“Responsibilities of caring for a dog”
By Julie Bjelland Lokhandwala
Having a dog takes a lot of
responsibility and understanding what your dog needs will prepare you for a
long, happy life with your dog. Owners
not meeting their dog’s needs cause most behavior problems in dogs. To help
prepare you for what the responsibilities of having a dog are, I've written a
list to guide you.
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You have to walk them twice a
day for about 30-45 minutes each. High-energy pets will need more, and Senior
and toy dogs may need less. If you work all day, you'll need to wake up about
an hour earlier to get the walk in before you go as well as repeat it after you
return home.
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The dog will need lots of
time with you and the family every day.
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Feed them twice a day and
always have fresh water available.
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Dog Training. Dogs that are
well trained are happier and more bonded with their owners. They also get to
spend more time with their owners because they are well behaved.
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Clean up their poop, both in
your yard and on walks.
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Adult dogs will have to do a
Veterinarian exam at least annually, as well as be up-to-date on all their
vaccinations. Puppies will require several more trips to the Vet the first year
for additional vaccinations as well as spaying/neutering. Contact your local
Vet to learn about cost, etc.
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Puppies require a tremendous
more amount of time and money their first year. You'll also have to house train
them, which requires a lot of extra time on your part then an adult dog would.
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You’ll need a well-maintained
fence at least 6-feet tall if you plan to have them off-leash in the backyard
at all.
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Brush them/bathe
them/grooming/nail cutting/ear cleaning.
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Flea/tick care.
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Extra expense. There is a lot
of expense in having a dog. You need to consider: Veterinarian costs, food,
supplies (leash, collar, id tags, bedding), toys, chew bones, flea care,
bathing, grooming, oral care, travel expenses or dog sitting expenses while you
are away, medical care should they become ill, etc.
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You’ll also have more
cleaning due to Dog Hair. Dog hair has a way of finding itself on everything
and will require more cleaning on your part.
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Arranging for care of your
dog while you are away on trips. Dogs cannot be left alone overnight.
Here are some extra things to think
about if you have children:
1. Do not expect that the children will take over all the
dog-care, no matter how much they say they will. They may be able to assist
you, but as the parent, YOU will have the responsibility.
2. Access your energy level. It can be a lot of work keeping
up with children and adding a dog means you have one more responsibility.
3. Supervise your young children around the dog at all times.
(Children can be unpredictable and do things like pull tails or whiskers and
cause the dog to feel threatened.) You should not leave your child with the dog
unattended, and you will have to teach them how to be gentle and what areas are
off limits to touch.
4. If your children are very young, say under 8, it can be
better to adopt a dog older than two, and medium to larger size dog rather than
a puppy, because puppies have sharp milk teeth and claws that can scratch
easily. Puppies and small/toy dogs can also be fragile and injured more easily.
5. Also consider your child's friends that may be coming over
and you will also have to supervise them around the dog.
6. Having a dog can be a wonderful experience if you prepare
yourself and meet your dog’s needs.
If you meet your dogs needs you
will have a wonderful, life-long companion.
--Julie Bjelland Lokhandwala's interactive Dog Training Web site: www.webdogtrainer.com, teaches you how to train your own dog as well as receive professional coaching, advice and tips through email consultations about your own dog! Julie formerly trained Guide Dogs for the Blind and has been running her own successful obedience training/behavior modification business for several years. She is known for her talent in helping you communicate more effectively with your dog. Julie's positive methods of training are friendly, encouraging and motivating. She has a personal mission to help more dogs get adopted and stay adopted and donates a portion of her proceeds to the cause. Julie shares her home with her own rescued German Shepherd, Fax.