Dog Help (Phoenix, Surprise: daycare, landscaping, living in)

[MalteseJane]

I live 15 minutes away from Surprise in the middle of the desert. My dog has not had any heartworm or flea and tick prevention since we moved here 2 years ago. We don't have any fleas or ticks here. I am reluctant to put chemicals on my dog when it is not absolutely necessary. My daughter lives in Glendale since 1997 and she has never had a flea or tick problem. The only time she had mosquitoes was when the next door pool was not taken care of. I have a friend with dogs in Surprise, she never mentioned a flea or tick problem but I can ask her specifically. There are coyotes somewhere because she can hear them sometimes. I don't leave my dog out alone in the yard and when we go on a walk he is always leashed. And yes a coyote can jump a 6 ft to 8 ft fence. Snakes and scorpions like water. They are more likely found where there is a pool.

[lyzzard]

I live in Surprise and we bought a puppy at the beginning of the month. I took him out for a walk (first time since he had been neutered) and later that evening found a tick on him, so yes, they are here. Now I just use the drops along his back and don't give it a second thought. As for mosquitoes... they happen, just thankfully not in large numbers. I'm lucky in that this area backyards are not large enough for pools, so not too many places with water just sitting around. As another poster said, use heartworm medication in the summer and not in the winter.

There are coyotes here. We saw one crossing the street just a couple weeks ago. And there are hawks/vultures flying over head. Huge birds, can't miss them. I doubt they will snatch a small dog unless you have a large backyard or they get loose and run around the neighborhood.

Scorpions are here as well. Crickets are a problem with the dog poop, keep your yard clean. We didn't have any crickets until we bought our dog, and our neighbors don't clean up their yard often. (all rocks and 2 dogs) I found a small scorpion just hanging around on the wall in the garage. Smashed it of course, but now I'm doing everything I can to get rid of the damn crickets. Hate the buggers!! Need to get a black light now

[phxgreenfire]

I agree with watching out for raptors. One morning I saw half a cat the owls got. I had a husky who got interested in a snake that got into my parents' backyard. I think in Surprise your biggest problems will be raptors, coyotes and snakes. But really watch the pug in Phoenix. I have a Bugg (Boston terrier/pug hybrid) and because of his short snout, it can be a lot harder to cool off. He had a 20 minute walk today and tried to lie down on the tiles in the apartment lobby because he was too hot.

[observer53]

Fleas not so much of a problem here. Ticks, yes, they've been around here forever. If you are concerned, ask your neighbors; if any of them have had a problem, consult a pest control company. And I agree that the greatest risk to a pug here is the heat.

[Ritchie_az]

And watch out for the Pteranodon. Oh, and the Gila Monster, too! Yikes!







Really, you should be more concerned about making sure your dog has plenty of water in the summer.

[sells500]

Thanks All, That is exactly the information I was looking for...really helpful. Thanks again so much.

[phxgreenfire]

Originally Posted by Ritchie_az

And watch out for the Pteranodon. Oh, and the Gila Monster, too! Yikes!







Really, you should be more concerned about making sure your dog has plenty of water in the summer.

Mod Cut: Assumption.

raptor: noun. A bird of prey, including hawks, eagles and owls

[Ritchie_az]

Mod Cut: Responding to edited post.

As far as what I posted, it was commentary in general about folks being worried over creatures (whether in the sky or on the ground) swiping poor fluffy away out of the blocked-in walls of Surprise. Yeah, it could happen. But the odds are so increadibly slim, there are more important things to worry about (like making sure fluffy is hydrated in the summer).

Mod Cut: See above.

[Zippyman]

Originally Posted by Ritchie_az

I didn't go to 1) a public school or 2) a school in Arizona. But thanks for making assuptions. Apparently you're good at that! I'm sure whatever school you went to taught you well.

As far as what I posted, it was commentary in general about folks being worried over creatures (whether in the sky or on the ground) swiping poor fluffy away out of the blocked-in walls of Surprise. Yeah, it could happen. But the odds are so increadibly slim, there are more important things to worry about (like making sure fluffy is hydrated in the summer).

But you are just so much smarter than me, so I'm sure you already knew that.

This is a desert environment, and there are dangerous creatures here.

Feel free to read all about it...


Hospital: Snakebite Victim 1 Of 5 Since Sunday - Phoenix News Story - KPHO Phoenix

[Ritchie_az]

This is a desert environment, and there are dangerous creatures here.

Feel free to read all about it...

Good gosh, I know about the dangerous creatures. Heck, I worked on the Goldwater range among the creatures once upon a time.
Mod Cut: Off topic.

It's the same with the dangerous creatures mentioned on here. Yeah, it's true, they're out there. But the odds of an owl swooping down a carrying off fluffy is so increadibly small. The odds of a coyote jumping the block wall and making fluffy lunch is so increadibly small. There are just so many more important things to be worried about. The OP doesn't need to be freaked out every time she lets fluffy out back to leak.