Most dogs go through some kind of coat adjustment in fall, shedding their summer coat and growing their winter coat. Don't dress up your dog too early - their bodies won't naturally adjust to the falling temperatures and grow the thicker coat they need. Dry heat can also become drying to the skin- so bathe less and use a condtioner if necessary. Paw pads should receive some attentions - hot summer pavements can cause cracking - condition (with coconut oil) so that they are better prepared to deal with winter snow and salt.
Health
Allergy dogs require vigilance as outdoors summer pollen allergens change to mold/spores which could be a problem for them. Indoors, closed windows concentrate allergens and new ones like dust mites emerge as problems. Steam cleaning carpets if you have them are a good idea.
The onset of cooler and damper weather also means senior dogs and dogs with arthritic issues may need certain adjustments to their sleeping areas and even their medications may need tweaking.
Exercise
Get back into it. No longer forced to stay indoors in air conditioning, start to get exercise levels up with longer and longer brisk walks. Two reasons why this is important:
~ exercise improves muscularity, keeps dogs lean and toned and their metabolism high- all of which play an important role in the prevention and delay of arthritic problems which our breed is predisposed.
~ it improves brain chemistry- it releases beta-endorphins, enhances noradrenergic activity (increasing the production of noradrenaline) and increases serotonin metabolism in the brain........ counteracting the adverse effects of stress, enhancing the dog’s general mood, raising tolerance levels, and controlling impulses. from here.
It's also a good idea to become friendly with dog owners whose dog gets along well with yours so that come the winter months you can arrange indoor playdates when harsh weather makes the outdoors and dog runs less available.
Behavior
Fall usually means acorns and toadstools/mushrooms- a couple of toxic items that dogs can ingest out on their walks- how good is their ability to leave it? More time indoors also means more time perhaps jumping on and off furniture -risky for frenchies prone to spine issues- make sure they always ask to be lifted on and off furniture.
If you are able to follow an increased walking schedule which would put your dog in a particularly good state of mind- why not utilize this to improve other areas that you are having behavior issues with or generally improving behavior overall. Managing behavior is about stringing together various basic commands- a well behaved dog is one that can follow a variety of instructions- sit, now go to your bed and stay there- when the doorbell rings for example.
Commands your dog
Holiday season approaches, bringing travel, guests and more interaction with friends, family and their dogs. How social is your frenchie? How good is he or she in a crate or in a sherpa? Fall is a great time to to be working on this.
