A Safe Picnic with Your Dog

From LoveToKnow Dogs

Planning a safe picnic with your dog this summer with these tips from guest columnist Wendy Nan Rees.

Plan a safe picnic for you and your dog.

Summer Fun

Some of the best times I always have with my three boys is when we go on a picnic. Over the years, this has become a ritual of sorts for us. Whether we are back east with my family at the beach or just home here in Los Angeles at the park or the beach, we love to pack up for a day trip of hiking and adventuring. This includes playing in the river or the ocean, sitting under the umbrella having a nice relaxing lunch and then, you guessed it, a very long siesta. Sometimes we will even bring along a tent and stay the night, but I will save that tip for another day. Today’s tip is all about how to have a safe and fun picnic!

Before You Go

Pick a dog friendly place.
Map out where you are going, including where the closest emergency vet's office is and how to get there.
Find out if you have to have a permit to bring your dog.
Know the hours of operation for the place you want to go.
Find out if the place has problems with wild animals.

What to Bring

Food, water and bowls for Fido
Any medication Fido will need
Food and water utensils for yourself
Cleansing cloths for you and Fido

You will want to be able to wipe Fido dry and you will want to be able to dry yourself off also. When you can, it is always a good idea to use any and all recycled paper goods. For example, towels cut into rags work well as napkins or wipes.

If your dog is big enough, you can use a back pack for him. I use a back pack for my Lab, so he can carry his own first aid kit, water bottle and ball. Always carry one small first aid kit per dog you bring with you. Be sure to have a bee sting kit, and be sure to have a snake bite kit. I always have one bottle of alcohol and cotton balls, or I buy the pre-moistened alcohol pads so that if the dogs get overheated I can simply wet down only the pads of their paws and this will cool them down very fast.

Remember to bring a blanket big enough to have room for you and all your dogs. I also like to have a large umbrella, and I always like to have a pole I can use to safely tie up the boys under the shade while I am eating lunch so they will not run off. Sometimes I bring along my very large playpen since it is big enough to fit my lab and the two small boys. They love it because they can play in it and still be in the shade, and it is large enough to feed and water them in.

A Safe Picnic with Your Dog

Never tie up your dogs and leave them alone, and never leave them alone in a hot car. It is against the law here in California and most other places, and it is very dangerous! They can die and overheat! Please be careful and be kind. I only ever tie up my boys for about five minutes if I am right there setting up the food. They are under the umbrella with me and have their water right at their feet. They can talk with me right in front of them, and I never have them further away than that. That is why I have the play pen to keep them safe. Feel free to use one for your own dogs; they love it. It is safe and fun.

Picnicking with your dogs can be a wonderful bonding experience. It doesn’t take much effort on your part, but the rewards are wonderful. Have a fun, safe picnic.