Family-Disaster-Dogs

Your Dog Can Rescue You

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 07:30:00 -0600

Your family dog can rescue YOU.

These books have easy DYI instructions for training a pet dog to help its family in emergencies. And train a search and rescue mantrailing dog to find people

👇👇Download my FREE books below. 👇👇

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Amber%20Higgins/author/B0052MIK3K

Please help others learn how family dogs can help their families in disasters and missing persons situations by leaving a book review for my books on the amazon or other bookstore sites. Plus, Share this post and blog.

Reviews help websites and search engines find people. You may save a person’s life by them learning what is on this blog. There’s almost 300 blog posts here on familydisasterdogs.com

Many search and rescue dog teams have learned and are saving people all over the world. I do not charge for this blog, and the books are no cost on Kindle and Audible because you, the readers, are who keep me posting and inspired. I share my dog knowledge with everyone with the hope to help people stay safe. Meaning, I don’t write books to make money. I write these books and posts because I believe dogs love to have a purpose in our lives.

Stay safe everyone

Training a Dog versus Teaching a Dog

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 20:59:00 -0600

Visit My Author Site , it’s new for 2026

To train a dog is to have a dog physically doing something.

In comparison, teaching a dog is showing a dog what you mean.

Training a dog is the physical part of teamwork.

While teaching a dog is the mental part of teamwork.

Example

When we teach a dog to fetch;

First we teach the dog what the ball is, by showing the dog the ball and naming it.

Therefore, we are focusing on mental education. The dog is watching and learning without doing anything physical.

Even if the dog is jumping up and down or sitting watching us. We are Teaching the dog.

Compare that to this….

Next, we train the dog to move and do what we ask.

We toss the ball and tell the dog to go fetch. We and the dog are focusing on the physical education.

We toss the ball. We are using a physical movement.

The dog runs after the ball, a physical movement.

Therefore

To train a dog is to have a dog physically doing something.

In comparison, teaching a dog is showing a dog what you mean.

Training a dog is the physical part of teamwork and teaching is the mental aspect.

Amber

Founder and author

Family Disaster Dogs

Toby in memory of my husband Rick

Best wishes for 2026 !

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 11:56:00 -0600

www.familydisasterdogs.com

amberhigginsbooks.com

Train a Dog to Find People. Mantrailing Book is a Great Gift !

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 13:55:00 -0600

Train a dog to find people for fun, sport and work. Step by step and more about getting started in #K9SAR. This book is used worldwide to get search and rescue teams started.

Find it ! ….

On the Book Page in the menu

And on #Amazon #kindleunlimited #audible #itunes #google and book stores everywhere.

A paperback is a great gift!

Have a look at my new author site and sign up for the newsletter.

amberhigginsbooks.com

#christmas #shopping #dogs #mantrailing

Debunking Common Dog Myths: What's Fact and What's Fiction?

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 19:58:00 -0500

Dogs have long been our faithful companions, yet myths about our canine friends still run around. Some misconceptions can be harmless while others could compromise your pet's health or happiness. In this blog, we will untangle some of these misconceptions by debunking common dog myths:

Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino on Unsplash Copy to clipboard

A Wagging Tail Always Means a Happy Dog

At first, wagging tails might seem to signify happiness, but that isn't always the case. Dogs use their tails to express a range of emotions through body language. For instance a slow, stiff wag may indicate unease or aggression while fast and high wags could indicate excitement. Or on the other hand a low wag may indicate submission. Always be mindful of their body language in order to understand exactly what your furry pal may be trying to convey.

Dogs See in Black and White

One of the more pernicious myths out there is the notion that dogs are completely colorblind. While it is true they don't see the full range of hues as humans do, their world isn't entirely black-and-white either. Canines tend to see shades of blue and yellow better while reds and greens seem dull and muted compared to what humans experience.Knowing this, consider providing your pup with toys in these colors to keep playtime exciting.

You Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

Although the phrase may be catchy, this statement does no one a favor. All dogs of every age can learn and adapt. While puppies tend to learn new commands more quickly due to their high energy and curiosity levels, older dogs still benefit from patience. Training with positive reinforcement from professionals like All Dogs Unleashed Dog Training in successfully teaching new tricks or routines to them. Its never too late to teach them something new.

Garlic Is Good for Dogs

This myth may have its source in garlic's health benefits for humans. However, this does not carry over to their canine companions. Garlic (and related allium plants like onions) are toxic to dogs and can even lead to anemia by damaging red blood cells. Even small quantities can be toxic so make sure pizza and garlic bread stay away from your furry companion.

Dogs Eat Grass When They're Sick

Perhaps you have witnessed your pup munching away on grass and wondered what's up. While some people might interpret this behavior as an indicator of illness or attempts at self-medication, in reality this could simply be out of boredom, to assist digestion or simply for pleasure. An occasional grass snack usually won't lead to vomiting, but it should remain harmless.

All Dogs Hate Cats

Pop culture portrayals of dogs relentlessly chasing cats are widespread, yet in reality dogs and cats can coexist peacefully together and even form unexpected friendships. Socialization and proper introduction are important in creating this dynamic between them. With proper training in place they could end up as inseparable companions, thus disprove this age-old stereotype.

Conclusion

Dog myths might make for great conversation at the dog park, but they can cause lasting confusion about our furry companions. By dispelling some of these popular misconceptions about our furry pals and providing them with proper care, we can gain more understanding and create stronger bonds between ourselves and them. After all, a healthy pup starts with well-informed owners.

5 Reasons to Prepare Pets for Natural Disasters, Tornados, Hurricanes, Floods

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Sat, 5 Apr 2025 16:17:00 -0500

Here are six reasons you should prepare for disasters with pets, along with some tips on how to do so:

My Bloodhound Daisy who was the inspiration for this site and books.

Preparedness with pets is not only good for them, but also for you. By following these tips, you can reduce the risk of losing or injuring your pet and yourself, plus have peace of mind in case of an emergency.

1. Pets are part of your family and you don't want to lose them in a crisis. Make sure you have a collar and a tag with your contact information for each pet, as well as a microchip if possible. Keep a recent photo of your pet in case you get separated.

2. Pets can provide comfort and support during stressful times. They can help you cope with anxiety, loneliness, and depression. Keep your pets close to you and try to maintain their normal routine as much as possible.

3. Pets may need special care and supplies that are not readily available in an emergency situation. Prepare a pet emergency kit that includes food, water, bowls, leash, harness, carrier, litter, toys, medications, and veterinary records. Store it in a safe and accessible place.

4. Pets may not be allowed in some shelters or evacuation centers, so you need to have a plan for them. Research pet-friendly hotels or motels in advance and keep a list of their phone numbers and locations. Ask your friends or relatives if they can take care of your pets in case of an emergency. You can also contact local animal shelters or rescue groups for assistance.

5. Pets may get injured, sick, or lost during a disaster, so you need to have a first aid kit and identification for them. Learn how to perform basic first aid on your pets and keep a manual or a guide handy. Check your pets for signs of injury or illness and seek veterinary help if needed. If your pets go missing, contact local animal control agencies and post flyers with their photo and description.

Learn how to prepare your dog for evacuation and disasters with my book

Evacuate with Your Dog's Help

From that link you can find the Family Disaster Dogs book with over 60 easy do at home lessons to help you be prepared.

All photos are copyrighted and my own.

Fire Danger Spring Cleanup Can Start a Wildfire

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 14:57:00 -0500

Fire Warning Mowing and Weed Whacking Can Start a Wildfire

As a former volunteer fire fighter and K9 search and rescue team leader, I would like to let all of my readers know that in the windy dry weather conditions we are experiencing across the United States there is a danger to doing spring yard cleanup.

I want to ask everyone to Please try to do your best to prevent a fire so that you and neighbors do not have to evacuate or lose everything.

As I write this article, we are experiencing an extremely windy low humidity day with very dry conditions due to less rain this spring season. It’s perfect wildfire weather and there are many out of control fires burning in several states.

Our county is under a Red Flag Fire Alert - meaning the possibility of a wild fire starting is much more likely due to the weather. We are also under a Burn Ban - meaning Do Not Burn anything until further notice.

We were going to do yard work today, rake or blow leaves, weed whack and mow for spring cleanup but I decided to follow my own instinct and experience to wait for a better day.

I came inside to write this article instead. Here are a few facts that may help you prevent a fire from starting.

Please be careful outside.

Yes, it is spring cleanup time of the year but mowing dry grass can potentially start a fire, especially during hot dry and extremely windy conditions like we have in many parts of the country.

Fire Hazard:

Dry grass, especially when tall and "cured" (brown and brittle), is a significant fire hazard.

Ignition:

These sparks can easily ignite dry grass, especially if the grass is very dry and the conditions are hot and windy.

Sparks:

Lawn mowers and weed whackers, yard tractors and 4 wheelers can generate sparks from the engine, exhaust system, or when the blade or a metal part strikes rocks or other hard objects.

Other Fire Hazards:

Besides yard equipment like weed eaters, even chainsaws, and vehicles parked in dry grass can also pose a fire risk.

Additionally, camp fires and recreational fire pits should not be used.

Prevention:

To reduce the risk of fire, it's important to:

Mow during cooler hours: Early morning is generally the safest time to mow.

Avoid windy or dry conditions: Do not mow when the weather is excessively dry or windy.

Keep grass short: Trim grass and weeds to a height of 3" or less, especially within 100 feet of buildings or fences.

Be cautious with yard equipment: Follow manufacturer's safety guidelines and be aware of potential fire hazards.

Check for fire restrictions: Be aware of any fire restrictions or bans in your area.

Stay safe everyone and keep your dogs close!

To prepare for evacuation please read my short but very helpful book here. It’s free on kindle unlimited and audible. A paperback is available for a small fee to cover publishing on paper.

Be Prepared with Your Dog

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 22:41:00 -0600

Click here to go to the Bug-out page and list

New Children's Christmas Book My Puppy Finds Santa by Amber Higgins 2024

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Fri, 8 Nov 2024 16:41:00 -0600

🎄 New Book Release: My Puppy Finds Santa! 🎅

Hello, dear readers!

I'm thrilled to share some exciting news with you today. Just in time for the holiday season, my new book "My Puppy Finds Santa" is now available! This enchanting Christmas tale follows the delightful adventures of Lily and her lovable bloodhound puppy, Max, as they discover the magic of Christmas Eve.

Book Description:

My Puppy Finds Santa

Step into the magical world of Lily and her beloved bloodhound puppy, Max, as they embark on an unforgettable Christmas adventure. One snowy Christmas Eve, Max's keen sense of smell leads them on a delightful journey, filled with the jingling of Santa’s sleigh bells and the sweet scent of falling cookies. From racing around the yard to discovering a cookie trail inside the house, their adventure brings them to a heartwarming surprise in Lily’s bed.

Join Lily and Max as they drift off to sleep, dreaming of the enchanting moments they shared with Santa. This charming tale of friendship, magic, and holiday cheer is sure to capture the hearts of readers young and old. Perfect for cozy winter nights, “My Puppy Finds Santa” is a timeless story that celebrates the magic of Christmas and the joy of a forever home.

Behind the Scenes:

This story was inspired by my own beloved bloodhound puppies, Snooty Gus and Sniffer Sammy. Rescued in the harshest conditions, they found their forever home with me and filled my life with love and joy. Their journey inspired me to write this book, and I hope it brings warmth and cheer to your holiday season.

Early Reader Reactions:

"A heartwarming Christmas tale that captures the magic of the season!" "An enchanting story for readers young and old."

Where to Buy:

You can find "My Puppy Finds Santa" on Amazon and soon at bookstores worldwide!

Available in Kindle eBook and Paperback.

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you all a magical and joyous holiday season. May your days be filled with love, laughter, and the warm glow of Christmas cheer.

Warmest wishes, Amber

Wrinkledpups Publishing

www.familydisasterdogs.com

Visit the book page to see all my books

New Children's Christmas Book featuring a bloodhound puppy 2024

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 21:28:00 -0500

Stay Tuned for a New Book Release !!

Happy Fall Season 2024!

Coming soon a new children's picture book featuring a bloodhound puppy finding Santa.

Here's a preview of some of the artwork.

What do you think ?
I love hearing your feedback and what readers think.

I do not send newsletters often because I do not want to overflow people's email accounts like the daily slush pile I receive that is a hassle to go through.

I do personally answer emails requesting advise with training or care of dogs and when readers want to connect directly with me to talk dog or preparedness. Otherwise I may not reply lol

You can reach out to me anytime from the contact page in the book page menu above.

If you would like a preview of the new book or to preorder the eBook or hard cover copy for this Christmas Email me and put "Preorder" in the subject line.

The eBook will be available on Kindle.

Copyright Amber Higgins 2024 images created using Microsoft copilot

My Puppy Can Find Me Book by Amber Higgins

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 10:00:00 -0500

My Puppy Can Find Me by Amber Higgins

Artwork by UK cartoonist Helen King ( Scotty's Cartoons )

Available on Audible, Kindle Unlimited and paperback click the blue text

and you can email me for an Author's signed copy on the contact page in the page menu above

Read the 260 Free articles Here and Learn about How Amazing Dogs Are

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 09:30:00 -0500

Learn How Your Dogs Can Help You!

Read the articles on this blog,,,

There's a list of over 260 posts below

Amber's Books for dog owners to be ready

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 13:41:00 -0500

Check out the books on the Book Page

Children Teach a Puppy to Go Find Mom Dad and Teddy Bear too!

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Sun, 25 Aug 2024 10:03:00 -0500

Yes Ur Dog and Puppy Can Find Family

Read and hear easy games to play at home with your dogs, puppy and kids that teach valuable skills that may come in handy. Listen on audible or read on Kindle Unlimited and here's a free trail for you.

Here's the paperback copy book page which makes a great gift!

Follow Family Disaster Dogs Facebook Meta page and group >>>> in the sidebar to the right.

Are You Worried About The Health Of Your Dog? Here's What To Do

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Sat, 24 Aug 2024 15:41:00 -0500

One of the things that you should always be careful about when it comes to your dog is their health. We know that a lot of people would like to think that they would notice if there was something amiss with their dog's health, and we’re not saying that you wouldn’t.

What we are saying though, is that you need to be actively looking for any problems too, just to be on the safe side. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the things that you can try if you’ve noticed something or quite right with your furry little friends help! Keep reading if you would like to find out more.

Image CCO license

More Exercise

The first thing that you’re going to need to think about is getting them some more exercise. It might be the case that they are not getting enough, and this is negatively impacting their health overall. You may think that this sounds odd, but it happens more than you realize.

Dogs need at least half an hour of exercise per day to stay healthy, and it’s your job to ensure that they get that. If they don’t currently, find a way to make sure they are going forward.

Their Food

Another thing that you should look into is changing their food and the general diet that you are giving them. It might be the case that they have an intolerance to something that you are feeding them and it’s causing them to not feel well. Or, it could simply be a poor diet that is leading to them not feeling their best. It’s hard to think that what we are doing could be causing their problems, but it’s a reality that has got to be faced because it might well be exactly what the problem is.

Look into healthy dog food, and make a decision about what will be best for your little friend. It might take some trial and error until you find the right one, but you can also make homemade recipes to go alongside it.

See A Vet

Of course, if you are concerned and you think that there might be a problem that you cannot fix by yourself, then you need to take your dog to a vet as soon as possible. They will be able to identify the issue, and then do something to help your dog get back in the best possible health. Call your vet as soon as you start to get worried, or if the symptoms that you were not previously that concerned about have worsened or not gone away in a few days.

Hopefully, you have found this article helpful and now see some of the things that you should consider doing if you are worried about the health of your dog. It’s important that you are doing everything in your power to ensure that your dog is as healthy as possible, so keep your eye on them as much as you can going forward.

Use a Pet Dog to Find Lost and missing Children, Seniors and Friends

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 08:01:00 -0500

Use your dog to find Family and Friends, especially disabled and special needs loved ones

This articles explains how-to use your own family dog to find a lost or missing loved ones. I hope this article and book will be helpful in finding missing persons and special needs children or adults who may of wandered away from home or an outdoor event. Our country has an incredible amount of missing person cases, each day more and more people disappear. We all need to help people be found and every little effort may one day save a person's life. Thank you for visiting my Family Disaster Dogs site, reading this article and sharing so others may learn.

Intro

Did you know all dogs are Family Disaster Dogs ? I created this site and wrote the first book after having worked as a professional dog groomer, dog trainer and breeder for 30 years, along with volunteering with my bloodhounds and shepherds for Search and Rescue for 15 years, I trained in all aspects of emergency response, and trained many other dog handler teams during that time.

I realized one day that pet dogs can help their family in emergencies and disasters. Dogs do not need to be a certain breed or trained as skillfully to find a person or other pet that wanders from home or gets lost while camping. Every dog tries to follow whoever leaves the area, if the dog does not appear to try to follow they are still very much aware of the person or other pet leaving the room, house, camp or area.

So it makes perfect sense to me and most people I mention this bit of logic to, that our own dogs can find us if we get lost. That yes, the dog wants to go with us every time we leave the house but we shut the door and lock them in. So if a toddler happens to wander out of the house and is missing I always suggest to allow the family dog out of the house (on leash or off) and follow the dog who will naturally try to follow the person who left before the dog.

Dogs naturally follow pack members. We only need to take advantage of this natural instinct and ask the dog to find the missing pack member. Including other household pets and dog or cat friends. So if your cat or other dog goes missing, use the other dog to find them or a friend's dog that the animals know.

Small dogs, giant dogs, young dogs and old dogs....can locate missing loved ones like search and rescue dogs do. They can also help you evacuate, fetch survival items if your trapped and go get help upon command.

Let’s look at a few of the ways a pet dog can help locate a disabled child or adult in an emergency.

Keep in mind that a dog always know where people are in the house or yard. They find you for food and play or to go for a walk. Dogs pay very close attention to where each family member is and what is happening. We, humans, seldom notice the dog doing its job of watching over us.

The Family Pack

Your own dog is one of the most valuable assets to have available for finding a known person who wanders off while hiking or camping and goes missing. If an earthquake, flood or storm separates members of the household, most likely the family dogs will be with one of the persons or nearby attempting to reach the family pack.

As part of the pack the dog depends on us surviving too. Dogs live with us as family members and as part of the pack, they live to please us. They are always by our side and follow us around waiting to give us a helpful paw when the time comes or just to be near.

This natural pack instinct in the dog is very easy to take advantage of to find a missing pack member, such as our child or elderly parent who are missing or trapped unable to reach us or to get help.

When a favorite family member leaves the room the dog often follows, when the person settles to stay in one place, the dog often lays at the person’s feet waiting for what will come next. The dog is always nearby, willing and ready to participate in what we are doing so let’s take advantage of the dogs’ natural desire to help us.

If you watch your dog, you will notice that the dog realizes when a child is missing from the family pack. Also, think about how many dogs cry and have separation anxiety when a favorite family member leaves them. Does your dog get upset when you leave them alone in the house or car? Separation anxiety results from our dogs wishing to go with us. The anxiety is from the dog wanting to stay with its pack and not be left behind.

This proves the dog is very much aware of each person in the family and where that person is. When one leave, if they do not come back to join the dog or family pack the dog will look for them. It’s the nature of the dog.

If we allow the dog to go find the person, the dog will do just that !

Consequently, if the child or person has wandered away from the house and is lost or missing, it makes sense that their own dog can find them faster than a search dog who does not know the person. Even without any search dog training, a family dog is already on the job seeking to find its lost pack member.

You can use this to your advantage if a family member is ever lost by simply asking the family dog to take you to the missing person.

Here's How

How-to Ask a Dog to Find a Lost Child

First, put your dog on a leash so they do not run into traffic because the dog will be excited that you finally asked for its help.

Remember dogs find us every day when they are hungry. The dog already knows how to find people, we as dog owners only need to learn how to ask the dog to help us.

Next, show the dog an article of clothing from the missing person that only that person touched, let the dog smell the object and then ask the dog to find the person, encourage the dog to go forward and look.
Follow the dog even if it does not look like the dog knows what they are doing or where they are going because scent particles float everywhere we cannot see but the dog can smell.

Just follow the dog to the person, let the dog do the work, do not make any suggestions or guide the dog because it will only confuse the dog.

Trust your Dog

At first you may wonder if the dog is really looking for the person.
Do not stop working the dog on the trail or give up on the dog.

Working search and rescue dogs often look like they are just going for a walk, they may go slow smelling here and there like nothing is important as they work the many hundreds of scent particles that mingle together with the lost person’s scent.

These scent particles are everywhere and blown by the wind, affected by the natural environment. Only a dog knows how to understand and puzzle though. We humans do not have that nose work skill. We are not equipped to use our sense of smell to discriminate scent particles like animals do.

Trust your dog.

The dog is always right.

The nose knows.

Practice makes Perfect

Practice by playing hide and seek with your dog and family members, especially special needs children.

Here’s a few ways to play and learn together with the family dog. If you have more than one dog, it’s easier to do this one dog at a time or the dogs may be more focused on each other than finding the person.

1. Hold the dog

2. Have a family member hide behind a open door or piece of furniture indoors

3. Let the dog go and tell the dog to “find them” use the person’s name

4. Follow the dog to find the person

5. Encourage the dog as they look for the person

6. Everyone make a big happy fuss over the dog finding the person

7. Lots of praise and happiness

8. Repeat with the person hiding in different places

Hiding spot suggestions

Indoors

Under blankets on the floor or bed

Behind open doors

Behind furniture

Under big cardboard boxes

Lay on the floor in another room

Outdoors

Do not let the person who hides go too far to hide at first. Gradual, over days and weeks, add distance to how far away they go to hide. Start off only hiding within easy sight of the dog and person holding the dog. Keep this game simple for the dog so they grasp the idea to find the person when asked.

Trust your dog, in a real emergency the dog will use its natural drive and instinct to reunite with the missing pack member when asked.

Keep in mind, you are not training the dog to find the person, the dog already knows how to do that. You are going to teach the dog a word you will use to ask them to do what is natural for them and the use the word is what you are actually practicing.

Otherwise the dog does not know what the word means or what you ask and you do not have a way to tell the dog to act on its natural instinct.

Here's my children's book that tells the whole family a fun way to train a dog to find family and go to another person by name.

Believe it or not our dogs do know our names because they hear everyone else call us by the name.

Summary

With very little time spent and a whole lot of fun practice you will see how easy this is to do and then you will feel reassured that if your child or loved ones ever go missing or get lost you can start searching while waiting for the police who often will not respond to a missing person case until 24 hours has passed to give time for the person to return on their own.

In my books and on my website, I explain how easy it is to teach the average family dog how to come to our rescue like search dogs do and how to use your own dog to help you evacuate during emergencies and disasters.

Visit www.familydisasterdogs.com to learn more about me and how your dog can rescue you!

Here's a page full of DIY dog training lessons I wrote for everyone to do in the comfort of home.

How To Avoid Injuries To Your Dog

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 11:23:00 -0500

Your dog is your best friend - or will eventually be if you recently got the dog as a puppy or from a shelter. That bond and relationship you build over time is a beautiful one and often enough, but we all wish that dogs could live just as long as humans can.

However, all those years of happiness you give them, they will return with unconditional love from the beginning to the very end. It’s important that you avoid injuries to your dog which can harm your pooch’s quality of life in general.

Dogs can get into accidents and cause injury to themselves. Sometimes that can’t be avoided but when it can, it’s good to know what you can do to prevent the injuries from happening.

Here are some helpful tips on how to avoid injuries to your dog.

Image Source

Understand your dog’s risk factors

First and foremost, understand the dangers that are present to your dog specifically. Every dog is different and therefore what might harm one dog might not harm yours. If there are certain health problems that your dog has had in the past, then you might wish to avoid doing anything that could trigger it to happen again.

For example, some dogs are known to pick up anything and everything, sometimes swallowing what they have, even when it’s not edible. As a result, some dogs end up getting foreign objects stuck in their intestine and needing some pretty life-saving surgery in order to recover from it.

That sort of injury is something you want to avoid from happening again, especially as it could be fatal the next time around.

Look at your dog’s risk factors and consider what you can do to avoid them from recurring again.

Brush up your knowledge of the dog breed and health conditions

In general, every dog breed has their own health conditions that they’re more susceptible to. The reasons for this could differ from whether they’re a mixed breed or if they are a certain shape or size which makes them more prone to the health condition itself.

Brushing up on your knowledge of the dog breed and the health conditions that are common with the breed is worthwhile. Learning more can help you put the preventative measures in place needed to reduce any risk of injury to the dog itself.

You might also find that some health conditions are better prevented with earlier care and others might be inevitable. This is something you should do fairly early on in your ownership of the dog, albeit before you even decide on what dog breed you’re going with.

Take your dog for a regular walk every day

A regular walk each day can keep the vet away. As the same saying goes for doctors, but in the shape of an apple, you should be doing what you can to keep your dog away from the vets. Other than any annual vet booster, you hope that your dog doesn’t need to keep going back to the vets at some point in their life time.

Image Source

Taking your dog for a regular walk every day is going to keep them healthy. Even for lap dogs or dogs that love to lounge on the couch all day, even those dogs need a bit of walking every day.

Twenty minutes should be the baseline for most dogs, with some needing slightly more and others needing well over an hour to tucker themselves out. Consider taking your dog for a good walk every day to mentally stimulate them and ultimately ensure they’re getting a good amount of exercise daily.

Keep your dog cool indoors and outdoors

Heat can be a problem for dogs, especially as they can only regulate their own temperature so much before needing help from their dog owner. If you’re taking your dog out in the heat during the day for a walk, then this can be dangerous to their health.

For some dogs a hot day can prove fatal so depending on the weather keeping your dog indoors is better than letting them get too warm outside.

The indoors can also be a warm place, particularly over the summer. That’s why you should be looking to keep your dog cool indoors too. Making sure there’s plenty of water out throughout the day, to opening windows and even filling a bath of cool water for your dog to take a dip in every so often. The more you can do to keep them cool, the better for their health.

Avoid slippery surfaces

Just like humans, slippery surfaces can be dangerous. When your dog loses control of their footing on a slippery surface, whether it’s wet and therefore slippery, or just does not have enough grip, it becomes dangerous.

Your dog could end up banging into a piece of furniture, which in turn could collapse onto them, causing injury. It’s best to try and keep surfaces as dry as possible and add gripping points in the form of rugs where possible.

Consider dog supplements for joints

Dog supplements are great and can be a good way to provide your dog with some extra nutrients. Your dog’s joints will be sprightly when they’re young but become more brittle and vulnerable as they get older.

There are plenty of dog supplements on the market that are great for joint care, so this is something that’s worth considering. If your dog has problems with their legs or they have trouble with their mobility, then Hero Braces are a great way to provide support and aid injury where it’s required.

Watch for signs and fatigue or overexertion

Finally, be aware of the signs and symptoms of fatigue or overexertion. Fatigue can quickly turn dangerous and some dogs don’t know how to slow down or take a break from their playtime. Try to look out for the signs, like excessive panting or fatigue itself as the indicator that you need to stop play for a bit.

These tips will help avoid injury so that your dog can live a long and healthy life in the future.

Why Every Dog Owner Needs to Get Pet Insurance

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 12:24:00 -0500

Image credit

When you bring a dog into your life, it's not just a pet that you're adding to your family—it's a heartbeating, tail-wagging bundle of joy. And just like any loved one, ensuring they have the best care is essential. Seriously, you have insurance, right? If you have kids, they also have insurance, right? Well, your dog needs this, too; in fact, no matter what type of pet you have, they all need this. So, with that all said, how can pet insurance be beneficial?

Well, the last thing you want to deal with is some major disaster, such as your dog getting a bite, a freak accident, or something worse. At the end of the day, insurance is meant to help you, the owner. But still, why get pet insurance? It’s optional! Well, here’s exactly why!

A Degree of Legal Protection

Alright, just to a small degree, now, in case you have to get a dog bite injury attorney or there’s a case against you, to a small degree, pet insurance can help. So, this isn’t liability insurance in the slightest; liability insurance for your pet is something else.

But some (not all) pet insurance companies will offer coverage in case a freak accident were to happen, and legally speaking, you need to protect yourself and your dog. Again, it’s going to vary based on the insurance, but depending on which one you have, this can be seen as a positive.

Financial Buffer for Vet Visits

Let's face it: vet bills can be too much and way too overwhelming, especially when unexpected illnesses or accidents happen. So that’s exactly why pet insurance acts as a financial safety net, covering a significant chunk of medical costs.

This means you won't have to choose between your wallet and your pet's well-being. Whether it’s routine care or emergency surgery, having insurance in place ensures you’re financially prepared for both the expected and unexpected. Hopefully, it never gets to the point where it’s needed, but in case that happens, you and your dog will be in good hands.

Encourages Early Veterinary Care

So this one might vary from person to person, but usually, just knowing that you have pet insurance can encourage you to take your dog to the vet at the first sign of trouble. Why wait and worry when you can get a professional opinion and nip potential health issues in the bud? Besides, early detection and treatment often mean a better prognosis for your pet and less invasive treatment, which can be easier on your dog and your budget.

There’s Something for Every Budget

Like all insurance, this one can be pretty expensive, but it can also be affordable. You just need to keep in mind that pet insurance isn’t a one-size-fits-all deal. The beauty of it is in the flexibility. You can choose from a variety of plans to find one that suits your budget and your dog’s needs. So, honestly, at this rate, there’s no excuse for any pet owner.

What is a Family Disaster Dog? It's Your Dog Trained to Rescue You!

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 13:04:00 -0600

What is a family disaster dog? It is a dog trained to find and rescue you!

The Family Disaster Dog Book shows you how easy a pet dog of any age, size, or breed can be your very own search and rescue dog! Any size dog, from the little Chihuahua to the Great Dane, can help its owner survive...and they find you every day already when they want to play or eat, so why not learn what else they can do to help you!

One of our biggest fears and chores during a disaster is losing or finding a loved one, and every dog has the ability to find its family members or friends. We, as dog owners, only need to learn how to use the natural ability of the dog to the full advantage during emergencies.

The Family Disaster Dogs book is full of fun and easy lessons that are tailored for the family to learn disaster preparedness with pets, including search and rescue skills in the comfort of the home during daily activities by former Search Dog Instructor Amber Higgins, who spent over a decade breeding and training AKC Bloodhounds for nationwide Search and Rescue FEMA volunteer work along with German Shepherd Dogs.

Here's a few of the skills you and your dog can learn:

Ask any dog to find family members and friends who are lost or missing !

Learn how your dog can be a messenger dog !

How any size dog can carry extra supplies if you have to evacuate.

Learn how to pack and use a Dog Bug-out Bag with 3 days of survival supplies for you and your dog.

Teach your dog to alert you to danger and warning sirens with these easy at home lessons.

If you are trapped in an earthquake. Your dog can find you, dig you out or bring you first aid until rescuers arrive !

Send your dog for help or to your partner or child on command, it's easy to do with this book.

Teach your dog to bring you items by name and much more !

Teach the whole family how to use the family dog as their own search and rescue dog in tornado, floods, earthquakes and to find lost loved ones !

Don't have a dog then this book is a great gift for a friend or neighbor who has a dog and they can come to your rescue too !

Use this book to form a neighborhood Family Disaster Dog group at church or clubs to help neighbors until emergency response arrives !

Be sure to have a look at the "My Puppy Can Find Me" children's picture book by Amber Higgins for young children and parents to learn what to do if a child is ever lost or missing. The children learn a fun game to play with the family dog to "go find mom or dad". Parents learn how to use their dog to find a child that wandered off or is missing.

Sometimes first responders and the police are overwhelmed with calls for help and they may not reach you right away.

Do you know what to do if help cannot reach you? What if the roads are blocked by high water or downed trees? What do you do if you cannot find a loved one? What if you are out camping and a family member gets lost and does not return to camp. Waiting for help to arrive often takes hours and during that time the person may go further away from camp, may get injured or worst. That is why I wrote these books. To help you help yourself and loved ones when help is not near. Time is critical when a person's life is at stake.

If you have a dog in the family, these easy fun lessons will teach you and your dog what to do. These books have helped people all over the world to learn how to save a person's life. Why not have a look at the books and the 285 page Family Disaster Dogs blog ?

I keep the four books free on audible and kindle so everyone can afford to be prepared and learn these valuable skills. Sharing this information with you at no cost is my mission, my way of helping communities worldwide. I spent many years training daily with my own dogs and volunteering to find missing person with county search and rescue squads. I learned a wealth of information during those years about emergency response and disasters, information that is not readily available to the public due to the amount of knowledge required and liability laws. That information is what I share with you, the public, and as a seasoned educated writer I try very hard to keep the lessons simple so even a child can learn.

Have a look at the books on the book page in the page menu above or visit my author page at Amazon.

If you do not use Amazon the books are available at book stores and retail outlets worldwide, a simple internet search will show you where. Please feel free to ask me for a copy or to train in person if that is easier for you! I will be happy to meet with you anytime and work with your dog, just ask!

Mantrailing Bloodhound History

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0600

Bloodhound History

Not long ago, the bloodhound was the only breed in the USA that was a Mantrailing dog. Which is a trailing type of hunting dog that is used for find living human beings who are on the move and not animals.

A Mantrailing dog follows the person's scent as the person moves and leaves a trail of scent. The dogs will go anywhere the person or scent has gone until the end of the trail or they find the person. Many times the person may no longer be living but the bloodhound will find the body because of the scent trail the person created. If a recently deceased body is moved the bloodhound will continue to follow the scent.

Other breeds are and were known as tracking dogs. And, the bloodhound was the only breed of dog that was allowed to be used to prove a person’s identity in a court of law.

The phrase Mantrailing was first used by bloodhound handlers because the breed was used to trail people. Over time training standards and methods developed to be used to train newcomers how-to handle the breed. In the past, the breed was rarely only a pet and not long ago there were not many breeders across the USA, we as breeders either worked to find missing persons or to preserve the breed in the show ring. The breed was then considered a rare breed.

Here in America, the breed was first used to find runaway criminals and yes, runaway slaves back when the breed came with our founding fathers to build the USA. When Search and Rescue became an organized volunteer effort, the bloodhound and other breeds were used as search dogs.

Today in the USA, the incredible nose and stamina of the bloodhound continues to be used for “Mantrailing” with police and trained volunteer Search and Rescue teams.

In the last decade the breed has become more popular as a pet, although they are difficult to train in obedience and manners, and often are called stubborn because of the determination that has been bred into the breed to continue on a trail to find a missing person.

They really are not stubborn but very willing to please when they are not following their nose which they often do constantly because a good mantrailing dog is bred to do just that.

Pictured above is my bloodhound Gus who I rescued last year after him and brother Sam were abandoned during very cold weather. They are young and still growing in these pictures

The bloodhound will follow a scent off a high mountain rock wall, up a train track even with a train coming at them because they are so focused on the scent its as if they are wearing blinders blocking out the surroundings.

The breed gets lost easily which is rather ironic because they find person but will get lost themselves. For this reason it’s always recommended to keep them leashed because once they find a scent they like to follow, away they go and many do not back track and find their way home. They will run for miles and finally when they stop they do not know where they are.

The name bloodhound is often thought to be given to the breed because they track or follow a blood trail. This is not true. The dogs are actually named a bloodhound because they were one of the first breeds of dogs that had a pedigree, Therefore it was a blue blooded hound or purebred.

The bloodhound was originally bred in a monastery in Belgium for over 700 years and the monks kept a pedigree of the dogs they bred, those dogs were called Saint Herbert Hounds. Back then the dogs were solid white.

When explorers and travelers found the monastery, the monks would often give a pair of hounds to the travelers to take back to their own countries.

Consequently, the white hounds were considered quite sacred coming from the monks. When the dogs arrived in the other countries they were bred with local hounds and they lost their white coats. Slowly over time the breed became black and tans, liver and red in color. They also became known as the Bloodhound because they were a pure blooded hound.

If you would like to learn more about mantrailing, have a look at my books on the book page, I hope you enjoyed this post.

Happy trails to you in the new year,

Amber Higgins

Founder and author of Family Disaster Dogs

Train Your Dog Here

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 20:22:00 -0600

Train your Dogs to Rescue You and Family.

How?

Be sure to check out the book page in the menu above

The Family Disaster Dog books are free on Kindle and audible as my way of helping everyone be prepared with their pets.

Planning to Take your Pet on Vacation or Holiday with You

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Thu, 2 Nov 2023 22:00:00 -0500

I want to share this great guide and article with you, in case, you plan to take your dogs on holiday with you.

Dogs are family, so spending holidays with them can have positive mutual benefits. This is further explored in the guide, 29+ important reasons to take your dog on your family holiday.

It shares some of the interesting discussions, such as:

Mutual benefits (for the person and the dog) when taking dogs on a holiday
Best pet-friendly places in the UK to explore when spending holidays with dogs for our friends in the UK and others who plan to visit the UK.

This guide also explores many insights and studies which elaborate on the reasons for wanting to get a dog. Found in the piece is a study from the Canine Behavior and Research team at Dog Trust that reported 48.2% of current owners and 69.7% of potential owners considered having a dog to facilitate their exercise.

You can read the full version here:

https://www.dogfriendlycottages.co.uk/benefits-of-pets-on-holiday/index.html

Biggest Mistake Dog Owners Make

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Sat, 28 Oct 2023 14:18:00 -0500

Biggest Mistake Dog Owners Make

I just came across this fantastic free online workshop on dog training from the K9 Training Institute that I recommend that you sign up for right away.

This is the first workshop of its kind that is designed to help "normal" dogs like yours have the same level of calmness, obedience and impulse control as service dogs.

The workshop was a complete eye-opener for me and helped me understand why regular dog owners often have so much difficulty training their dogs.

Washee photo copyright A. Higgins

Giving Your Dog a Job to Do

One of the many things I learned from the workshop is the biggest mistake that most dog owners make with their dogs is that they don't give their dogs work to do.

The reason service dogs are so well-behaved is that they always have work to do.

Now, by “job” or “work”, I don’t mean that a service dog is always doing something physical in nature.

Instead, what I mean is that when you give a service dog the hand signal for the DOWN cue for instance, here’s how the service dog would have been trained to think:

“My owner has now given me the job of lying down. So I will remain lying down here in this exact spot until my owner tells me to do something else, because the job that my owner wants me to do for her now is to lie down.”

So unlike most “normal” dogs who think of DOWN as just a trick that they have to perform for a few seconds after which they can do whatever they feel like, service dogs think of DOWN as a serious job that they have to do with commitment, dedication and purpose until they get their next job from their owner.

As you can imagine, it’s a dramatically different mindset!

And this mindset is the reason service dogs are so well-behaved, and so many “normal” dogs (even if they know cues like DOWN or SIT) are not.

How to Train Your Dog to Have the Same Mindset as a Service Dog

The good news is that you can train your dog to have the same mindset as a service dog as well.

That’s precisely where K9 Training Institute's free online workshop comes in.

It helps you to train your dog using the exact same techniques used by the service dog training industry.

It's being conducted by Dr. Alexa Diaz (one of the top service dog trainers in the U.S.) and Eric Presnall (host of the hit Animal Planet TV show "Who Let the Dogs Out").

Frankly, the techniques described in the workshop are fairly groundbreaking - I haven't seen anyone else talk of these techniques.

This is because it's the first time ever (at least that I know of) that anyone has revealed the secret techniques used by the service dog training industry to train service dogs.

The tips shared in this free workshop work on ALL dog breeds - from small breeds like Pomeranians and Chihuahuas to large breeds like English Mastiffs and Great Danes.

Also, puppies as young as 6 weeks old, and previously untrained adult dogs as old as 13 years, have been successfully trained using these techniques.

It's not a live workshop - rather, it's a pre-recorded workshop, which means that you can watch it at your convenience.

However, while the workshop is free, I am not sure whether it's going to be online for too long, so please check it out as soon as you can.

Here's the link again.

If You Own a Dog, Or Are Just About to Get One, This is For You

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 14:15:00 -0500

If You Own a Dog, Or Are Just About to Get One, This is For You

Training a dog is certainly the hardest part of owning a dog. It can be very frustrating having a dog that is not housebroken, or barks excessively, or keeps pulling on the leash during your walks, or doesn't respond whenever it's called, or jumps up on people, etc.

You'll be fed up, because it’s pretty exhausting to keep trying to make them listen. You'll wonder how professional dog trainers help dogs behave exactly the way they (the trainers) want them to.

But hiring a trainer can be quite expensive, and to be honest, you don’t really need to.

I’ll explain how in a minute. First, let me talk about WHY your dog seems to be so hard to train...

The reason you are having so much difficulty training your dog is that you've been doing dog training the outdated way.

It's not your fault though. The fault really lies with all the bad dog training information that's out there on the Internet and elsewhere.

Most people start training their dogs using verbal cues or commands like SIT, STAY, etc. Because that's what they have been taught to do by numerous books on dog training and by all the videos they've seen on the Internet.

Here's the problem - that's exactly how NOT to train a dog!

Why?

Because the science of animal behavior says that starting your training using verbal cues sets your dog up for failure.

Dogs that are trained only using verbal cues never get trained properly. Or at least, the training doesn’t last long.

So what's the best way to train a dog?

The science is very clear on this - dogs are best trained by using body language. Now, this doesn't mean that you should never use verbal cues. What it means is that you should always START your dog's training using body language. Later on, you can bring in a verbal cue to reinforce your dog's training.

That's it? Yeah, that's it :-)

So how do you train your dog using body language?

I just came across this fantastic free workshop from the K9 Training Institute that helps you learn how to do just that.

The workshop is designed to help "normal" dogs like yours have the same level of calmness, obedience and impulse control as service dogs.

It's being conducted by Dr. Alexa Diaz (one of the top service dog trainers in the U.S.) and Eric Presnall (host of the hit Animal Planet TV show "Who Let the Dogs Out").

Frankly, the techniques described in the workshop are fairly groundbreaking - I haven't seen anyone else talk of these techniques.

This is because it's the first time ever (at least that I know of) that anyone has revealed the secret techniques used by the service dog training industry to train service dogs.

In the free workshop, you'll discover:

How to train your dog using body language, rather than verbal cues
The 3 key techniques that service dog trainers use to train dogs, and how you can use them too
The most important step that "normal" dog owners have been missing (this is very important to get your dog’s attention, and it works 100% of the time)
How to stop bad behaviors like excessive barking, pulling on the leash, jumping, etc.
Why a lot of dog owners are unable to establish the amazing bond that service dog trainers have with their dogs etc.

The tips shared in this free workshop work on ALL dog breeds - from small breeds like Pomeranians and Chihuahuas to large breeds like English Mastiffs and Great Danes.

Also, puppies as young as 6 weeks old, and previously untrained adult dogs as old as 13 years, have been successfully trained using these techniques.

It's not a live workshop - rather, it's a pre-recorded workshop, which means that you can watch it at your convenience.

However, while the workshop is free, I am not sure whether it's going to be online for too long, so please check it out as soon as you can.

Here's the link again.

About Family Disaster Dogs

familyddog@gmail.com (A.Higgins) — Sun, 22 Oct 2023 14:32:00 -0500

Click above to preview the Family Disaster Dogs book

The Family Disaster Dogs books, website and social media give dog owners a way to learn how-to prepare for disasters with pets by offering online posts and lessons that encourage the training of family dogs to assist in disasters and how-to use a dog to find people who may go missing.

Visitors worldwide browse over 260 blog posts of dog care and training at familydisasterdogs.com where books, courses and emergency resource lists are available and regularly updated with new content.

Family Disaster Dogs has a huge following of furbaby households and global emergency response teams who frequent the site for information on current natural disaster events, dog training and preparedness for floods, hurricanes, tornados, evacuation and wildfires.

Author, Amber Higgins' work was first published in the 1990's offline newspapers and magazines. She has over thirty years experience in the pet industry and dog breeding. With fifteen years devoted to volunteer K9 Search and Rescue with her Bloodhounds and German Shepherd dogs. The books are available on the Amazon's distributor network in paperback, kindle and audible everywhere. She lives with her wolf and two bloodhounds.

The Books

Family Disaster Dogs

Evacuate with Your Dog's Help (Includes Evacuation Supply List, Pet CPR)

My Puppy Can Find Me children's book

Start Mantrailing Step by Step

A Squirrel Planted an Acorn ( A short story about nature)

Click to visit Amber's author page

Family-Disaster-Dogs

Your Dog Can Rescue You

Training a Dog versus Teaching a Dog

Example

Therefore

Best wishes for 2026 !

Train a Dog to Find People. Mantrailing Book is a Great Gift !

Debunking Common Dog Myths: What's Fact and What's Fiction?

A Wagging Tail Always Means a Happy Dog

Dogs See in Black and White

You Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

Garlic Is Good for Dogs

Dogs Eat Grass When They're Sick

All Dogs Hate Cats

Conclusion

5 Reasons to Prepare Pets for Natural Disasters, Tornados, Hurricanes, Floods

Here are six reasons you should prepare for disasters with pets, along with some tips on how to do so:

Fire Danger Spring Cleanup Can Start a Wildfire

Fire Warning Mowing and Weed Whacking Can Start a Wildfire

Be Prepared with Your Dog

New Children's Christmas Book My Puppy Finds Santa by Amber Higgins 2024

🎄 New Book Release: My Puppy Finds Santa! 🎅

Visit the book page to see all my books

New Children's Christmas Book featuring a bloodhound puppy 2024

Stay Tuned for a New Book Release !!

Happy Fall Season 2024!

Coming soon a new children's picture book featuring a bloodhound puppy finding Santa.

Here's a preview of some of the artwork.

What do you think ? I love hearing your feedback and what readers think.

Copyright Amber Higgins 2024 images created using Microsoft copilot

My Puppy Can Find Me Book by Amber Higgins

My Puppy Can Find Me by Amber Higgins

Read the 260 Free articles Here and Learn about How Amazing Dogs Are

Learn How Your Dogs Can Help You!

Read the articles on this blog,,,

There's a list of over 260 posts below

Amber's Books for dog owners to be ready

Check out the books on the Book Page

Children Teach a Puppy to Go Find Mom Dad and Teddy Bear too!

Are You Worried About The Health Of Your Dog? Here's What To Do

Use a Pet Dog to Find Lost and missing Children, Seniors and Friends

Use your dog to find Family and Friends, especially disabled and special needs loved ones

Intro

The Family Pack

Here's How

How-to Ask a Dog to Find a Lost Child

Trust your Dog

Practice makes Perfect

Summary

How To Avoid Injuries To Your Dog

Understand your dog’s risk factors

Brush up your knowledge of the dog breed and health conditions

Take your dog for a regular walk every day

Keep your dog cool indoors and outdoors

Avoid slippery surfaces

Consider dog supplements for joints

Watch for signs and fatigue or overexertion

Why Every Dog Owner Needs to Get Pet Insurance

A Degree of Legal Protection

Financial Buffer for Vet Visits

Encourages Early Veterinary Care

There’s Something for Every Budget

What is a Family Disaster Dog? It's Your Dog Trained to Rescue You!

What is a family disaster dog? It is a dog trained to find and rescue you!

Mantrailing Bloodhound History

Bloodhound History

Train Your Dog Here

Planning to Take your Pet on Vacation or Holiday with You

Biggest Mistake Dog Owners Make

Biggest Mistake Dog Owners Make

Giving Your Dog a Job to Do

How to Train Your Dog to Have the Same Mindset as a Service Dog

If You Own a Dog, Or Are Just About to Get One, This is For You

If You Own a Dog, Or Are Just About to Get One, This is For You

About Family Disaster Dogs

The Books

What do you think ?
I love hearing your feedback and what readers think.