Tips for a Dog-Friendly Australia Day!

Written by Australian Dog Lover 19:44:00 - 0 Comments

We all have our own unique way of celebrating Australia Day. Decking the house in green and gold, flying the national flag, throwing a barbie for friends, relaxing at the beach or a local park, attending official events ... No doubt you will have your own tradition!

Our pack is an integral part of the family so they will be included in all the festivities. We hope some of these suggestions will help keep your dogs safe and entertained this Australia Day!

There's nothing wrong with dressing up from head to toe in blue-red-white or green and gold on Australia Day! Some dog owners think it’s a great idea to also dress their pooches up! While many of our canine friends don't mind getting dressed up, others don’t like it and can get distressed so take your cues from your dog's body language!

If your dogs are happy wearing a (weather-appropriate) outfit for a short period of time, here's our pick of Aussie-themed dog costumes and accessories on Australia Day.

The Purebred Aussie shirt by More than Paws comes in seven sizes to suit puppies or toy breeds up to German Shepherds or Labradors.

The Wallaby-themed Rugby jumper is a very versatile option which can also be worn to support our team for any international game!


RRP: $26.95-$29.95 at www.morethanpaws.com.au

Show off your Aussie pride in the Australia Day bow tie from Frankie & Emmett. 

Made from 100% cotton, this bow tie attached directly to your pet’s collar with sturdy elastic loops stitched into the back. This bow is the perfect way to add a bit of class to your Australia Day celebrations, or send to a loved one overseas as a gift. One size fits all, but you can request a custom order for no extra charge.

RRP: $12.00 available from their Etsy Shop 


Please note that $1 from every Frankie and Emmett item sold goes towards Kitt Kat Care, a non-profit that rescues death row animals.

Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oi Oi Oi! 
Get your pup into the Australia Day spirit this January 26th 2018 with an Australia Day flag dog bandana, handmade in Adelaide by Vintage Pup Designs.

Your dog’s collar will easily thread through the channel at the top of the bandana.

They come in 4 standard sizes (XS to L) and XL is available upon request.

RRP: $12-$18 from the Vintage Pups Design Etsy shop



Some Safety Precautions:

• Small pieces of costumes and items of clothing including buttons, plastic and zips are all choking hazards.
• Australian flags around the neck must be loose so that they don’t restrict your dog's breathing.
• Avoid using face paints or glitter on your dog's face: they could cause irritation if they come into contact with their eyes/skin or an upset stomach if swallowed.

Australia is known for its great barbecue culture and it is a great way to spend a relaxing time with family and friends. Our dogs will be right there with us amongst the action! This has nothing to do with all these delicious smells coming from the BBQ…Those aromas will get them drooling and overwhelm them so much, that they totally forget about safety  - a bit like us, really! 

• BBQ food often has a lot of seasonings including garlic, salt and onion, which are all toxic to dogs. Keep people food and drinks out of reach at all times and tell your guests not to feed your pets! For a more comprehensive list of human foods toxic to dogs, check out this article.
• With visitors coming and going, it’s a good idea to supervise your dogs and check regularly on them. Be sure that all gates and doors are closed securely when someone is entering and leaving.
• Do not leave dogs alone with potential hazards. The smells of your hot BBQ plate, juicy kebabs and plastic plates may be tempting enough to warrant a good sniff and some licks but they are also a potential danger!

Vegemite sangas, snags, lamingtons and pavlovas may be your food of choice on Australia Day but none should pass your dogs' lips! The salt and sugar content in these foods will not sit well in their stomachs and ingredients like onions and chocolate can be deadly.

The good news is our canine friends can now indulge in their own themed healthy treats and drinks (in moderation)!

Is there anything more quintessentially Aussie than throwing some roo on the barbie on Australia Day? Your best mate can partake with these Butchers Superior Cuts Kangaroo Tail dog treats made with 100% natural Australian kangaroo. 

Available in Medium (approx 15cm long).

RRP: $7.12 from www.petbarn.com.au or at Petbarn stores nationally. 

Celebrate Australia and treat your dog with this two-pack containing green and gold Doggie Donuts from Laila and Me.

These are made from a biscuit base with a 'no melt' tapioca starch yogurt topping. Why can’t they make human donuts this healthy?

RRP: $6.00 at www.lailaandme.com.au

Your dogs can celebrate Australia Day right with this limited edition of Aussie Day Cookies by Huds & Toke.

These treats are low in fat, have no added sugar and are guaranteed to have a no melt frosting. 
These are also 100% Aussie made! 

RRP: $7.95 at hudsandtoke.com.au 

Cheers to a healthy tasty fake beer drink for your dog! Dogs love the all-natural beef flavours of this Paw Blonde Doggie Beer by L’Barkery with added glucosamine for healthy joints!
It comes in a powdered form so all you need to do is add water and shake! 

Conner prefers his served chilled before watching the Australian Open tennis final but this versatile product can be served frozen as an icy treat or sprinkled on top of your dog’s food.

RRP: $5.95 per serve (300ml) from www.doggytopia.com.au

If you're into your Cricket, why not get the dogs in on the action during this summer's cricket season by accessorising their food bowls? 

The ZeeZ Sports Collection - Cricket Bowls will really bowl your pets over! 
These Stainless Steel dog bowls feature a rubber, non-slip ring and come in a wide range of sizes.

RRP: $10.95-$24.95 at www.mammothpetsupplies.com.au

Planning to spend the day by the pool or at the beach? Furkids are just like toddlers and must be supervised when they are around water. Some dogs may be natural born swimmers whereas many others are not. 

Keep an eye on your dogs the whole time, especially if they are getting old, are weak swimmers or suffer from a particular health condition. To keep these dogs safe whilst boating or by the pool, you could consider using a Personal Flotation Device (PFD).

Dogs may also try to drink pool water, which could contain salt or chlorine, so ensure that they always have access to a constant supply of fresh drinking water (indoors or outdoors) especially on very hot days to avoid heat stress.

Dogs playing with NERF Trackshot Nylon Soccer Ball - available from PETstock (photo supplied)

There are plenty of dog-friendly beaches and parks that allow you to take your dogs. However this is a busy day just about anywhere so there are a few precautions to take:

• Make sure you take enough poo bags for the whole day. Not only is it horrible for other people and gives all of us dog owners a bad reputation, but leaving behind piles on the beach can get you an on-the-spot fine.
• You may dutifully slip, slap and slop when you're out in the sun. But what about your dog’s skin? Apply dog sunscreen (especially to dogs with pale skin) to ensure it isn’t damaged by the sun’s UV rays.
• Take plenty of drinking water along for your pooches. If you don’t supply them with fresh water, some dogs will try and drink from stagnant puddles or the ocean, which is very unhealthy for them! 

Time to burn off some calories?

The NERF Dog Atomic Flyer will entertain you and your dog for hours on end!

You can take it to the lake, beach or pool as it is made of lightweight thermoplastic rubber and will float in the water! Your dog will love the action-packed fun.

RRP: $15.99 from www.petstock.com.au and in stores nationally.

Is your pooch now ready to relax after the Australia Day festivities? 

Inspired by the iconic brand Vegemite, this Australian Dogimite dog toy by IdPet makes the perfect play accessory for any Aussie pup!

This toy (approx. 20cm by 15cm) is made from soft polyester with high quality embroidery finishes, stuffed with poly fill and includes 2 plastic squeakers inside for fun. 

RRP: $18.95 from www.idpet.com.au

For other suggestions, don't forget to check out our "18  Best Summer Dog Accessories for 2018".

Plenty of fireworks will go off around Australia that night and whilst enjoyable for some of us, they can be very stressful and frightening for our dogs.

Many dogs suffer from noise phobia: they will react exactly the same way when confronted with thunderstorms so much of the same advice applies.

1. Ensure your dog's identification is up-to-date in case they escape from your home in fright.
2. Try and take them for some vigorous exercise earlier in the day! Go for a long walk or a game of fetch or chase at your local offleash park. After a good romp in the park, they are more likely to react calmly during the fireworks...
3. Keep your dogs safe indoors with access to fresh water and why not keep the radio or TV on to drown out all the loud noises?

Our pack wishes you all a safe and happy Australia Day!

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