By Katherine Moseley
The squirrels seem to chirp and chatter a little louder in the Spring. Just ask my dog Skeeter. He insists this is why he sometimes cannot hear me calling for him. And after a winter of not seeing very many people around town and on the trails, both of my dogs feel the need to alert me of every new person or dog that they see. I remind them that these are our friends in a cheerful voice and thank them for alerting me.
Skagway is a small seasonal tourist community. We often take for granted not having to stand in lines at the post office or grocery store during the winter months. But that is soon to change as more people arrive to open up their businesses for the busy cruise ship season. It can take me awhile to adjust to seeing more people in town. I imagine our dogs might feel the same way.
Spring is a good time to revisit your dog’s training and trail manners. There are many methods to training a dog. But the best dog training advice I have ever received is not to focus on what you don’t want your dog to do, focus on what you want them to do instead. And train for that. Consistency and patience will go along way when working with your dog.
The recent warmer temps are melting the snow and uncovering new scents for our dogs to investigate. We try to plan a little extra time on our walks to make sure our dogs get adequate time to investigate these these fascinating scents. Not only do our dogs see through their noses but sniffing is a way for them to gather info about their environment. Sniffing is like meditation for dogs. It can help reduce anxiety and stress. I highly recommend taking your dog on a sniffari at least once a day. You may be surprised the calming effects that this walk can have not only for your dog, but for you too. Our dogs help remind us to stay present.
Other signs of Spring include the thawing of dog poop, allergy season and parasites. Yes, we do have fleas and ticks in Skagway. Check with your veterinarian to discuss the best preventative methods for your pets. Please pick up your dog’s poop and maybe an extra pile for good Karma. Dog poop stinks and can carry diseases. And it gives dogs a bad rep.
Skagway is a small valley and we all have to share this space. Please be mindful of others when you are out and about with your dogs. Not everyone likes dogs and some people are scared of dogs. And always ask someone before you pet a dog. We are lucky to have so many off-leash trails available to us. Help us keep these privileges by being responsible with your dogs. There is a leash law in the town area. Leashed dogs deserve a safe space to walk without having to worry about off-leash dogs rushing at them. Please respect the leash laws.
If you are new to Skagway and want to find out about visiting veterinarians and local pet services, please email the Paws & Claws Animal Shelter at pawsandclawsskagway@gmail.com Hope you and your pets have a safe and happy Spring!
