"Prevention is Treatment" in dog training .. and careful management is a great place to start.

On the street and in your neighborhood

• While walking your dog on the street, be respectful of other pedestrians and move AWAY from them allowing them ample room to maneuver past you.
• Give the elderly, children and strollers extra room and do not allow your dog to sniff them or go up to them without permission from that person or parent.
• Do not allow your dog to urinate on public buildings, instead walk your dog into the street and teach him to "break" behind parked cars.
• Never travel or walk your dog without bringing clean up poop bags.
• Do not use retractable leashes in tight spaces among other pedestrians and dogs, instead maintain close management, with your dog under your supervision and direction at all times.
• Never allow your dog to visit other dogs on the street without permission from the other person, instead teach your dog to walk PAST other dogs without issue.
• Do not allow your dog to bark excessively at the neighbors while they are in their yards.
• Do not allow your dog to relieve himself on other peoples lawns
• Do not jog or take your dog along with your bicycle unless he is as "fit" as you are. They cannot tell you that they need to rest or slow down!
• Always carry poop bags and clean up on walks.
• Do not allow your dog to walk up and visit with people unless invited to do so.

When visitors come to your home

• Determine if the visitor has come for business or pleasure and whether they are coming to visit YOU or your DOG!
• If they are not there to visit your dog, put your dog AWAY!
• You can place your dog on a leash for easier management as people come into your house and give everyone time to settle down.
• You can also leave your dog in a basement, a bedroom or out in the yard until company gets settled in, then slowly introduce your dog or dogs, one at a time, on a leash if necessary, to protect visitors from overzealous greetings
• All the usual training of dogs NOT to jump or invade a visitor's space should be in place as well.

At a street fair

• YOU love street fairs and parades, but do you know how your dog feels about them?
• How old is your dog? Perhaps he's too young or too old to last for hours.
• Perhaps you have a dog that will have difficulty when surrounded by strangers or other dogs.
• Perhaps you have a dog that is just learning about life and will be frightened and become permanently impacted because something went wrong that one day.
• Think about the weather. Many street fairs are held in the fall but those that are held in hot weather can be dangerous to your dog.
• Look for opportunities to be in the shade, allowing your dog to rest and cool down.
• Do not drag your dog around for hours without frequent breaks for water and shade.
• Check the walking service, FEEL it.. if it's blacktop, have you stopped to consider that his feet are burning?
• Dogs do overheat easily and get sunburned especially on their noses.
• Do you have water and a bowl with you?
• Remember to bring poop bags and clean up products. Remember too that dogs are not welcome at all street fairs and events and have a backup plan in the event that the dog is not comfortable or allowed to be there and you need to make a change. Leaving him to bark or overheat in a car would not be the solution.

In the car or truck

• Never leave your dog in a car or truck, unattended, unless you plan on checking on him frequently.
• Dogs should travel in secure travel crates or use car seats and travel harnesses that secure the dog to the back seat.
• Dogs should never jump around the car while you drive, but instead remain lying down in the foot well of the front or back seat, or quietly on the back seat.
• NEVER allow your dog to travel in your lap while you drive !
• Do not allow your dog to hang his head out the window in case a flying pebble or debris hits him in the eye or face
• Create a secure tie down for your dog if he MUST travel in the bed of your pickup.
• Dogs can become overheated very quickly in a car, even with windows cracked open, and can die !
• Keep a bag with extra leash, collar, water, bowl, cleanup stuff and emergency needs.
• Make sure your dog travels while wearing an ID collar with your contact information on it. ( I refer to mine as "car collars" and simply write my cell number with black marker on a light colored collar, in case they get lost from the car during an accident or a door opening)
• Dogs can become territorial while in a car and act very aggressively towards those who pass by. Consult a professional to help with this.
• Some people find it fun to torment an aggressive dog thinking that they are safe to taunt them while behind a closed window, this will lead to an accident or increase this undesirable behavior.
• I've returned to my car to find someone had tossed chocolate candy wrappers onto my front seat while I left my window partially open and my small dog alone in the car!
• Leaving dogs in cars is very RISKY.

At the vet

• Make sure your dog relieves himself before entering the vet's office, but be wary not to use the same areas that most dogs frequent in case they have a contagious disease
• Always have your dog on a leash, even if you have a pocket sized dog. You may need to place your dog down for a few minutes and anything could happen!
• If you have an aggressive or contagious dog, call ahead and the office will make arrangements for you to enter and exit by a different door.
• If you have a young puppy, remember that going to the vet will be exposing your puppy to disease, so leave your young puppy in the car and then carry your puppy into the examination room. You can go back inside to pay your bill after your appointment.
• Bring food rewards or distraction toys to entertain your puppy while in the waiting room.
• Do not allow your dog to visit other dogs while in the waiting room. Dogs visiting the vet are often injured, nervous or contagious and may react badly when your dog goes over to say "hi".
• Do not disconnect from your dog while you are distracted by paying your bill, instead have someone hold him or teach him to Sit / Stay while you pay.