10 things dog owners need to know

Here are a few things to keep in mind when either looking for a new dog or working with the one you have. Owning and living with a dog is one of life's best gifts, but not one to be rushed into or taken lightly. Dogs are wild animals with real thoughts, drives, talents, and needs. We must do our part to make sure we are offering our dog the absolute best care and exercise that we can. I hope this list helps a bit. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me...that's why I'm here!

Mike
919-788-8388

1. Buying a Pet Spontaneously: Don’t rush! Do research on dog breeds, what jobs they were bred to do and how much exercise they REQUIRE. Find out how intelligent a specific breed is. The smarter the dog the harder and longer you must exercise and train each day. Find a breed that will fit into your life, don’t try to alter your life to fit the dog. Don’t get a dog just because she is cute…all puppies are cute!

2. Nothing in life is free: Don't spoil a dog with handouts, make them work for their keep. Give your dog physical and mental exercise. Remember, a tired dog is a happy dog. Set limits, boundaries and don’t be afraid to say “no”. Dogs must see you, the owner, as pack leader, mom, boss…whatever you want to call it.

3. Train from an early age: Most basic manners and life lessons can be taught while the dog is less than 3 months old. Taking a training class will teach you what you need to know and socialize your dog. Socialization and training is a process that lasts months, not an event!

4. Don’t unwittingly start bad habits. If you start feeding your dog human food from the table, he’ll always want human food from the table. If you start letting your dog sleep in your bed, he’ll always want to sleep in your bed. If you let your cute puppy jump on you, you will have a dog that jumps on everyone. Unless you really don’t mind living with a pet who begs during every meal, hogs your covers and jumps at you for attention, you seriously may not mind those things! Do not to let these behaviors take root.

5. Humanization/Anthropomorphism: If you treat your dog as a human your dog will treat you as a dog. If you treat your dog as a dog your dog will treat you as a dog. Your dog is not your child in a fur coat or a relative.

6. Give unconditional affection: Do dogs enjoy human affection? The answer is yes, of course they do. But dogs need affection AND structure to become balanced and happy. Always balance love with discipline and work.

7. No demand for respect: Three ways to demand and get respect: Never give a command that you cannot reinforce; if you give a command, follow through; don't ever repeat a command (it loses emphasis).

8. Use a crate: Dogs need a place in your home that is theirs and only theirs. They need the security and boundaries a crate offers.

9. Don’t free feed: Your dog needs to work for all food. Food left out all the time is a huge missed opportunity for training and manners. Free feeding can also lead to resource guarding if a new or guest dog enters your home.

10. Listen to your Vet: They went to veterinarian school, we didn’t!