Caring for a Dog

Housing

Dogs need a warm, quiet place to rest. You may buy a dog bed or simply make him a resting area on an old blanket in a quiet part of the house. Having his own special place to retreat is very important.

If your dog will be spending a lot of time outside, he will need a place where he is sheltered from the sun and rain. His bedding will need to be laundered more often. Outdoor dogs are also exposed to ticks, fleas, and other parasites. You need to know that you will be spending more on veterinary bills if your dog spends a lot of time outside. Ideally an outdoor dog should have a fenced in yard to protect him from getting lost and becoming a nuisance to neighbors.

Handling

The proper way to pick up a puppy or small dog is by placing your hand under its chest while supporting the hind legs with your other hand. Larger breeds are most often too heavy to lift.

Walking your dog on a leash is safest for him and also the best way to ensure he does not run away from you or into traffic. When traveling by car be sure your pet is always in a carrier.

You shouldn't disturb your pet when it is sleeping.

Health Care

When you adopt a dog, sometimes it will still need its first set of shots and a test for heartworms. It is the owner's responsibility to see that the dog gets these and to see that regular veterinary care is maintained. Your veterinarian will vaccinate your dog according to an age appropriate schedule. This will include a rabies vaccination when your dog is four months of age or older.

Adult dogs require yearly vaccinations. Your veterinarian will protect your dog from distemper, hepatitis, parvoviral enteritis, parainfluenza/bordatella, leptospirosis, and rabies.

Dogs are susceptible to heartworms which are contracted from mosquitoes. It is important that your dog receives monthly preventive medication against heart worm disease. It is also important to protect your pet from fleas and ticks. In addition to your veterinarian’s phone number, you should keep an emergency number handy.

Dogs need to be spayed or neutered also. Millions of dogs in this country are euthanized each year because there are not enough homes for them. Urge your friends to spay or neuter their pets to avoid contributing to the pet overpopulation problem. Spaying and neutering also decrease an animal’s chance of developing several types of cancer. You will see fewer veterinary bills with a healthier pet. Spaying and neutering also help prevent behavior problems.

Cleaning, Grooming, and Identification

How often you bathe your dog will depend on the breed and type of fur. Some breeds only need bathing several times a year while others will require more frequent baths. Ask your veterinarian what is recommended for your particular pet. When it is necessary to bathe your dog, be sure you use a shampoo made for dogs, other types may irritate their skin. You can also choose to bring your dog to a dog groomer for his/her bathing and nail-trimming. Regardless of how often you bathe your dog, frequent brushing is necessary to reduce shedding and prevent matting or knotting of the fur. This is a good time to check for fleas and ticks.

Your dog’s nails should be checked weekly and trimmed monthly if you choose to do this yourself. Cut only the white part of the nail. Never cut into the pink area where the veins are located! It is possible to cause damage by trimming the nails too close to the quick. On black nails it is just a little harder to find the quick. Under these circumstances take just the tip off. The more you clip the nails, the farther back the quick line is each time. I like to just take the tip off the nails once a month and do it as a routine. If you should nick the quick and it starts to bleed, rub some of the stylus pencil over it or apply pressure until it stops bleeding. Your veterinarian or an experienced groomer can demonstrate the proper method.

While it is recommended that you keep your dog inside or confined to a fenced-in yard, dogs do sometimes escape through an open door or jump or dig under a fence. It is very important that you purchase a collar with an identification tag.

Training and Behavior

All dogs will benefit by learning basic commands--Sit, Stay, Come, Down, Heel, Off, and Leave It--from an obedience class. The time and expense invested in this will have its rewards throughout your dog’s lifetime. Your veterinarian or the shelter may make some recommendations for available classes. You can also buy a good book on dog training at a bookstore and do this yourself with a bit of time and patience!

Unacceptable behavior should never be rewarded with positive attention. Consistency and timing are everything in training. Punishment has almost no effect, except perhaps to teach your dog fear.

Never ever hit your dog!

Reward your dog for obedient behavior with a hug, a favorite toy, a walk outside, or occasionally a special food treat. A loud, firm "No" should be the response to a disobedient dog. Do not play with him as long as he acts inappropriately.

Dogs are pack animals and as such do not like to be left alone. This trait also causes puppies to easily bond with members of a new human pack or family. In each pack there will be a leader. Your dog should never be ahead of any member of the family in pack order. This can lead to aggressive and dominant behavior.

Dogs are also creatures that den. They feel secure in small tight places. For this reason folks who approve of crate-training may find that using that as a method of housebreaking, works quite well. You may obtain more information on crate-training from the shelter.

Now, about puppies.

If you have any information you would like to add, please feel free to e-mail me!