Dog-Owner Basics

Your dog will be your best buddy, your biggest fan, and your most ardent supporter. Here's an overview of your end of the bargain:

 

Dogs need some space
to call their own.

• Take care of your dog's health. Provide proper nutrition, water, shelter, exercise, grooming, and vet care.
• Teach your dog to behave. Just like we teach our children manners so they will be civil adults, you must teach your dog to be a functional member of the family. An untrained dog is a nuisance and a menace.
• Give your dog enough exercise. Different breeds and personalities require different levels of activity and types of exercise. Dogs need to be walked or let outside several times a day for exercise and elimination.
• Play with your dog, and provide plenty of toys. Walks are great and necessary, but dogs also need one-on-one play time. You should provide a variety of safe toys for your dog, too, to help keep her amused in your absence.
• Pick up after your dog. Whether at the park, on the street, or even in your own yard, you need to dispose of your dog's waste. Dog waste carries microorganisms that can seep into groundwater supplies and make people sick. (It also kills the grass as it decomposes.) It is your duty as a responsible pet owner to be prepared for this eventuality whenever you take your dog outside.
• Keep your dog on your property or on a leash. Do not let him wander around the neighborhood -- this is not safe for your dog or considerate to your community. In some communities, it is illegal.
• Discourage excessive barking. One of your dog's "jobs" (aside from providing nonstop adoration) is to warn against intruders. You will have to teach your dog what level of response is appropriate for your living situation. A dog in an apartment building, for example, cannot bark every time someone walks past your front door.
• Spend as much time as possible with your pup. Dogs need attention, and they also need companionship. Snoozing in a corner as you browse online or cook dinner is rewarding for your dog, too. When you can't be there, put on the radio or TV to keep your dog company.
• Never let your dog bite anyone -- even in play. Biting is a completely unacceptable activity. There is nothing "cute" about biting. If you don't make this clear from the beginning, you are failing to socialize your pet, and your pet will pay the price. Dogs who bite cannot live with a family.
• Unless you intend to breed your dog, spay or neuter your pup. It is better for your dogs' health and the community -- there are too many homeless animals as it is. Animal shelters feel so strongly about this that they often require you to pay for spaying or neutering a dog as part of the adoption process, or provide the service for a low fee to any pet owners in the community.
• Get a license and an ID tag. No matter how carefully you watch your dog, he may get lost. Quick identification of your pet increases the likelihood of a happy ending to a potentially tragic situation. A current photo of your pet would be helpful, too.
• Supervise dogs and children, particularly young children, at all times. No matter how "good" your dog is, you cannot anticipate her every response. The same can be said for children, particularly children who are not familiar with your dog.
• Designate an emergency contact in case of sudden illness or accident. Make provisions in your will, as well, for the care of your pet. Do not assume that people will take on this responsibility; ask friends or family if they are willing before you designate them to care for your pet in your absence.