I need ideas/help... (please)

[TossBranAbi]

Ok, this may be in the wrong forum and if it is, please move it. I thought it would get the most attention here as the busiest part of the site.

I am making up some type of a handout to give out at school about dogs. I think he bulk of the handout is going to be on feeding good food. I also want to hit on some other points that not everyone knows. What I need from you guys is what did you learn that is important to you and your babies now.

I want to probably include the following: (plus any other ideas you guys have)

Good food
spaying and neutering (with statistics)
not giving rawhides
not wearing collars when not necessary

Please add to this list...

I need any ideas you may have and if you know of any good website to get some information from that I could use, please list that too. I am nothing more than a concerned pet lover/owner that wants to spread the word. I have learned so much from this place and want to pass on that information, I know what I know but people aren't going to believe me if I don't have anything to back me up. I am not asking you to do my research but with being a college student taking 17 credits this semester, any place you could direct me to get good reliable information could save me so much time.

I have already talked to my health professor who is also an animal lover as well and she is going to pass out the handouts to her students (over 400) and we are going to try to get it into the university's newspaper. We are going to work on getting people to make copies or to donate money to cover the cost of copies to help with that aspect.

I can use any and all ideas for this...do you have any?

 

[NuBoxer Fan]

I am curious about the not wearing collars when not necessary. What info do you have on that?

 

[BoxerMom999]

Hi,

I think a very important consideration is to let people know about puppy mills and responsible breeding.

There are many threads on this site. Try searching and I am sure that you will find helpful info.

 

[Pearlywhirly]

What you put in, you get out.

I think talking about how important it is to exercise them every day. So many people just head out to work in the morning and come home to something destroyed or the neighbors complaining about constant barking and don't realize that if they invested more time and exercised the dog then it wouldn't go stir crazy for lack of things to do. And no, leaving it in the back yard is not exercise, it has to be intentional and with the owner's participation.

Also in my job I see tons of obese pets. Not just overweight but obese, really scary. This goes along with the exercise thing too but so many people love their dogs with food and it's usually whatever they're getting at the drive through times two. People don't realize an obese dog can live up to two years LESS than a dog at an ideal weight. It makes me sad because they are in control of how much the dog eats and they look at me like the dog is helping itself.

 

[Pearlywhirly]

I am curious about the not wearing collars when not necessary. What info do you have on that?

When Pearl is in the house she does not wear her collar. If you have multiple dogs that like to wrestle a lot it can be dangerous if one gets their jaw caught in the other dog's collar. Also a dog should never wear a collar when it's crated as it could get caught and it chould choke.

 

[Flying Fur]

Sounds like a great plan! You should check out DogAge.com I get weekly emails from them with tips (such as warning signs for illness, gnawing problems, training etc. etc.), I'd forward you all the ones I've saved but we're not allowed to exchange emails :( Depending on when you're planning on sending out the handouts, but if it's not anytime soon you can sign up for the weekly emails

Maybe mention about breed rescues? How so many people don't do their research ahead of time and wind up getting a dog that is *so* ill suited to their needs and lifestyle (through NO fault of the dog).

Maybe provide websites to back up some of your information (especially the dog food).

 

[SandyHG55654]

What about the financial responsibility of owning a pet. Not getting one unless you can fix it when it gets badly hurt, not just opting for euthanasia or surrendering it when the cost is too high.

 

[agilityboxer]

-Multiple Female issue would be one of my top discussion points. I had no clue when I added my 2nd that it was even possible to have that many issues from to girls.
-Stats from local shelters. They are staggering! With the highest one in the Dallas area euthanizing over 200 pets per day...... This would go right along with neuter/spay your pet and BYB, and research the breed you are wanting before you go out and get one to make sure it is right for you.
-HW prevention- so easy yet so many don’t do it.
-ACE

 

[CherryPlum]

How about information on teaching children (& some adults too) why dogs bite & the proper way to approach a dog.

 

[TossBranAbi]

These are all great ideas. I meant to put in my first post about the proper breeding as well, just slipped my mind.

I kind of picked up that a couple of you think I need to learn about this stuff before I try to teach others. (I don't mean to sound harsh but can't think of another way to put it) I know what I am talking about, I would never pretend to know and tell others something I didn't know. I will be the first person who admits to not knowing something.

I know this stuff but am looking for websites to back me up to make it more believable for people who are skeptical. I am willing to put the work that it will take to do it right but I was just asking if anyone knew any good sites off the top of their head that would save me from sifting through all the garbage sites out there, which I will do if need be. I know there are plenty of good threads on here but I can't use the threads as back up of my word. This handout is not breed specific either like this site is. I love my boxers and would do something on just boxers if there were more in the area but I love all dogs too and I think this will open the eyes of some people. If all I do only makes one person realize, that is good enough, that is one less ignorant person who can make a better life for their pup.