’t make our exact one anymore… ours pre-dated the roller ball thing.) We got in 2005, and it’s outlasted about half a dozen others. Expensive up front, yes, but the cost-per-year is totally reasonable. And it works super well for pet dander.
  3. Easy-to-clean pet products: So many pet products now come with some kind of odor-resistant technology built in. The cat bed we featured in our 2018 holiday gift guide, for instance, has probiotic technology baked in to prevent odors. At the very least-though, any bedding should have a removable, machine-washable cover like this bed Cooper uses. (BTW, we got this bed ages and ages ago as a press sample when I wrote for a pet magazine, and it still looks basically brand new… back to my point that cheap is expensive in the long run!) And then, of course, wash bed covers, towels, and soft toys on a weekly basis. I do a load of Cooper’s laundry–bed covers, stuffies, towels–along with Ripley’s mice because they all just get smelly with daily use. Definitely don’t run out to buy replacement products unless you are in need of something. I’m never one to recommend buying something for the sake of buying it. However, when you are in the market, look for pet products with anti-microbial odor-resistant technology or at least easy-to-clean features!
  4. Cover stuff: This sounds obvious, I guess, but someone recently mentioned the smell their couch picked up from their dog. “Do you have a quilt or something on your couch?” I asked. Nope. OK, here’s the thing: No one wants their furniture obscured by ugly sheets or drop cloths. However, your couch, unless it’s slipcovered, isn’t easily washed. So, get some blankets that fit your decor, things you actually like, and put them down on your sofa as a pretty throw. Encourage your pup to sleep there instead of on the cushions. Coop and the cats all prefer to be on a blanket, so we have one draped on the couch, the arm chair, and the chaise in our bedroom where Coop sleeps at night. All of those things can be picked up on Saturday morning and put through the washing machine. I also have a cargo liner (this one) for my car for the same reason.
  5. Baking soda and vinegar, your two new best friends: OK, not even kidding, but I buy these two ingredients in bulk. Your house will never smell like pet odors again if you keep baking soda and vinegar on hand! I can clean my entire house top to bottom with those two and save a ton of money, while being gentler on the planet. Plus, they’re both beasts at eliminating dog odors. I have manufactured-wood floors and scrub them with vinegar. The smell dissipates after a few minutes (less if you have the windows open) leaving behind a smell of… nothing. No smell. No pet odors, no chemical cleaning product odors, no nothing. Just air. As for baking soda, everyone already knows it absorbs odors from the air, but did you know you can use it on your dog like a dry shampoo? When you groom your pup (see tip 6 below), sprinkle some onto his fur to absorb gross smells, then brush out. OK, two more quick tips:
    • Vinegar tip: I know this tip won’t be for everyone, but I swear by it so have to share: Stop using fabric softener and dryer sheets (they’re a fire hazard, bad for the environment, filled with toxins, pick your reason why) and start adding vinegar to the fabric softener component of your washing machine. Pet odors will disappear. As will gym odors, baby odors, and front-loading washer odors.
    • Baking soda tip: If you have carpet or area rugs, get ready to take your dog on a super-long walk followed by a thorough outdoor groom! BUT! Before you go, sprinkle a thick coating of baking soda into your carpet. Work it in with a brush. Then, head out for the walk + groom. When you come back, vacuum it all up and breathe in the fresh, odor-free air. (Again, bonus if you can leave your windows open through this process.)
  6. Groom your dog: Confession: I’m not as consistent as I should be with this because Cooper hates it, and I feel bad making him so miserable. But giving your dog–breed dependent, of course–a thorough brushing outdoors can eliminate a ton of indoor odor. Then, a bath–breed dependent, too–gets out the rest of the reek. Bonus points: Follow the bath up with an ACV rinse to have a fresh, clean, happy pup!
  7. Clean accidents immediately: It might not always be possible, like if your pup pukes while you’re at work or something, but the quicker you catch an accident, the better you contain the smell. (Not to mention preventing stains.) Use enzymatic cleaners to prevent marking, of course, and spend some time getting to the root of the problem. Is your dog really, truly, fully house trained? Is there an underlying infection or belly problem? Unless you solve the problem that causes your dog to poop or pee in the house, you’ll never be fully odor-free… (That said, I totally get the occasional freak accident, puke, etc., but still. Figure out why your dog goes inside and work on that.)

No One Wants a Home That Smells Like Dog

Even if you’re a Crazy Dog Lady through and through, like I am, you still don’t want a stinky house. No one wants that. And the thing is, it doesn’t take much effort. The trick is being consistent and staying on top of it.

A final note on essential oils and pet care: I’m sure many of you are wondering about this piece. Lots and lots of people advise diffusing oils to eliminate odors. Many essential oils are safe for pets. Many aren’t. I’m not qualified to speak on this, not in the slightest. That said, we do have an oil diffuser, but I do not use it to eliminate pet odors. Period. Plus, all the oils we have–maybe six in total–have been thoroughly researched and shown to be safe to diffuse with both dogs and cats in the home. I wanted to address that up front and just caution you: You do you, but do it safely with lots of due diligence.

I’d love to hear from you: How do you keep your pet-loving home odor-free? What tips and tricks do you use to keep that wet dog smell or dander smell or whatever out of your home? 

Read more about pet-safe house cleaning:

Spring cleaning when you have a house full of animals

Sign up for the zero-waste pet seven-day email challenge to get a full guide to pet-safe cleaning

14 pet-safe plants that clean the air–and you can’t kill them

What Pet Adoption Memes Get Wrong

I’m not someone who’s easily offended. I’m a “live and let live” kind of gal, generally speaking, as long as you’re not hurting or bothering anyone (or yourself).

For ages, though, I found myself rolling my eyes over the same pet adoption memes again and again. But I never thought to comment on them.

Fast forward to this past week when I read a long, emotional post from a family in an adoption group I’m in talking about how one of their middle-school-aged children mentioned in a class project that he was adopted, and the other kids started saying things like: Do you think your real mom will ever come back to get you? At least you weren’t aborted! Are you afraid your adoptive parents will change their minds and give you back? and so on…

The parents’ request was simple: Please talk to your children about adoption so they don’t inadvertently crush my kid.

Juxtapose that with the pet adoption memes I kept seeing, and I finally realized there’s a teaching opportunity here!

What Pet Adoption Memes Get Wrong

No, I don’t harbor any delusions of changing the internet, but I also feel like when it comes to topics like adoption, there’s just not enough conversation out there. So, here’s an avenue to ask YOUR questions, add your voice, and share your ideas. I wanted to start the discussion with seemingly-harmless pet adoption memes.

There are two memes in particular I want to address: the “you’re not my real mom” meme and the “adopt love” meme.

Real Moms

This one, you guys:

What Pet Adoption memes get WRONG

It’s everywhere with tons of different breeds.

Or there’s this version:

What pet adoption memes get wrong about moms

Everywhere.

Here’s the thing: The amazing woman who gave birth to Violet and I are BOTH her real moms. End of story. Pet adoption memes somehow imply that either the birth mom (or some prefer “first mom” or “natural mom” but it’s up to her how she wants to identify) or the adoptive mom are less “real” than the other. I can assure you, we are both real women who both have important roles in Violet’s life. Sure, it seems funny because they’re animals so obviously we’re not the mom, though I argue that many, many, many pet people do consider themselves their pet’s parent, and that’s a no-less-real role.

Using these supposedly funny pet adoption memes about “real” moms belittles and judges both women who are moms to an adoptee. It seems silly because it’s pets, but the larger message spreads the hurtful ideas that poor kiddo had to face in his middle school classroom.

Also, a small quibble with that first version: In this day and age, adoptees know they’re adopted. It should be a part of their life story because, well, it’s a part of their life. A big part. The whole “OMG?!?!?” trope is played out.

Love for Sale

This one:

 

 

Um. OK.

I get the idea they’re trying to share, that adopting a shelter animal brings love. However, these memes perpetuate a dangerous myth for shelter animals because it implies that as soon as you bring your adopted pet home, he or she will love you to pieces. Life will be great. You’ve adopted love, after all!

I can tell you: Out of the three dogs we’ve adopted, that’s only been true for one of them. For the fosters and cats? None.

It also places MASSIVE amounts of pressure on adoptive families who adopt older kids, kids who have been through the wringer of the foster system, kids from overseas… it says: Hey! Adopt and get love! When the reality is that it takes hard, long, dedicated work to build trust and build a bond that eventually leads to love.

Plus, another small quibble: Is there an unstated implication that if you purchase a pet from a breeder, you’re not getting love?

Ultimately

The heart is in the right place. I get that with pets the human emotion isn’t a part of the equation, so the memes seem funny. I hope to share, though, the greater implications behind these “jokes” and what it might look like to the humans in the adoption triad: the birth mom, the adoptive mom (or dad), and the adoptee.

My feathers get ruffled when I see adopted children getting picked on simply because they’re adopted. I feel like pet adoption memes perpetuate ideas about adoption that just aren’t true. And I personally think adopted children are doubly lucky because they have a birth family and an adoptive family, multiplying the love in their life and in the world.

I do know that lots and lots of people get THEIR feathers ruffled when kids are compared to pets, but… let’s be honest here. There are a lot of similarities. So, it’s my hope with this post to open a conversation about adoption–whether you’re coming at it from the pet side, the human side, or the enjoys-memes side.

What do you think? I’d love to know in the comments your impression of these pet adoption memes and what questions you have about adoption from any angle! This is a safe space for any question that might comes up. I think we learn best when we share our own experiences, so I’d LOVE to know your take in the comments below!

What’s the real cost of owning a dog? Tips to budget for pet care (including a FREE pet care budget tool)

In the summer of 2012, John walked Cooper through our southern Indiana neighborhood.

Suddenly, Cooper yanked the leash and dove into a storm drain and came up with… a one dollar bill.

He’s our highest grossing dog to date.

Of course, if we look at his net… actually, I guess he’d still be in the best shape because he’s the only one who ever produced any money, that single dollar! 🙂

What's the real cost of owning a dog_ Tips to budget for pet care (including a FREE pet care budget tool)

OhMyDogBlog.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. 

In all seriousness, dogs are expensive.

I find myself in conversations with people about all sorts of pet-related topics and cost often comes up in generic terms, and when I look online I see the same generalities around concrete topics. I’m totally guilty of this, too. We say things like: this dog food is inexpensive or this veterinary practice offers lower-cost services or this treat is too expensive or whatever, but inexpensive/expensive/low-cost/whatever to whom? Talking about money feels weird, I know, but when we speak in generalities, it doesn’t help anyone.

But then…

I started to google for actually helpful info for when people ask questions about the costs of dog food or veterinary care or whatever, just to have on hand.

Lordt.

There is so much bad information out there. On the INTERNET. Can you believe it?!?

In my head, before I started researching this, I thought I’d pull the numbers from reliable sources, average them together, then make a helpful chart. I definitely did not anticipate the extreme variation in the data. For example, in a simple search on the average cost of dog food for a year, I found articles that suggested dog owners budget anywhere between $100 and $900 per year. Vet visits were the same: Estimates varied from $25 to $125 for an office visit.

Imagine if you never owned a dog before! How confusing would that be?!?

Plus, a lot of super important things were left off of pretty much all the lists while unnecessary items were factored in.

Here’s my big problem with all those charts and lists: They’re income exclusive.

They all indicate that pet ownership is only for those with fat wallets, and you guys know by now that I’m firm in my stance that pet ownership can be accessible to all. But if you’re someone who’s just starting out looking for a pet, all those charts might make you think you’ll never be able to afford it.

Yes, you have to know the realities of the costs associated with committing to a pet for life. I know that when we adopted Emmett, there’s no way we could’ve ticked all the financial boxes listed in those posts, nor could we have predicted the unexpected costs. I’ll get into this more in a minute, but… anyone who’s willing to sacrifice the time and money to bring a pet into their home should be able to find a way.

All this preamble is to say: I’m approaching this a little differently than those quick-glance charts. Stick with me because at the end I’d love to know what you think I missed OR what you’d add/correct.

The REAL Cost of Owning a Dog

The Basics

Food and treats: What to feed your dog is a highly contentious topic. Some people have chosen dog food as their hill to die on. I’m not one of them. Yes, you can feed your dog for $100 a year. No, it won’t be the best quality dog food, but you can always supplement with fresh veggies or protein. Yes, you can feed your dog for $1200 a year. Will it make you a better owner? Nope. Not one bit. Here’s how to figure out the cost for your dog’s food per month: Take your family’s budget and figure out what amount is set aside for your dog’s food each month. Then, go to a site like Dog Food Advisor and figure out the highest quality of food you can afford each month. Just like in people, generally speaking, the healthier the food, the healthier the dog; however, dog ownership should never be income-dependent, so figure out what you can afford and do your best.

Supplies: Every dog needs a leash and collar. You can find them for under ten bucks for nothing fancy (like this). Emmett had one green nylon buckle collar his entire life, so no need to spend big here unless you want to! You also need food and water dishes, and you can’t beat a simple stainless option like this for price or durability. Of course, you can get super fancy dishes, too, so it’s just down to your budget again. Splurge if you want to; scrimp if you need to! (Check out my tips below for some ideas on this…)

Veterinary Care: Every dog needs to go to the vet at least once a year. That routine vet visit cost varies widely by type of facility and geographic location, not to mention the services your dog needs. Right now, at least according to PetMD, the average cost of an office visit is $50. Remember, that’s the office visit. That’s what they charge you to walk in the door. If you need tests, vaccines, or services like X-rays or dental work, it’ll be more. Just for comparison: Cooper’s annual visit last fall, which included a refill of his allergy med and a box of flea/tick preventative, cost $371. So, when you see people say “$50” know that you’ll never actually pay that! However, there are tons of options when it comes to veterinary care. For instance, google for “low cost vaccine clinic near me.” You might be pleasantly surprised to discover you can get your pet’s shots done for a fraction of the cost at a nearby clinic. Same goes for spay/neuter if you didn’t get your pet from a rescue (they usually take care of that prior to adoption–another reason to go the rescue route!). More tips on budgeting for veterinary care below!

License: Some cities or counties require dogs to be licensed. The fees vary, of course, but they’re pretty low: $10 to $30 or so per year with un-fixed animals always costing more. But don’t skimp here! If you don’t license your pet and get fined, you’ll pay way, way more!

The Practical

Toys: All dogs need toys. Toys provide stimulation–mental and physical–and enrichment. Some dogs live a happy life with a worn-out tennis ball while others get bored and need something new each week. Most estimates I found said to budget $35 a year on toys. I wanna know what kind of dog can stay interested in $35’s worth of toys because it’s certainly not Cooper. In hindsight, that was Em. He needed a couple toys to carry around. Lucas could thrive on $0 worth of toys because all he needed was to find himself a good stick and he was a happy little clam. That said, this category is dog-dependent, but stretch your money! Don’t put out all your toys at once. Rotate! Buy a few toys your dog likes and switch them every week or so. It keeps them feeling new, fresh, and interesting, while prolonging the life of the toy. You can also DIY with stuff around your house (like our old-faithful “bug” or our plastic-free puzzle toy).

Beds and crates: I’ve spent a lot on dog beds and cat beds over the years, only to have most of them go unused… Beds and crates are lifestyle choices. If you want your dog to be crate-trained, you need to buy a crate. If you want your dog to sleep in bed with you, you might not need a bed. If you’re crafty, you can sew your own stuffable dog bed with fabric you have around the house–even old T-shirts. Otherwise, the best dog bed deal I’ve ever seen was at, of all places, Aldi! They had humongous bolster beds for around $20, though their stock changes so frequently you’d have to pounce on the deal when it comes back. Other options: Goodwill or Tuesday Morning. Again, though, this is a category where you can spend as much or as little as you need to.

Cleaning supplies: When you welcome a pet into your home, you’re going to need to clean stuff. They have accidents. They puke. They shed. If you’re on a tight budget, this is an awesome place to save. Commercial cleaners are super expensive, and you can clean your entire house for a few cents per clean using vinegar and baking soda. Truly, it’s how I clean my entire house. (There’s this awesome cleaning blog with tons of free printable recipes, like this one for vinegar or I have free cleaning guide, which you get as part of the zero-waste pet 7-day email challenge.) The only cleaner I recommend you purchase is an enzymatic cleaner for accidents so that you don’t encourage more accidents by leaving some scent behind. Options range in price from $4 to $30. I suggest finding an affordable option that sells refill jugs like this or this–they’re much cheaper in the long term than individual spray bottles.

Training: So many charts say to budget $110 for a puppy class. OK… for one thing, at least where I live, puppy classes tend to cost more than that. For another, not everyone adopts a puppy. And, for one more, every dog is an individual. Your dog might need a lot more training than one puppy class. Plus, classes are great (with the right trainer, of course) to help a dog stay challenged and enriched his entire life while building your bond through the teamwork associated with learning together. All that said, training can be expensive. Group classes are always cheaper than individual, and some shelters offer free or reduced-cost training classes for pets adopted from them–still another reason to go the rescue route! Honestly? If you can’t afford training, you can DIY with videos on YouTube and books from the library. Focus on positive, science-based resources (Victoria Stilwell, Patricia McConnell, etc.) and then consider joining an organized pack walk for extra, usually free, enrichment.

Things That Happen

Replacing your chewed-up stuff: I’m only slightly joking. Depending on the dog, of course, and how well you can remember to pick up your shoes, you might get off with minimal costs here. That’s not been the case for us. For various reasons over the years, we’ve lost shoes and purses and an entire rug to chewing, we’ve replaced or repainted trim around doors, we’ve accepted that our coffee table and ottoman just have chunks missing, and we’ve tossed more than one chair with toothpick arms. And that’s among lots of other things I’m not remembering AND other things that weren’t chewed, like the set of blinds Lucas took down when he thought he heard something outside.

Emergencies: Is there a single pet anywhere who gets through life unscathed, free from medical emergency? In our experience, that’s unimaginable. We talked about that $50-per-visit fee with veterinary care. Well, if your little one gets injured or sick after hours, that fee jumps up big-time. And then, of course, there are the services involved with stitching a wound, inducing vomiting, administering IV meds, or whatever is required. It’s difficult to budget for medical emergencies because, obviously, you never know they’re going to happen!

Medical conditions or illness: Diabetes, cancer, arthritis, etc. etc. etc. Our dogs can suffer from many chronic conditions, just like we can over our lifetimes. These things add up, especially when it comes to maintenance medications. Just like with medical emergencies, it’s impossible to know what to expect with a new pet, but it’s so, so important to go into pet ownership knowing you might just end up treating a chronic condition and be prepared for that expense. How? I have some tips below…

What other categories or areas do YOU think someone needs to budget for when owning a pet? Did I miss anything? Hopefully I’ve covered the big ones, now onto some ideas on how to actually pay for all this…

Tips to Budget for Pet Care

I wove a handful of budgeting tips throughout the categories above, but here are a handful more that can add up to big savings:

Buy second-hand supplies. This one step alone can save thousands over the life of your pet. Check online resources like the Nextdoor app or craigslist.org. Visit thrift shops like Goodwill or Habitat for Humanity ReStore. You’ll be amazed at how many free or extremely cheap pet supplies you can get. And don’t focus only on pet-specific supplies; a heavy ceramic dish makes a great food bowl or a decorative floor pillow can serve as a pet bed. Just be sure to wash and sanitize anything you pick up used.

DIY. You can make just about anything your pet needs, from his daily meals (working with your vet, obvi) to his bed to his toys to his grooming supplies. If you’re inclined, you can find recipes or tutorials to make absolutely everything for a much, much lower cost.

As for the vet… First, as I mentioned above, find out if there’s a low-cost clinic near you and what services they provide. Then, call around to area vets and ask specific questions: What is your cost per visit? What’s included in that cost? How much does a standard service like a dental cost? Do they offer payment plans? Do they accept CareCredit if it comes down to that? Do they offer any discounts or promotions throughout the year (for example, $100 off a dental during Dental Health Month)? Compare the answers from at least three or four vets. One tip: If you live in a metropolitan area, consider vets outside the city because oftentimes care will less the further out you get from the city.

Track down savings. When you find a food that your dog thrives on and fits your family’s budget, sign up for their email list, like their Facebook page, and follow them on Instagram. Brands love to hand out coupons to loyal customers. Newt, for instance, eats Wellness cat food. Every month their email newsletter contains a coupon for $3 off their canned formula, which equates to a few free cans if I combine it with my store loyalty card. Target recently advertised buy-one-get-one-free for their store brand of dog toys, so I stocked up and stashed a few in a closet to rotate in throughout the year.

Be a squirrel. For areas where you can’t predict or skimp–think, emergency vet care or medications to treat an illness–be prepared. Squirrel away for those instances. I know that it’s much easier said than done. However, I have two money-saving tips that can work for literally any budget if you adhere to them. First, get a jar or a can or a canister. Stick it where you toss your keys and purse. Every week, gather up all your loose change and $1 bills and toss them in the jar. When the jar is full, take the change to a bank or a CoinStar and convert it to bills. Combine with the bills that were in there already and stick it in an envelope. Repeat. It sounds almost too simple to be effective, but you’ll find yourself with a couple hundred dollars a year with this method. The second tip is a little tougher to stick to but makes a huge impact: When you shop for pet supplies with coupons, if you shop at a big retailer, they will ask if you want cash back. Say yes! Get the lowest amount (usually $10), take it home, and stick it in an envelope. Here’s the thing: If you’re using coupons, you’re not technically “saving” money. You’re simply not spending it. So, save it for real with this method! You don’t need to get cash back every time you shop–though you could and that emergency fund would build up faster–but when you use coupons, this method essentially “banks” the money you didn’t spend. Of course, be sure you don’t touch that cash in either envelope until you really, truly need it to take care of your pet!

The bottom line: Pets can be expensive. However, if you focus only on those charts and graphs found online, pet ownership feels income exclusive. That doesn’t have to be the case! When you adopt a pet, you adopt that pet for life. With a little planning and some savvy saving, pet ownership can be accessible and affordable! 

Need help calculating how to budget for pet care in your family?

Check out this FREE pet care cost calculator. Input your family’s numbers and spend/save accordingly!

Read more:

Should pet adoptions be free?

How not to adopt a pet: Removing barriers to pet adoption

Dog Bite Prevention: Safety First for Kids + Pets

Safety first.

That phrase permeates everything, doesn’t it?

Whether it’s the painstaking child-proofing of your home, or the rules you teach and enforce (Look both ways! Wash your hands! Hold mommy’s hand!) it’s always safety first.

Yet, somehow, we fall flat when we’re at home with our kids and pets.

Dog Bite Prevention_ Safety First for Kids + Pets

We take it for granted–She’s such a good dog! They get along so well!–and we let our guard down just a smidge.

According to SafetyAroundDogs.org: “The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates half of all children 12 years-of-age and under have been bitten by a dog. In many cases, teasing or an unintentional provocation, such as approaching a dog while it’s eating or sleeping, can lead to a dog bite or even worse, an attack. The vast majority of dog bites are from a dog that the child is acquainted with – his or her own, a neighbor’s, or a friend’s dog.”

The good news: Dog bites are almost entirely preventable.

But it’s on YOU, parents. Not your kids and certainly not your dog.

Any dog can bite. Big or small. Fluffy or sleek. Known or or unknown. Kids need to understand that any dog, including their own, can bite.

Even if your dog is well socialized and even if your kid knows the safety rules, you’re still the one in charge, so here are a few tips to make dog-bite prevention even easier:

Kids and Pets Should Never Be Alone Together

One of the most common factors in a dog bite? An unsupervised child. If your kiddo is under 12, never leave your kid and dog alone together unsupervised. Some easy solutions: Set up baby gates in various places around the house that make it easy to separate kids from pets. Give your dog a “safety space” in a crate or gated off in a separate room where your children aren’t allowed to approach. Make the space fun for your pup with food puzzles or toys. Remove your dog to that safe space if you’re ever unable to supervise your kids’ interactions with your dog.

Know Your Dog’s Limits

If your dog is sick or tired or sore, keep your kids away. End of story. Yes, your dog is a member of your family, but it’s better that she feel sad being away from you while recovering than have your kid fall on her and force a negative response. Dogs don’t want to bite. Don’t put your dog is a position where she feels she has to.

Teach Dog-Friendly Rules to Your Kids

Other than the rules above, there are some basics that every kid needs to know. Here are three to start with:

  • Never, ever poke fingers through a gate or fence to pet a dog, even if it’s a dog you know.
  • Kids should know not to approach a dog who’s eating, drinking, sleeping, barking, growling, or playing with a toy.
  • If your dog is trying to find a quiet place to go or looks like she’s trying to escape your kiddo, they need to know not to pursue, chase, or follow!

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) produced a series of funny-but-helpful educational videos that are worth watching with your kids, too.

Here’s the full playlist, and one of my faves is below:

As the parent, you need to have a basic understand of your dog’s body language, too, because the thing is… your dog can’t be held responsible for your kid’s actions. Or your neighbor’s kid’s actions. Check out this handy and adorable poster (credit ©2011 Lili Chin):

Boogie: DOGGIE LANGUAGE ©2011 Lili Chin

BTW, check out her site for a ton of awesome (and free!) posters that can be printed and hung on your fridge!

Some Final Dog-Bite Prevention Tips

When adopting a new pet, visit a well-run shelter with involved staff who can tell you all about a dog’s personality. Be sure to share your kid’s personality, too, so they can help you find a dog who’s the right fit.

Take your dog to training classes that use positive, humane, science-based methods.

In addition to training, socialize your pup to other dogs, kids, adults, and so on.

Spay or neuter your dog. Some evidence suggests “fixed” dogs bite less often.

If your dog indicates any aggression in any situation, schedule an appointment with your vet ASAP. Let her rule out underlying medical causes, then ask for a referral to a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist to work on any issues before they can become a bite.

Dog bites are preventable.

Supervise your kids.

We like to think our kids are wonderful little angels, but dog bites happen when kids–not dogs–aren’t behaving.

Never expect your dog to behave when your kid isn’t.

Separate them, yes, to protect your kid from a bite, but more so to protect your dog from being put in the situation where she feels compelled to bite.

Finally, a few resources for you to help further your education on preventing dog bites:

  • Stop the 77: 77 percent of dog bites come from the family’s dog or a friend’s dog, according to this resource. There are a ton of useful, accessible videos to watch with your kids.
  • Dog Safety for Kids: Be a tree: This is particularly important if your kiddo encounters a loose dog.
  • Kids and Dogs: How Kids Should and Should Not Interact With Dogs
  • Take a class together: Find a rewards-based training program near you that teaches your children how to interact safely with dogs.

Have you ever experienced a dog-bite situation with your kids or your pets? If so, how did you handle it? If you’re teaching your kids bite safety, what tools and resources do you recommend? Have you taken a class or read any good books to share with the community?

Dog Research Topics: “Vetting” science vs. opinion in the dog universe

I love Dog World, this space built on a shared love and compassion for our furry friends. The most important relationships in my life grew from this space, and I’ve learned to take better care of my pets along the way. Dog World (that should be a theme park, imo…) brings joy, laughter, tears, and connection.

One thing I don’t love?

There’s a lot of outdated, outmoded, and just plain dumb stuff that still circulates. Many pet professionals like dog trainers aren’t required to have any type of certification (though lots pursue it on their own). And, unfortunately, opinion rather than fact rules the day.

Dog Research Topics_ _Vetting_ science vs. opinion in the dog universe

All this sprang up for me recently when someone messaged me regarding a specific post, and she asked, “Where do you get your research?”

I love that question for two reasons: First, it shows a healthy dose of skepticism and a critical eye. I love following the trails of others’ research and vetting sources on my own, so I greatly appreciated that inquiry! Second, I thought I had done a decent job (at least in that post) linking to sources, so it was a strong call to action on my part to really emphasize the data when it’s a research-driven post.

Anyway, as I started to craft my reply to her, I realized: I should post this! We all love dogs, and I think we’re all rational, reasonable people who are open to well-researched new ideas. I think we can all agree we’re sick of blustery claims or emotional arguments that don’t hold water–in Dog World and, you know, Real World. So I wanted to share a few things with you and hopefully this gives you some awesome weekend reading, too!

Dog Research Topics and Where to Find Sources

Here’s a confession: I read a lot. I basically read all the time. I don’t like having social media on my phone (other than Instagram, of course), but I love having it to read articles, blogs, newspapers, and so on when I have pockets of time without my computer. I keep notes on what I read, so I’m constantly gathering ideas. But, I wanted to share two of my most favorite blogs for gathering dog research topics and ideas:

The Science Dog

A more recent discovery for me, this blog is written by Linda P. Case, an expert with the credentials to back her up. A lot of the topics center around the latest in canine nutrition. If you’re looking to binge-read a blog this weekend that focuses on how our dogs eat (and, let’s be honest, who isn’t?) this is for you. And, actually, in the past she didn’t write a ton: maybe a post every few months. However, there are already three for this year, so I’m excited to see where it goes in 2019! All that said, this is an awesome starting point for research-based information largely about canine nutrition. It’s also easy to read, turning complex data into engaging posts.

Dog Spies from Scientific American

OK, so I’m sure there’s an explanation, but there aren’t any new posts in about five months. However, the archives are so worth it. And I hope it’s not going away. I love, love this blog, one published by Scientific American. If you want to know how your dogs think–about everything from poop eating to self-recognition to the sad puppy-dog look, plus all sorts of other stuff like the science of animal shelters and even, sometimes about cat cognition–this is the site you need to read. It’s entertaining. It’s informative. It’s caused me, many times, to sit and stare at Cooper wishing even more than usual that I could get inside that head of his.

Google Scholar 

There are a ton more amazing blogs and channels that cover animal topics. Twitter is an awesome resource, as is Instagram. And, once I have some ideas, or–more often than not–I have some notes in a notebook somewhere that are little planted seeds waiting until something sparks a connection that I can turn into a post, I turn to Google Scholar. Also, I always do search the regular Google, too, because I love reading what others have to say about specific topics, especially blogs and newspapers.

Google Scholar just like regular Google, except that it only searches scholarly publications. So, for instance, recently I was hired to write a blog post for a client about the latest research on the relationship between your dog’s microbiome and his behavior (super interesting stuff!), so I went to Google Scholar and typed in “dog microbiome” as a starting point. The results are all peer-reviewed science vs. what you find on Facebook or on blogs that make claims based on “my dog.” In the end, there’s nothing wrong with that as long as you’re taking great care of your dog. I’m just someone who nearly-obsessively wants to find the actual science behind those claims.

What next?

When I used to teach college English, we talked about an “informed assessment,” that is coming to your own conclusion based on the research. That’s generally what my blog posts are: informed assessments.

I think, at the end of the day, the person messaged me originally because she disliked the claim I made in that post. And that’s fair. Everyone can dislike whatever they want, but whether or not the claim is true, well, it’s much harder to look at data, at published scientific research, and say, “Nah, I don’t think so,” than it is to disregard anecdotes.

There you have it: That’s a glimpse at how I find dog research topics and then how I research them. I have piles of notes and ideas that I’ll likely never get to, at least not in this forum, but I love the reading and the research, so that’s worth it to me, anyways!

I hope you enjoy those two blogs! Please let me know if you dig up anything fascinating, and if you have other favorite sources, please share those in the comments!