Chicago's Dog Friendly Navy Pier

When you’re looking for somewhere fun for you and your dog, make plans to stop by Navy Pier. This dog-friendly place offers plenty of fun and excitement for pets and people. Find out more about what you can do at Navy Pier.

Dog-Friendly Areas

Which areas of Navy Pier allow dogs? You can bring your pup for a stroll through many of the outdoor areas of the pier, but keep in mind that dogs must be kept on a leash. Dogs are allowed at the south promenade and park, as well as on some of the restaurant patios in the area. Dogs aren’t allowed to be on the beaches by the Lakefront Trail, and you can’t bring your pup inside any buildings.

Things to Do

What can you and your dog do at Navy Pier? You can walk through the park, promenade and other outdoor areas to take in the sights while your dog sniffs around. You can also take a Shoreline Sightseeing cruise or water taxi with your pup. This gives you a chance to learn more about the area and get scenic views while you and your dog enjoy the boat ride.

Navy Pier Rules

While you’re at Navy Pier with your dog, there are rules to be aware of. You should avoid taking your dog to areas where pets aren’t allowed, and your dog should stay on a leash at all times. This helps keep your dog and other people and pets safe. You should also make sure that you clean up after your dog. Bring water with you for your pet, especially if you’re going to Navy Pier on hot days.

Navy Pier is a great place to go in order to keep your dog busy, but there are other options available when you don’t have time to head over there. Dog walking and dog daycare services make it possible for your dog to still get exercise and time to play when you can’t be around.

If you need more information on dog daycare to keep your pup active, contact DoGone Fun.

This article was originally published at https://www.dogonefunchicago.com/owning-a-dog/chicagos-dog-friendly-navy-pier/

Why Adopt and Not Buy a Dog?

When you’re thinking about getting a dog, you have the choice to either adopt or buy one. Why should you go with adopting a dog instead of purchasing one from a breeder or pet store? There are many reasons for choosing to adopt.

Life-Saving Opportunity

Millions of dogs end up in shelters each year, and some of those are euthanized due to overcrowding. When you adopt a dog from a shelter, you’re helping save the lives of these pets. The more people who adopt, the fewer pets there would be in shelters overall. This would help reduce the number of dogs that are euthanized each year in overcrowded shelters.

Good Companionship

Dogs that are adopted from shelters tend to make excellent pets. In many cases, dogs are brought to shelters due to circumstances that they can’t help, such as an owner moving away. When you adopt one of these dogs, you’ll have a new companion who is eager to provide you with plenty of love.

Lower Costs

Purchasing a dog from a pet store or breeder can cost a lot of money. Dog adoptions typically cost significantly less and usually include spaying or neutering costs and vaccination costs. This helps you save money overall while still getting a pet for your home.

Puppy Mills

Adopting dogs from shelters helps fight puppy mills. These unethical mills breed dogs over and over in order to provide a high number of puppies to buyers, so they can make a profit. Dogs and puppies in puppy mills are kept in unsanitary conditions, affecting their health and quality of life.

Dog Training

In some cases, dogs are brought to shelters due to behavioral problems, but these issues can be corrected with dog training. Having adopted dogs go through training benefits them and their owners. A well-trained dog is more pleasant to live with overall, and the training process helps build a strong bond between dogs and people.

If your dog needs some professional training, please contact DoGone Fun for more information. We offer different training services, including classes and individual sessions.

This article was originally published at https://www.dogonefunchicago.com/owning-a-dog/why-adopt-and-not-buy-a-dog/

Puppies: What Vaccinations Does He Really Need?

Vaccinations are an important part of keeping puppies healthy. While there are several available, do puppies need all of them? Find out which vaccinations your puppy should have.

Core Vaccines

Core vaccines are ones that veterinarians recommend that all pups get. These vaccines protect dogs from potentially serious and even fatal illnesses. Keep in mind that there are also legal requirements for certain vaccinations, such as rabies. Vaccines that are considered core vaccinations include canine distemper virus, parvovirus, adenovirus, canine parainfluenza and rabies.

It’s important to note that the exact core vaccines puppies need might vary depending on other factors, such as certain risk factors. Your veterinarian can let you know which core vaccines your puppy should definitely have in order to stay in good health. In general, puppies should get a rabies vaccine around 16 weeks of age. For other core vaccines, puppies might get them when they are six weeks old or between ten and 12 weeks old, depending on the type of vaccine being administered. Puppies will then need boosters for full protection.

Non-Core Vaccines

Non-core vaccines are ones that not all dogs need. These vaccines are recommended based on a puppy’s lifestyle and environment. For example, puppies that are in daycare or boarding should get certain non-core vaccines, while those that don’t use these facilities might not need them. Non-core vaccines include bordetella bronchiseptica, leptospira, Lyme disease and certain canine influenza virus types.

When your puppy is going to stay at a dog boarding facility or participating in doggy daycare, you can expect certain vaccine requirements. These requirements help protect your dog and other dogs in the facility from becoming sick with diseases that are potentially severe. You will need to show proof from your vet that your puppy has received the required vaccinations and that they are up-to-date.

If you plan on using a dog boarding or daycare facility, contact DoGone Fun to learn more about our vaccination requirements. We require certain vaccinations for all dogs who board or attend daycare, such as rabies, parvovirus and bordetella (kennel cough).

This article was originally published at https://www.dogonefunchicago.com/owning-a-dog/puppies-what-vaccinations-does-he-really-need/