Squirrel Poison kills dogs in Chicago

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I was just reading an article online about 3 dogs that have died after ingesting squirrel poison while out on a walk in the Chicago area.  The article says that squirrel poison is very similar to rat poison but that it has more food ingredients that would make it even more appealing to dogs.  The poison acts by causing the animal to have internal bleeding and bleed to death. 

 

When we go out for a walk I am always scanning the area for children out playing (my 2 dood are a bit nervous when kids go racing past on bikes), loose dogs, and dogs being walked on those retractable leashes by owners who aren’t paying a bit of attention.  Looks like I’ll have to keep an eye on the ground now too.  I am always amazed at how quickly dogs can snatch up random things that are lying on the ground when you aren’t paying attention. 

 

http://beta.local.yahoo.com/news-pet-owners-worried-squirrel-poison...

[Gail and Bailey]

Is there a correct way in training to keep the dogs head up while walking on leash?  I am constantly pulling Bailey's leash to get her head up if I think she is going to eat something.  I do use the command "leave it" but sometimes I feel like I am saying it too much. She is better if I have her carry a stick in her mouth when we walk. I agree that "sniff time" is important to dogs but it is scary to think what they might grab and quickly consume.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If a dog is walking in heel and keeping pace with you, it's pretty much impossible for him to sniff the ground. A well-trained dog is looking at you all the time while walking in heel. But that's an obedience training issue, and it takes a lot of work and practice.

Retractable leashes, of course, should never be used anyway, and you have no control at all with those And if you let the dog walk in front of you at the end of a fixed leash, you have no way to stop them from putting their head down. The dog has to be next to you, and you have to have most of the slack of the leash gathered up in your hand. But I am far from an expert in training and even for those who are, it wouldn't be possible to explain how to train a dog to walk in heel as a comment to a discussion, lol. Walking in heel is usually part of an ongoing structured training program. There are a couple of training groups here where you might get better feedback to this question.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Karen, some of us have dogs with heads that are naturally closer to the ground.  :) 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

True. I wish Jane wasn't sick and could give us some input. Her Guinness is an 18 lb mini and I know she doesn't allow any sniffing while walking.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

We (or at least I) try to keep them from sniffing, but it is always more difficult after a rain.  I guess things just smell better then.