For most dog owners, keeping their pet safe and happy is a top priority. But, with the business of modern life, it can sometimes be hard to know what’s best for your pet and how best to keep them safe. Below, we’ve listed some of the top tips for keeping your pooch safe and well.

1. Take them to the vet

One of the best ways to keep your dog and, in fact, any pet safe is to make sure they’re getting regular check-ups from the vet, and that they’re up to date with their vaccinations. Vaccinations help protect your pup from the most common and often life-threatening diseases.

Further, keeping your dog’s worm and flea treatment up to date is important too, to keep them and yourself safe from infection.

2. Watch what they eat

Dogs like to eat and will eat almost anything, given the opportunity. It’s important to keep an eye on what your dog is consuming to ensure they’re not eating anything that will harm them. Common human foods like chocolate, onions, avocados, grapes and raisins, and stone fruits can be dangerous for dogs, so it’s best to keep these away.

You should also keep a close eye on your dog while you’re out for your daily walk, as you never know what they may come across. In particular, if you’re on a bush walk and you see signs that poison has been laid, it’s best to keep your dog on a leash so they don’t accidentally ingest something intended for rats or possums.

3. Protect them from the elements

Dogs love the outdoors – the smells, the space, the freedom! But, just like humans, they need to be protected from the elements. If it’s very warm and sunny outside, it’s better to keep them inside, or ensure there’s a shaded area outside they can lie in. And, when you take them for their exercise, check the temperature of the pavement. If you can’t comfortably touch it with the back of your hand, it could burn your pet’s paws.

Likewise, if it’s very cold outside (or even snowing!) pop some extra layers on your dog. There are specially designed coats and clothing that will keep your dog snuggly without restricting movement. You could also consider getting them booties to protect their paws from the chilly ground, though they may take some getting used to.

4. Register and microchip

While we do our best to keep our dogs contained, sometimes we forget to shut the gate properly, or your dog happens to be an escape artist. To increase the chance your dog will make it home safe, make sure they’re microchipped, registered, and have their registration tag attached to their collar. Taking these steps means that if someone finds your pet, it’s easier for a vet or dog control officer to identify where they belong and return them home safely.

5. Keep them car safe

At some point, it’s inevitable your dog will need to come with you in the car, for example, to take them to the vet, on holiday, or just a short trip to your local dog park. To keep them as safe as possible, it’s a good idea to keep them restrained – you can get special harnesses or use a crate. This way, if you’re in an accident, or need to stop suddenly, your dog won’t get thrown around in the car.

And, when your car isn’t in motion, consider whether it’s safe to keep them inside while you’re away. Cars can get hot very quickly over summer, running the risk that your dog will overheat. A good rule of thumb is that if you can’t take your dog with you inside a destination, like a supermarket or cafe, it’s safest to leave them at home instead.