Whether your friends are coming over to watch the Super Bowl on
Sunday or they're just there to check the Puppy Bowl during
commercial breaks, it's important that you take steps to protect
your four-legged friend from the potential dangers of your
get?-together. Here are a few things you should keep in mind so
that your dog can enjoy the festivities without getting sick or
stressed.
Keep the salsa, guacamole and dip away
Not only is eating human food unhealthy and a bad habit that can
lead to gastrointestinal distress, but salsa, dip, and guacamole
also often contain ingredients poisonous to dogs. Onion, garlic,
tomato skins, and avocados are toxic and dangerous for dogs.
They can cause serious intestinal blockage, vomiting, diarrhea,
or even breathing trouble. Dairy-based dips may be less
poisonous, but can lead to a serious stomachache
and gas.Protect your dog from this Super Bowl staple by
placing your dip on a high surface that your dog can't access and
won't be tempted by. Additionally, give your pooch a treat or toy
to chew on during the game, so they won't be overly distracted by
the wafting aromas of your snacks.
Watch the door and make sure your dog has their tags
on
With lots of guests coming over, it's easy for your dog to sneak
out an open door. This underscores the importance of making sure
your pooch has a good collar on and accurate tags in case they
sneak out and need to be identified by a vigilant neighbor or law
enforcement officer.The best defense is to make sure your dog
doesn't get out in the first place. Consider placing your pooch
in a secluded area when guests first arrive, so that they don't
sneak out and guests can meet them in a calm environment.
Give them a quiet retreat
When your friends are laughing at the commercials and cheering
for the game, a Super Bowl party can get loud quickly. You don't
want your pooch to become scared by the sudden, unexplained
noises and large crowd in your living room, so give them an
option to escape somewhere quiet.Whether you set up a puppy play
area in your bedroom or a comfortable space in the finished
basement, your dog should have a place where they can go to feel
safe from the noises. If you notice your dog getting scared
by the noises, take some time to go and comfort them.
Watch your guests' belongings
No matter how much you try to train your pooch, sometimes they
just got to chew a shoe. Boston.com recommended that hosts
keep this in mind and protect guests' shoes from a curious dog.
Additionally, keep your guests' coats somewhere they're less
likely to get covered in dog hair .
Keep a clean house
After the big game, you may want to see your friends out the door
then head right off to bed, but it's important to clean up first.
Everything from half-empty cups of beer to chicken wing
scraps are appealing and dangerous to your pooch. Pick everything
up and ensure that your dog won't end up with any leftovers that
could hurt them.When you're having guests over your house, you'll
want your dog to be flea- and tick-free, too. Use your Frontline
Plus for Dogs , even in the dead of winter.
Skip the Super Bowl for the Puppy Bowl
People across the country are preparing menus for Super Bowl
Sunday that include a long list of snacks and drinks for
guests to enjoy. Fans of the New England Patriots and Seattle
Seahawks are set to cheer as their teams vie for the Vince
Lombardi trophy.But other ruffians are ready to duke it out on
the gridiron, even though they're playing for Kibbles 'n
Bits.
Dogs prepped for the Puppy
Bowl
The San Antonio Express News reported that seven puppies from the city are
receiving five-star treatment at a hotel near Times
Square in New York City. It's a significant step up from their
lodgings last year, when they were facing the threat of
euthanasia at the Animal Care Services shelter (ACS).The pooches
- Theodore, Lance, Zane, Roscoe, Olive, Papi, and Moses - will
get their first close-ups at 2 p.m. Feb.1 during Animal Planet's annual Puppy Bowl
Showdown. Unlike the Super Bowl, however, deflated balls are
encouraged by the organizers.Last summer, the dogs were taken in
by the San Antonio-based organization Alamo Rescue Friends, which
aims to remove canines from ACS and place them in temporary
homes. ARF also transports the dogs to one of seven facilities in
New England. In this instance, the pups were transferred to the
Humane Society of Greater Nashua in New Hampshire, where workers
thought the dogs would be perfect for the Puppy Bowl.Going into
its 11th year of operation, the Puppy Bowl will feature 85
dogs from shelters or rescue groups around the U.S. In 2014,
the competition attracted more than 13.5 million viewers. The
event, in addition to being fun and loose, raises awareness about
the welfare of homeless animals.
The history of the Puppy
Bowl
While it may not be as long-running as its human counterpart, the
Puppy Bowl has its own stories and background to share. Its
history is as entertaining as the event itself.Mic Network
explained that the idea was initially a joke pitched
to the network higher-ups, according to executive
producer Margo Kent. The inaugural game was held in 2005 at a
studio in Maryland with little fanfare, but Animal Planet learned
something valuable: Some people wanted to watch something other
than football during the Super Bowl.The initial game received
5.58 million viewers, and has continued to grow since then. It
has even eclipsed ratings for the Pro Bowl, the NFL's own
all-star game. It spawned a feline spin-off on the Hallmark
Channel, too, which will air its version three hours before the
Puppy Bowl.From barking beagles to tussling terriers, the Puppy
Bowl has everything that dog lovers want to see in between action
during the Super Bowl. If you want your pooches to run the
gridiron alongside their furry pals, sign up for a PetPlus membership
and get them the cheap pet
meds and supplements they need to stay strong and
healthy.
