5 Tips for Dog Owners

Do you have a dog or thinking of adopting a dog ? ...(Notice i said "adopt" and not "buy"!)

As a pet owner myself, i found myself puzzled by how i don't understand my lovely companion who can sometimes drive me crazy. I don't know what he is thinking, i don't know why he's still barking, how to make him listen to me, why he's so mean to others, why he's laying there and not moving.
I don't know him...

So here are some tips on how to raise your pet and best friend (or soon to be):

1 - Find the right Vet.

Try to visit the clinics in your area beforehand. Things to look for?  ...is the waiting area clean? is the staff  helpful and knowledgeable? Look for the veterinarian’s diploma to see when they graduated. Veterinarians that graduated a long time ago may have a lot of experience but may not be as up to date on medical knowledge and technology as recent graduates while recent graduates have a lot of the latest information but may not have a lot of hands-on experience. So in-between is ideal. Find out if the office hours will fit your schedule and if they handle emergencies after hours, some clinics don't. It is better to choose one vet instead of many,  he/she will know your pet well.

2 - Vaccinations.

For people as careless as me, it's easy to forget to keep up-to date with your pet's vaccinations and what they need.
If you have (or will have) newborn puppies. You need to know they do not have innate immunity at birth; they get antibodies from their mother, which helps protect them from disease. Vaccines can be core or non-core. Core vaccines are those that have been recommended by the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) and can be given to all dogs. Core vaccines are for diseases such as: distemper, adenovirus-2, canine parvovirus-2 and rabies. Non-core vaccines are for diseases such as: leptospirosis, Lyme disease and Bordetella and are only recommended for dogs in specific geographic locations or have lifestyle factors that will increase their risk of exposure to those diseases. Ask your vet for more info these diseases and the risks.

2 - Safety.

This is specially for puppies since they're so tiny but it does apply to all dogs. Consider keeping toxic materials such as plants and cleaning supplies and keep them out of reach. Use baby gates to block off access to stairs to prevent falls. Small objects such as change, jewelry, hair ties should also be kept out of reach as well, they can swallow them. Take garbage out regularly and screen off the fireplace if you have one.

3 - The Challenges of Bathing your dog.

Dogs can smell everything! even your fears and concerns! If you feel badly about the fact your dog hates baths, then he will.
Make peace in your own head with the concept of a bath. Relax! if you're doing anything with your dog, always keep a peaceful attitude! Regular bathing and brushing keeps shedding to a minimum as well. Bathing your dog also gives you the opportunity to feel any unnatural bumps on his skin that might need to be seen by your veterinarian.
Without saying a word, go and get your dog. Don’t call him to you. Put a slip leash on your dog and lead him to the bathtub. Start easy by wetting him down with a gentle stream of water first. Once he’s used to the water pressure, you can increase the intensity of the water. Begin at his neck and shoulders and work your way down his body, leaving his face for last. Make sure to rinse him thoroughly so no irritating shampoo is left behind.

4 - Hyper dogs that don't stop.

Some dogs go on and on and jump around non-stop all day long. You kind of wonder how come they have so much energy! If you have this problem, when you take your dog for a walk try to find the most active and exhausting activity possible.
For example: walking him on your bike or roller-skates, play with him on the beach/lake and always throw the toy in the water (swimming is very exhausting) But Beware! - Running on cement (especially hot cement) can cause sloughing of the foot pads, so try to have breaks on softer surfaces or at least work your dog up to the harder surfaces to give them a chance to adapt gently. Also make sure he/she doesn't get too hot and remember to give him/her water.

5 - The Walk.

 Always keep in mind to stay calm and relaxed when walking your dog. Make sure you let him/her know you are the master! Keep your head up and your shoulders back. Think positive thoughts and envision the dog walk going well. It's all about your attitude and not his, I cannot repeat that enough. If there is noise or negative activity around you, don't stress and stay calm - your dog will feel your tension and therefore get nervous and freak out.
Keep the leash short but not tight. Long leashes make it harder for you to communicate with your dog.
Corrections - But if you make a correction following a problem behavior, it should be quick, and then the dog leash should be returned to the relaxed state.
Giving food is a form of affection, and giving affection reinforces the behavior preceding it. So be careful when you give food to a dog. Make sure is to reward a positive action.

Enjoy!