Responsible Dog Ownership

When we select a companion dog, we are choosing another member of our family. It is important to treat all of our family with respect and give them everything they deserve.

One of the main purposes for Kennel Clubs and Dog Breed Clubs is to teach responsible dog ownership. If there is a club in your area, you might think about joining. There is lots of information not only about breeds but about how to work with dogs, training them to be good companions. Check out the websites for the Canadian Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club.

Most humans like dogs and many select a dog for companionship. Some are individuals, some are couples and many are families. We'll talk another time about important things to look for when selecting a dog for you or your family.

You can go to an animal shelter and rescue a dog. The folks at the Shelter are generally able to help you with the breeds or mix of breeds in a specific dog, his or her probable age and the type of environment where that dog would most likely thrive. You can go to a breeder and pick a puppy or perhaps an older dog. You can also scan the newspaper classified ads for older dogs. (Sometimes change of circumstance forces people to find new homes for their pets.)

Today, I want to touch on how we make ourselves responsible dog owners. This is so important because dogs do not ask much and we - their humans - need to understand that they rely upon us for their safety.

Every dog needs a collar and a tag. If Fido or Fifi should meander away and someone finds him or her, they will be able to telephone you. Collars are available at all pet stores and the pet departments of K-Mart, WalMart and Target (to name a few). Tags can be ordered by mail, but I made a real nice one for our Buddy at PetSmart. They have a machine there that is simple to use. I put our last name and our telephone number on Buddy's tag.

Some people are wary of putting the dog's own call name on his tag because they feel it enables people who want to steal a dog. The point is that a potential thief could look at the dog's name and then commence talking to him as though he knew him (or her).

When purchasing a collar, you can also get a matching lead for those walks your dog enjoys so much! When training a dog to walk nicely or perhaps when taking him somewhere very exciting (like PetSmart), you may want to have a training lead or what some people call a "choke lead". What this does is give a little jerk when Fido gets out of control. It is simply a gentle reminder and not punishment. (Tip, before slipping this type of lead on your dog's neck, place it on your hand to ensure you have it going the correct way. When you jerk on it, it should tighten up around your hand.)

All dogs need water available all the time. If you crate a dog for long periods of time, do place a water bottle - usually a guinea pig type of bottle on the crate from the outside with the long tube facing into the crate.

Each dog eats differently. Some are voracious eaters; others are picky. One of my friends has the motto, "When the dog is hungry, the dog will eat". That is pretty sensible really. (Some dogs eat so quickly that they do not digest their food and end up being sick.)

We feed Buddy morning and late afternoon. Some people like to feed only once a day and there is a general rule about that. Dogs who you want to guard, should be fed in the morning and strictly companion dogs can be fed in the evening. Food is calming.

My comments are about companion dogs - some of whom also do a good guarding job - but inside dogs, not outdoor dogs. I don't like to see a dog kept outside. Where we live, it gets much too hot for a dog to be outside all the time.

It is very important to make certain your dog has all his or her shots up to date. Never trust to fate that a squirrel or other small infected animal will not come into your back yard. Never think that every other dog or cat your dog meets is perfectly healthy with current shots. This is fundamental.

Never, never give a dog as a gift without first checking that the recipient really wants the dog. Dogs become members of the family and deserve to be treated as such - with kindness.

Every dog deserves a fenced yard and a family who make sure he is let back in when he wants to come inside.

Treat your dog with respect because - you know - he thinks the world of you!

American Kennel Club Website http://www.akc.org
Canadian Kennel Club Website http://www.ckc.ca