46 – The Start of Fall
Well, today is August 30, a day that brings a sigh of relief to many people. Though not officially recognized as such, tomorrow will be seen by many as the day that marks the end of summer. The heat still won’t break for a while and the calendar won’t show Fall’s official start until Sept. 22nd, but the mental relief has begun.
Fall brings some great events for those in the Upper Cumberland area to enjoy. Cookeville has scheduled Fall Fun Fest for Sept. 11 and 12 (www.fallfunfest.com). Barbecue cook-offs, a variety of bands, and crafts provide a memorable experience. While this is a great start to Fall for humans, it is a “must miss” for your four-legged companion. The crowds, the lack of appropriate doggie bathroom space, the fear some people have of dogs – all contribute to making this event a nightmare when dogs are included and the organizers respectfully request you leave your canine friend home.
Lest you brand us curmudgeons who don’t want you and Rover to have fun, let me explain why leaving him at home is the kindest thing you can do. It all really boils down to safety issues. As much as we love our dogs, they do present some behaviors that can be problematic at the Fest. Let’s start with the food. I get hungry just writing this as I think of the funnel cakes, the veggies, and, most of all, the ribs. We attempt to get all of these luscious things stuffed into our mouths, but there is always the “oops!” moment when the food misses the mouth and hits the ground. Cooked rib bones are dangerous for dogs. He’s a lot closer to the ground than you and can spot these errant ribs in a split second. When he eats them, they can splinter, causing perforations in his stomach or intestinal lining or they can get caught in his throat. If he survives, the operation to repair this can cost thousands. Probably not your first choice for spending all that extra cash you have sitting around. Likewise, onions are poisonous to dogs and it’s best he not have access to those which have fallen on the ground. Then there are the dogs whose manners need some refinement, who will not hesitate to take a bit of food from someone’s hand without it being offered, especially from a child who is holding the food right at mouth level for a dog.
Have you heard the great bands at the Fall Fun Fest? Well, maybe a better question is: Have you been able to speak at and listen to normal levels of conversation after listening to the bands at the Fest? No doubt, the decibels of the music really help you get into the feeling of the festivities, but what about poor Spike? A dog’s hearing is 16 times greater than ours. If you have any doubts, try opening the potato chip bag in the kitchen while Spike is on the front porch. He can hear the bag rustling and he’ll let you know it! Since his hearing is that sensitive, can you imagine what the band that is deafening you must be doing to his ultra sensitive hearing? Many dogs hate the sound of thunder and fireworks and there is no reason why he will enjoy the blast from the band any more. Dogs really prefer classical music anyway (Animal Welfare, Volume 11, Number 4, November 2002 , pp. 385-393(9)).
Still not convinced? Well, consider that dogs who become fearful are often biters. Almost everyone is familiar with the concept of “fight or flight.” When the dog is on the end of the leash, the option of flight is removed, leaving only fight. Fight, for a dog, means whipping out the tools she has for the job – that set of razor sharp knives in her mouth. Let me assure you that no matter how sweet Misty is 99.9% of the time, if the circumstances are right, she will bite. She may bite another dog. That will get you a nice veterinary bill for the other dog and also one for your dog if the other dog decides to fight, too. If a person gets bitten, more of that spare cash will be gone. Dog bite cases cost an average of $24,511 in 2007 and rise about 10% each year. If it is a child who is bitten, chances are it will be a bite to the face. Have you checked the most recent pricing for plastic surgery? Of course, that also means your dog will spend time in lockup and could quite possibly end up euthanized. Really, does this sound good for your best four-legged friend?
Please do everyone a favor and leave your buddy at home during Fall Fun Fest. Leave him with a frozen stuffed Kong and some nice classical music playing. Sure, he may miss you for a while, but think how happy he’ll be when you walk through the door. Bark in the Park and Walk for the Animals are just around the corner – October 10! Now those festivals are ones BOTH of you can enjoy!
Jan Casey owns Smiles and Wags and specializes in reward-based training and behavior consultations. You can reach her at 931-510-0119 or jan@smilesandwags.com.