Making A Dog A Part Of Your Family
Owning a dog is a big commitment. You are welcoming an animal into your world that will live close to you. Dogs are intelligent animals who are capable of complex emotions. How you treat them will influence how they behave. This will be particularly true if you have the dog from a young age. If you treat your dog with respect and love, while showing them boundaries in a positive manner, then you will have a happy and well-behaved pet. Show them aggression and anger or neglect their needs, and you may find that your dog grows to become fearful or aggressive themselves.
If you are thinking of getting a dog in the near future, there are some things that you will need to consider before you get them.
What Dog Should You Get?
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes. Every breed of dog has a different temperament. Historically, dogs were bred for different things to serve their human masters. Many breeds are natural worker dogs and have been used for hunting. Terriers have been bred to chase vermin, while German Sheppards have been used for protection. There are a number of breeds such as the Pug, that were bred solely for use as a companion. The historical use for the dog will tell you a bit about their natural personality.
Think about how much you can walk the dog and the quality of life that it will get with you. If it will need to be left for any period of time on its own, it will need to have a strong sense of independence. If you have small children or other pets, think about getting a breed that is known to be good around them.
Buying Vs. Adopting
If you are getting a new dog, consider where you are going to get the dog. If you are buying from a breeder, check out the credentials of the breeder. If possible, find out about the conditions that the animals have been raised in. While many breeders do care for their animals, there, unfortunately, a lot out there that don’t. Beware of dog farms that have a poor reputation as by buying from them you may get a dog with health problems and you will be supporting a business that mistreats animals.
There are plenty of dogs out there that need a good home though. Rescue and rehoming centres take in dogs from all backgrounds. This may mean that their owners have had to give them up for all manner of reasons, have died, or were mistreating the dogs. Proving a loving home to a dog that has had a bad start in life can be a great thing to do. Make sure that you get as much of a history of the dog as possible and be aware that they may well have some emotional problems that you will need to support them with.
Your Dog’s Diet
While a dog may eat anything that it finds, it should not need pointing out that it is probably not going to be that healthy for the dog to do that. Your dog will need a healthy, balanced diet. Much like humans, they can suffer from many health problems that are related to their diet. There are many breeds that are prone to obesity, so, for example, you may need to consider Dalmatian dog food for weight loss.
While dogs can eat human food, it is important that you understand that there may be a proportionally high amount of calories in the food that we eat, and to a dog, these may be too much. It should also be considered that some human food can be dangerous for a dog. For example, chocolate is poisonous and can make a dog ill, or even kill them.
Make sure that you look at the nutritional information on the dog food that you are buying too. Some dog food manufacturers pump their foods full of preservatives, fats, and sugars. Some dog food is akin to giving your pet fast food for every meal. Compare the information on the back of the packet in the same way that you would do if you were buying food for yourself or your family.
Exercising Your Dog
Your dog is going to need plenty of exercise. The exact amount will depend on the breed, with some types needing to go for long, fast, runs. While some smaller breeds will only need a very short walk, others, such as labradors and spaniels will have huge reserves of energy and will need to expend this otherwise they can get restless.
Exercise is important for maintaining the physical health of your pet. But it is also vital for their mental wellbeing. While out walking, your dog will get lots of mental stimulation. There will be lots of sights, sounds, and smells that your dog will interact with. If your dog enjoys seeking out things based on smell, then this mental activity will give them something to focus on. If your dog is mentally active, then they will be happier for it.
Training Your Dog
Bringing a dog into your world will mean that they need to know how to behave around you. Their natural instinct will be to get food from wherever they want and use the toilet anywhere. In much the same way as a child would learn, a dog should not be taught using punishment as an incentive.
Instead, reward your dog for desired behavior so that they learn what you want from them. Start with simple exercises by getting them to sit and giving them a treat when they do. You will need to be patient with them, remember that they do not understand the words you are saying yet. Break down everything that you want your dog to learn into stages. Some dogs will learn quicker than others, and it is important that you are patient with them at all times.
