Advice On Caring For Your Dog Responsibly

by justmesuzanne

posted on 04/15/2009

Almost everyone loves dogs. That's why they are the most popular pet nationwide. With over forty five million dog owners in the United States, it is easy to see that responsible pet ownership is a very important issue. Clearly many people have dreamed of having a happy, healthy best friend. However, it is very important to do your research before choosing a dog as a member of your family. There is quite a bit to know about being a successful and responsible dog owner. When you are a responsible dog owner, you make life better for yourself, your family members, your dog, and your neighbors.

Here are a few things you will want to know about being a responsible dog owner.

Take good care of your dog's health care needs. It is best to take any dog you are considering to the vet before you commit to adding him to your family. You will want to know about any problems the dog may have before you commit to becoming financially responsible for him. If you decide this dog is the dog for you, be sure to get all vaccinations up-to-date and have the dog spayed or neutered. You will save yourself and your neighborhood a lot of trouble by eliminating your dog's periodic urges to carouse.

Keep your dog healthy by feeding a high quality food. Of course high quality foods are expensive, but in the long run, a healthy diet will save you a lot of money in vet bills later on. A good diet will help prevent skin problems, hip dysplasia, dental problems and many other common maladies. Discuss food brands with your vet, and settle on a good one. If your dog likes it, and it seems to keep him strong and healthy, that's great! Dogs don't appreciate change in diet, so just keep getting him the brand that works. He will appreciate it.

Keep your dog happy and comfortable with good equipment. Be sure he has his own, indestructible food and water dishes and a nice comfortable bed that will keep him warm, dry, and up off the hard floor. This, too, will pay off as time goes on and your dog gets older. Having a good bed will lessen or eliminate the presence of arthritis. Also, be sure your dog has a nice selection of toys and specially processed bones to keep him occupied and happy. My two big dogs like very tough rubber toys, nylon bones, and bones that have been baked to make them super hard. Toy selection will vary from breed to breed according to size and style of play. Dogs that like to snuggle with their toys will naturally want different toys than those that like to gnaw on their toys until there is nothing left to gnaw!

Keep your dog well groomed. Brush him at least every other day. Bathe him occasionally. Be careful not to bathe your dog too often or use a shampoo that is too harsh. This can cause skin irritation. It is best to use a very mild shampoo and bathe only as needed. My two very short haired dogs only get complete baths about twice a year. In between, they get regular brushing and a wipe down with a damp wash cloth about once or twice a week. This is plenty for them. Use your best judgment and/or consult with your vet, and don't overdo it on the bathing.

Train and socialize your dog. Get a good training collar (a slip chain) and a strong, soft leash that will not hurt your hand. Many trainers recommend a 6' leash; however, with my two big, powerful dogs, I use horse leads that have been cut down to 3'. These are very strong and very soft. The shorter length gives me a lot more control of my dogs, and as big as they are, I would never want them to be able to get 6' of momentum going if they happened to see a rabbit or some other tempting morsel. So for me and my dogs, the shorter length works better.

It is a good idea to enroll yourself and your dog in a training class, even if you are a good trainer. Obedience classes give your dog a chance to socialize and get used to being in public. When a dog is well socialized, you can trust him in more situations, and he will be more likable to the general public. A well-trained, well-socialized dog is unlikely to cause you problems in public or attract complaints from your neighbors. My two big American Bulldog types are both friendly and well-trained, and I have never had any complaints regarding either of them or had any problems with their behavior in public.

I hope this article has been useful to you and has provided you with some food for thought as you make your decision about adding a dog to your family. Puppies are cute, cuddly little balls of fur - for awhile! However, they can quickly become "great balls of fire" if you are not a responsible dog owner!

For more information on dogs and dog training see:

Advice On Quieting Your Noisy Dog
http://www.advice.com/article.jsp?id=ba0c4f9ef41448c1a26887fd2198eb30

House Training Your Adult Dog
http://hubpages.com/_33f5nedcxoe0n/hub/House-Training-Your-Adult-Dog

Training Your Deaf Dog
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1642913/training_your_deaf_dog.html?cat=53

PHOTO:

Beauty from the Swiss Alps
Attribution License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/
Photographer: Randy Son Of Robert: everystockphoto.com

A well-trained, well-cared for dog is a fine friend for life!