Visiting with a dog
A good dog owner is one who is perceived as such by their environment: this is one of the mottos of the Mirror Method. Judit Damásdi, head of Hajógyári Dog School, suggests you should always make a decision tailored to your dog and your environment. For example, if you are taking your pet to visit others during the holidays, the most important thing is to respect other people’s privacy and not to let your dog cross it without your express permission. Pay particular attention to how your dog behaves with young children, and make sure that your visit is not the first time they meet them.
If your dog is not used to travelling, the Christmas rush can be very disturbing for it, so it’s important to start to get it used to a dog crate or a mobile pet bed early enough. This way you can take a piece of home with you and let your pet relax while you are a guest in others’ homes.
New Year’s Eve precautions
According to the trainers and foundation partners of Mirror Method Dog Schools, there are several reasons why dogs go missing. In many cases, they embark on a ‘self-walk’ because they are not getting the physical and mental exhaustion they need. However, especially in the case of rescued dogs, but sometimes also after moving a home, the dog may not yet be sufficiently bonded to their new home. But a frightening stimulus such as fireworks or firecrackers can be critical event for dogs that are normally well-balanced. Although not all dogs are afraid of the noise of a firecracker explosion, any dog can become sensitive to an unexpected sound effect nearby – and from then on, the trauma can be difficult or impossible to manage.
If you know that there will be a loud celebration in your area, take the appropriate precautions: try to take your dog for a thorough and tiring walk before sunset, then distract it from the noise of the outside world with toys and music. Don’t leave it alone during the fireworks, take it outdoors only for a limited time and always on a lead, and after the walk, make a comfortable and quiet hiding place for it indoors. Note that although fireworks are officially allowed on New Year’s Eve only, many people do not comply with this regulation, so it’s worth paying extra attention to your dog’s safety between Christmas and New Year.
If you want to be on the safe side on New Year’s Eve, you should get a Blaupunkt GS02 dust and drop resistant tracker, which is small enough to simply attach to your dog’s collar. Available from Yettel with a Track tariff plan, the GPS-enabled tracker comes with an app that makes it easy to keep track of where your pet is in case you lose sight of it despite all precautions.
What to do if you find a stray dog?
Gabriella Walter, head of the Népszigeti Dog School, believes that if you find a stray dog, the most important thing is to stay calm and start luring the dog to you, preferably with a snack. Don’t jump on the dog suddenly, try to prevent it from seeing the leash. If you have enough space, don’t go straight towards it, because it may see that as a threat. If you can’t catch it, don’t chase it, but move away, keep an eye on it and call for help – for example, the local police, home guards or a local animal rights group. Although it may be difficult to do it in the dark, try to take a picture of the dog and check the Facebook pages of local animal rescues or animal groups to help you identify it. It’s very important to note exactly when and where you saw the dog, as this can be vital information for tracking.
If the dog is caught, take it to a vet or a place with a chip reader immediately. For example, you can use Vigyél Haza Foundation’s free app including a list of chip-reading sites available free of charge nationwide. Ideally, you will find the owner’s contact details on the chip and the family can be reunited soon.