It's so important to neuter your dog. So many healthy animals are put to sleep at humane societies across the nation every year. Too many dogs and cats; not enough homes. It's a simple, safe procedure and it can be done at any age-the earlier the better. Neutered male dogs are generally calmer, less aggressive, and less likely to roam. And they have fewer health problems later in life. Spayed females don't go through the messy heat cycle where they may be snappy and uncomfortable. And they too have fewer health problems later.

Spring is in the air (at least in Tucson). This means that lots of plants will be blooming and lots of little critters will be emerging. Don't let your dog eat too much of the vegetation. Find out if the plants you have are dangerous to your dog, but even if they aren't normally harmful, eating too many palo verde blossoms or mesquite beans can upset the tummy. As various bugs and, worse, snakes come out of hibernation, keep your pet safe from bites and stings. If he gets bitten by an ant or spider, his face may swell up. Just be sure breathing is not impaired. If in doubt, get him to the vet. If it's a rattlesnake, prompt attention is critical. Keep your yard as free of pests as possible, but understand that dogs, especially puppies, are naturally curious about everything that moves.

A little more on the dominant dog (see last month's tip as well). Most dogs are happy to relinquish leadership as soon as you demonstrate that you can be the leader. And you do this simply by enforcing commands and making fair and consistent rules. If your dog growls at you when you try to take something away from him or when you try to make him get off your chair, you need help to bring this under control. He clearly thinks he's the pack leader and therefore he can eat what he wants and sit where he wants. That's the privilege of leadership. Don't yell, hit, or grab your dog-you're very apt to get bitten. And don't just relegate this dog to exile in the backyard. Get help so you can properly elevate yourself to the leadership position, and live together in harmony.

If you have a dominant dog, it's important that you understand him and work with him. You must be the pack leader, and you'll accomplish this by setting up clear and consistent rules and sticking to them. Train him in basic obedience, using positive training methods. Learn how to give commands and follow through on them, so he comes to respect your leadership. Dominant and aggressive are not the same, but unless you control your dominant dog, he may decide when to escalate to aggression. You may need help from a behaviorist who will teach you how to be in charge. This doesn't mean you have to be physically abusive, just in control. The behaviorist should use positive methods, and should teach you how to do what's necessary to be pack leader. 

If you have a shy dog, you have to approach him in a very positive manner. Many dogs are so nervous that they urinate when greeting people. If you get angry, this only makes it worse. He can't help it; he's just scared. You need to be positive and upbeat. Don't greet this dog in an excited manner; you need to remain calm and quiet. Don't be loud or mean in your corrections; this will only make it worse. Work with him; train him with gentle, positive methods; keep all your interactions calm, matter-of-fact and confident. This will help him to trust you as pack leader, and relax. But know that it's a long process. Don't get frustrated.

This is the "holiday season." That means lots of activity and confusion. It can be a time of great joy, but it can be a time of stress. If you find yourself getting frenzied by the holidays, take some time out for yourself. One perfect way to do that is to take a drive with your dog. Just get away from it all for a few hours. Go someplace you enjoy and take a long, leisurely walk to unwind. Tell your dog all about the hectic life you're leading. He won't care what you say, as long as you share it with him in a happy voice. It will help you relax, and be good for both of you. Let your pets help you remove the anxiety and worry, just by being companions. Remember that if you do get stressed your dog will be aware of your stress but won't know the reason for it. It might make him nervous and upset.

If your dog gets lost, will you get him back? Sadly, in a majority of cases, the answer is no. You can increase the odds with some common sense precautions. First, make sure your yard is secure-no loose boards in the fence, no holes being dug under it. Keep a lock on your gates so they won't be opened accidentally. Give your dog some training, especially work on happy recalls so he will come when called. When you walk your dog, tell him "go home," as you get near your house. This is what a neighbor will probably say to a dog wandering the neighborhood. If your dog hears this, he may just come right home. Keep identification on your dog at all times. And consider a microchip. Have good recent photos of your dog, so you can make flyers to post in the neighborhood. Keep an eye on him-don't leave him by himself all day and night in the backyard. He's a family member and you want him around for his whole life.

If your dog is afraid of strange things, keep him safe from trick-or-treaters. The costumes and the different behavior can be confusing, even frightening to him. If he's calm and stable, you can let him join you in greeting the kids at the door. But if not, keep him quiet in a back room, away from all the chaos. Try taking him for a long long walk during the afternoon to tire him out for the evening.

Remember to work on obedience with your dog. If you can attend a training class that uses positive methods, that's your best bet. But you can do the training yourself. Use a training guide, like TOP DOG's Teamwork, that shows you step by step how to teach each command. Be positive, be patient, and have fun. Proper training will teach your dog much more than sit and down. It reinforces your position as pack leader, and makes you and your dog a team. Plus, he'll be a lot easier to live with!

Hot weather can be hard. If it's too hot for you to be outside, then it's too hot for your dog to be outside. If you must leave him out, make sure there's plenty of shade and lots of water for him to drink all day long. Remember that the sun moves throughout the day, so an area shaded at ten in the morning may be in full sun at two p.m. If your dog becomes overheated, cool him down quickly and call your vet.

If you're taking your dog with you on a car trip this summer, be sure you plan for it well. You need to bring along enough of his own food so you don't have to change over on the trip. Also bring water from home and add to it as you travel. This way there's a gradual, not an abrupt, change for him. 

Wondering if you should let your dog in the swimming pool? Well, it’s as much a matter of common sense as anything else. Some dogs like water if they can wade into it, but won’t have anything to do with jumping in a pool. Some dogs just love to swim. If you don’t mind cleaning the hair out of the filter, and as long as you don’t keep the chlorine level too high, it’s a fine way to cool off on a hot summer day. Be careful with kids in the pool—dogs aren’t very concerned about how they flail their feet around when swimming. Teach your dog where the steps are and make sure he knows how to get out easily. Like children, it’s safest to keep your dog fenced out of the pool when you’re not around.

Do you know what a borzoi was bred for? How about a Tibetan terrier? You know what a golden retriever was bred to do, and a wolfhound says it all. There are hundreds of breeds of dogs in the world. Many were bred to do very specific jobs, like retrieve birds or hunt wolves. Some were just bred to be our companions, sit in our laps and lick our faces. You should research breeds before you go and pick out a dog—see what would be a good fit with your lifestyle. If you already have a dog, it’s not too late to check out what it was bred to do. And if it’s a mix breed, research all the breeds you think might be mixed in. It can really help in understanding why your dog behaves as he does.

Is your dog getting older? You’ll notice he slows down and sleeps more. Maybe his hearing is going, or he doesn’t see as well as he did. These are all natural changes. Make sure you take him to the vet once or twice a year to have blood work done. This way you’ll catch any internal changes in time to treat them. Keep him as active as possible, and be aware that he’ll have good days and bad days.

More on training, continuing from last month’s tip. Every dog benefits from some training, and it’s also helpful for owners. Find a class that teaches positive, gentle methods, with lots of socialization for dogs and owners. You’ll learn how to be pack leader, how to give commands and follow through, and how to interact with your dog in a positive way. He’ll learn to listen to you and respect you as his leader; he’ll learn to be around other dogs and people in a calm manner; and he’ll be much easier and more fun to live with. If you can’t find a class, we recommend that you pick up a copy of Teamwork, the training manual from TOP DOG. It will give you a lot of insight into how your dog thinks, and teach you to train him in basic obedience.

Remember that a dog is a pack animal, that means he needs to be with his people. If he’s always locked out in the back yard, it’s a very unsatisfying life for him. He may go crazy whenever you let him in, which means he’ll be banished more and more to the isolation of the back yard. He needs your companionship—dogs are companion animals. To make him more able to relax in the house, get some training. Go to a class where you can both learn about proper socialization, exercise and obeying commands. He should be a member of the family; why else do you have a dog?

If it’s cold where you are, remember that your dog will need your help and protection. Little dogs may need to wear sweaters when they go out; even some larger dogs may need extra warmth. Some dogs love the cold and snow—they were bred to enjoy even the harshest conditions. But most breeds aren’t equipped to handle very cold temperatures. If your dog has to be outside (and he really should be in with you by the fireplace), make sure he has a warm and dry place to curl up out of the wind.

As you decorate your house for the holidays, remember that many plants are toxic to dogs and cats. Keep them out of reach. Also decorations, like ornaments and tinsel, will smell new and different, and curious animals will need to check them out. Supervise your dog around the tree when you first put it up to be sure he won’t knock it over, drink from the tree water, taste any of the ornaments, or lift his leg on the branches. It’s safest if you can keep him out of the room when you’re not around to watch.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday, a great time of sharing and eating. Be sure your dog can’t get to the turkey on the counter—it smells awfully tempting, but it can be dangerous. The bones can splinter and too much of the meat can make him sick. If you want to add a little to his regular food, just so he can share in the holiday spirit, it won’t hurt. But remember, he doesn’t care if it’s Thanksgiving or Christmas or April 8. He just wants to enjoy your company and your love every day of the year.

It’s okay to dress up your dog for Halloween, if it’s something he doesn’t mind. Some dogs are very bothered to have clothing on them. Don’t torture your pet just so you can have a little fun. But if it’s something he enjoys, go ahead and let him share in the fun. Be careful that the costume isn’t too binding, that he can see well and breath normally. He can trick or treat with the kids, but be sure he doesn’t get into the candy. Chocolate can be very dangerous. So give him a couple of doggie treats or a bone and he’ll be happy.

Thinking about getting a second dog? It can be a wonderful idea for your dog to have a companion. Introduce your dog to the new dog in a neutral setting, like a park, and walk around with both dogs so they get used to each other. Encourage them to sniff one another and play, but watch their body language. If one or the other becomes stiff or uncertain, walk them away from each other while talking in a high happy voice. With just a little care and planning, a second dog can be a wonderful addition to your family.

It’s summer and it’s hot. Be sure your dog has plenty of clean water always available. It’s a good idea to have several bowls of water, especially outside. The sun can quickly make water too hot to be drinkable.

If your dog is afraid of thunderstorms, help him through it. Talk to him in a happy voice, try to get him to play ball or go through his training routine. Anything to distract him from the noise. If he wants to go in a closet or hide in the bathroom, let him. If his terror is extreme, talk to your vet about tranquilizers.

If your routine changes, something as simple as kids going back to school, or something major like getting married or having a baby, remember that your dog will notice the change but may not understand it. Try to keep time spent with him as normal as possible—his feeding schedule, walks, playtime, training. He’ll adjust, as long as you help him through it.

Halloween can be a dangerous time for pets. Costumed kids may frighten him. He may slip out the door. Keep him safely indoors with you and make sure he doesn’t get into the candy. Chocolate can be poisonous to dogs.

As temperatures get cooler, be sure your dog has a warm, safe place to be. Some dogs may need to wear a sweater if they're outside a lot. Be sure his outside water doesn't freeze over.

Holidays are fast approaching. Company, parties, decorations and lots of food. Try to keep his routine as much as possible, so he can enjoy the holidays too. Work on his manners when greeting company. No one likes a dog jumping all over them. At the same time, don't let guests annoy him or feed him from the table.too much rich food can upset his digestion.

In Tucson, this is a great time to get out for long walks with your dog. Wherever you live, remember that time spent with your dog is good for both of you. If you can.t take long walks, short play or training sessions will do.

Training is such an important part of living with a dog. He doesn't need to heel in a perfect position or drop on recall, but he does need to learn to sit and lie down when he's told and come when he's called. Use positive methods with lots of praise and food reward, and you'll both have fun.

The saying "in spring a young man's fancy turns to love", doesn't apply to dogs. They simply respond to hormones. Please consider neutering your dog. It's better for their health; they're much easier to live with; and it will help reduce the number of unwanted pets.

You can teach your dog tricks, like roll over, shake hands or crawl. Some dogs do these things naturally and you can just put a word to it. Or use treats to encourage him to perform the action and then praise profusely when he does. Have fun with it and then amaze your friends.

Planning a trip? Can't decide whether to take your dog or leave him home? Weigh all the options. What kind of places will you be visiting? Forests and state parks usually welcome dogs; museums do not. Would he be happier in his home or with you? Perhaps you have a friend who can stay at your house. That way, both your dog and your house are looked after. Plan carefully.

As it starts to get hot, remember never leave your dog in your car. It can quickly heat up to a dangerous temperature. Since dogs don't sweat, they have to cool off by panting. They can soon become dehydrated, suffer heat stroke and die. Leave him home where he's comfortable and safe.

Fireworks can be beautiful for us to watch, but they’re usually not fun at all for our dogs. The noise is quite disturbing to most dogs—that high-pitched whine followed by a loud bang. Keep your dog safely inside this Fourth of July—too many dogs turn up at animal shelters having escaped their yards in terror. Play the radio or TV to cover up the noise, and try to discourage firecrackers in your neighborhood. They’re dangerous in so many ways.

Exercise is good for both you and your dog, but, like you, your dog needs to build up his stamina. Start slowly with short walks in the morning or evening, not in the hot part of the day. Remember he doesn’t sweat; he needs to pant and that may cause him to become dehydrated. Bring along plenty of water for both of you, and enjoy the time together.