Dog Owner

‘Man’s best friend’ is the expression most often heard when people talk about having a dog in their life. The range of breeds of dogs is very large and the variety of sizes of dogs is reason enough to stress the importance of choosing the right dog. Expert advice is freely available from dog shelters, your vet and on online.

Simple rules are really common sense. A huge dog with a tiny area in which to run and play is cruel for the canine and never recommended. Selecting a dog with a friendly nature for a young family is sound advice. A dog which is great around children is a natural choice.

Check the source

Buying a puppy or an older dog from an unreliable source is not recommended. Registered breeders and animal welfare centres are two sources for finding the right dog. With a breeder you can obtain a family history of the dog. And from a breeder and animal welfare centre the dog will come with a full health check.  Buying from a car boot sale or a private sale means you probably have no medical check on the dog. If the dog is injured or has a disease you will have no way of knowing until after you have taken responsibility. The dog’s condition may be serious which could bring financial hardship not to mention heartache.

It’s for life

Owning a dog means you have accepted responsibility to feed, care for and protect the dog for the term of its life. As the saying goes, ‘a puppy is for life and not just for Christmas’. And it’s not just the owning of the dog which counts but how you care for it. Every dog needs the right diet, plenty of fresh water, regular walks and time to play with you and/or other dogs.

Are you harming your dog with the food you provide? Remember dogs will eat almost anything but just as humans can put on weight, so too can dogs. And this brings the same potential health problems of aching joints, pressure on the heart, etc.

Dogs were originally pack animals and lived on what they could hunt and kill. Raw bones were a regular part of their diet. Today many dog owners give their pooch mushy food resulting in the fact that many dogs have teeth problems as they age. Raw meaty bones on a weekly basis are an excellent way to care for your canine’s choppers. A healthy variety in your dog’s diet is essential.

Responsible owner

Dog droppings are a fact of life and standing in dog mess is a most unpleasant experience. So as a responsible dog owner you will keep an eye on your dog when out in the street or the park and be ready to pick up when required.  Councils have some serious fines for owners who fail to do the right thing.

And after all those things you should and shouldn’t do, remember that dogs make the most brilliant of companions. They never cease to be happy the moment you come home and they’ll keep you company at any time. Love your dog because your dog will always love you.