Ensure your garden is escape proof
Always keep your dog on a short lead near roads & livestock.
Lock away all medicines, cleaning products and dangerous chemicals.
Keep all chocolate, cocoa powder, raisins, grapes & macadamia nuts shut away, as these are poisonous to dogs.
Do not use cocoa shell mulch in your garden as this can cause illness and death.
Do not use rat poison, slug pellets, weedkillers, fertilizers (especially bonemeal) or insecticides that are dangerous to dogs.
Use a car harness, crate or fitted case when travelling in the car.
Do not let your dog hang its head out of an open car window.
Always take care to make sure your dog cannot run out of an open front door or escape through an open window. Never leave your dog alone tied up outside a shop in case it gets stolen.
Keep your dog inside on fireworks night, and keep it on a lead when outside.
Hot dogs are not cool in cars
ALWAYS
Consider the weather and your journey in advance, especially if you don’t have air conditioning in your car. Think about whether the journey for your dog is absolutely necessary.
Make sure your dog has plenty of space in the car and isn’t squashed or forced to sit in direct sunlight.
Always make sure there is shade provided, even in an air conditioned car a dog can become too hot if in full sun.
Don't leave your dog in an unheated car in cold weather. Your car cools down really fast, sadly dogs also die in cold cars.
Make sure plenty of stops are taken with lots of water available to drink.
Take cold water in a thermos rather than a plastic bottle so it stays cold rather than being luke warm. Ice cubes are helpful in a thermos for cooling too.
NEVER
Leave a dog unattended in a car, even with the window open and water available. Take them out of the car and leave them in a secure, cool place with access to shade and water.
Let your dog take part in unnecessary exertion, or stand in exposed sunlight for extended lengths of time.
Pass by a dog if you see one suffering in a car. Whether it be in a supermarket car park or show, make sure you make someone in authority know and if in doubt call the police or the RSPCA on 0870 55 55 999