danger

Another great reason to teach your dog to "Leave It" is when he gets into something he really shouldn't.  There are plenty of dangers to your dog just lying around waiting to be sniffed, licked or picked up.  Some of them are really very dangerous poisons to dogs, and it's a good idea for dog owners to make themselves familiar with the sorts of things dogs and puppies really shouldn't have anything to do with.

Tarkka enjoying chewing a (clean, safe) plastic plant pot.













1.   Antifreeze - just one lick can be fatal to a dog.  And, what's worse, dogs are attracted to the scent of it.

2.  Some human foods - as discussed in an earlier post, some common food is toxic to dogs.  Keep them away from grapes & raisins, chocolate, fruit & fuit seeds, all alcohol and xylitol, which is a sweetener found in many things like chewing gum, candy and fizzy drinks.  Even a small amount of this stuff can cause a potentially fatal drop in blood sugar or liver failure.

3.  Insecticides -  consider sprays, bait boxes, ant powder - all very poisonous to dogs, even in small amounts.  When applying spot-on flea treatment, be careful to apply it to the back of the dog's neck where he cannot lick it.

Viivi sharing a stick with her big bro Jaska.  I've also got stuff to say about dogs chewing sticks... but that's for another time!











4.  Rat/mouse poison - Awful stuff for rodents and dogs alike.  And remember that your dog can even be affected by the poison if he picks up or - ew - takes a bite out of a dead rat (there's that "Leave It" command coming in handy again.)

5.  Humans' drugs - lots of common medications are potentially lethal to dogs, so it's best to keep them away from all drugs.  In particular, they are in danger from NSAIDs like ibruprofen, other painkillers like acetaminophen, antidepressants like Prozac and amphetimines like those used to treat ADD/ADHD.  Even veterinary pain medication can be fatal if ingested in large amounts.  Keep them all well out of reach.

6.  Household cleaners - bleach is the obvious one, but also keep all the sprays and polishes away where they cannot be accessed by a nosey or bored canine.  Especially if they have a plastic nozzle.  Especially if your pooch is one of the many who has a penchant for chewing plastic (see Tarkka above).

7.  Many, many common house & garden plants, and other garden dwellers like fertilizer and cocoa shell mulch.  Have a look here on the Dogs Trust site for a list of plants that are poisonous to dogs.