Dog management

Taking care of a dog properly is no easy task: it is time consuming and hard work but a well cared for dog is a joy to live with, is unlikely to have any behaviour problems and is a joy to take out.  If you are thinking about getting a dog for the first time, please read this page and think about whether you could really give a dog the life that it needs before you make your final decision.  Don't forget dogs can live for 14 years or more - where will your family be in 10 years from now, how will that affect the dog?

Exercise

This is the most important part of a dogs day, a dog must have access to on and off-lead exercise every day.  A dog that has too much energy will easily become bored and frustrated.  This could manifest as any number of behaviour problems including destructive behaviours and barking, aggression and hyperactivity.  A quick run around in the garden is not good enough either, all dogs need to get out and about regularly so that they can see and sniff the world around them.  They also need to see other people and dogs, if they do not do this they may become aggressive towards them or over excited by them.  All breeds of dog need different amounts of exercise, as do puppies and older dogs - get in touch with your breed club or breeder if you are unsure how much to exercise your dog, or get in touch and I will try to help.

Rules

Dogs need rules and boundaries.  Without them your dog will make up his own.  Make sure the whole family agrees to the rules and enforces them in the same way to avoid confusion.  Typical rules may be:

Not allowed on the sofa

No feeding the dog from the dinner table

No jumping up at the family or guests

No dogs in bedrooms

Add your own to this list and make sure everyone knows how to discourage these behaviours.

Training

This is also important as a well trained dog can be given freedom to run about in the park and is a joy to be with, plus the brain needs exercise too.  No matter what the ability or breed of dog he needs problem solving activities to keep his brain active, without this he may develop behaviour problems like destructive behaviours, stealing and barking.  Take him to training classes to learn some new commands, entertain him with a games that require him to use his brain like hiding food and training him to find it, teach him a new trick like fetch the remote control for the TV or to balance food on his nose, teach him to dance.  If you are looking for something that will exercise the brain and body why not think about taking him to agility classes or flyball; these classes will need basic obedience commands like a recall, sit-stay or down-stay so check with the club before you enroll.  No breeds are excluded from agility or flyball, but dogs will need to be over 2 years old and in good health.

Training is not just restricted to obedience commands like sit and down, you must also train your dog where the toilet is, how to behave and the other rules of the house, if you don't dog ownership will become a chore rather than the pleasure it should be.

Play

All dogs need to play and they will - with or without you!  A dog that does not get adequate time to play will easily become frustrated and will find ways to entertain himself, in my experience these are usually undesirable.  Common problems owners experience from dogs that are not played with enough are stealing, jumping up and other attention seeking behaviours, destructive behaviours, digging and barking.

Company

Dogs are social animals and they need company most of the day.  Dogs that are left alone for long hours at a time will become very difficult to manage.  Many bark constantly through the day, soil the house, are boisterous and destructive.  A dog, in my opinion, should not be left for more than four hours in a day, although some dogs manage six hours with no problems.  It is not enough to leave them with other pets either, they need human company otherwise they may bond with the other animals and not you.  They also need love, make time in your day to give your dog a cuddle and a fuss.

Leadership

Dogs live in packs, and these packs have social structures which are intended to keep the peace between all the pack members.  Each pack has to have a leader and in a human/dog pack the leader must be you and all the other human members of your family.  Your dog will be happiest as a lower ranking member as he will be relieved of all the stress that goes with looking after his pack.  This means that he must earn everything he values such as his food, attention and movement around the den (your house).  He will expect this as a low ranking pack member and will be confused and stressed if you do not insist on it.  A dog needs rules, he will respect you more for it so make a list of rules and make sure the whole family stick to it.  Include things like: not allowed on the furniture, no treats from the dinning table and sit for your food and before I put your lead on.  For more information about how to lead your pack, click here, or to find out how good a pack leader you are, click here.

Food

All dogs need to be fed that is obvious but with all the different brands of food available it is difficult to know which is best.  As with humans, need to be fed good quality food.  Many cheaper brands contain additives, preservatives and colorants that can cause hyperactivity in some dogs just as they do in some children.  If your budget will allow look for food that is made using only good quality, natural ingredients.  If in any doubt your vet will be able to advise you as to the best food for your dog.  Dogs have strong jaws which also need exercising, Hyde bones are an ideal snack to give your dog and they will help to save your furniture and woodwork, be sure to supervise your dog at all times when he is eating.  If you have a big dog then it is also advisable to use a feeding stand that raises the bowl up for him.

Health care

Dogs need constant attention to keep them in good health.  They should be neutered as early as possible, most vets will neuter puppies from six months of age.  There are pro's and con's of course, but is well worth it.  A neutered dog or bitch will not produce testosterone which can seriously interfere with the dogs ability to make decisions.  A dog is likely to escape and roam if he gets so much as a whiff of a bitch in heat which they can detect from a surprising distance.  A bitch in heat is likely to become moody and difficult to manage and both dog and bitch are more likely to be difficult to manage and are also more likely to show aggression.  A neutered dog or bitch are much calmer and easier to train and to live with.  Neutering can cost anything between £70 and £200 depending on the size and sex of the dog.

Dogs also need to be inoculated from certain diseases such as Canine Distemper, infectious Canine Hepatitis, Canine Parvovirus Infection and two forms of Leptospirosis which will cost around £45 and will need yearly boosters at around £25-£30 a year, they will also need to be wormed and de-flea'd regularly.  This all cost money (£5 every 4 weeks for fleas and ticks and £6 every 12 weeks for worms) and is a big consideration before taking on a new pet.  You should also consider getting pet insurance, this could cost as little as a few pounds a month for a mongrel or as much as £40 a month for a full pedigree - dependant on breed.  I can tell you from experience that even some simple problems can cost a fortune.  My Bernese Mountain Dog costs me £33 a month and I have already had my money back and more just getting her skin allergies treated, I have been paying for four and a half years.  I cannot recommend it highly enough, it would be a terrible shame if you had to make a decision on the future of a sick pet just because you couldn't afford the treatment that they needed.

Socialisation

This is especially important when they are puppies but needs to be ongoing throughout the dogs life.  It is really important that all dogs get to spend time with all sort of different dogs and people as much as possible.  This ensures that they learn to be good communicators with all dogs and people and reduces the likelihood of aggression towards them.  Dogs use body language to communicate; especially the facial features and the tail position.  Some breeds have their tails docked, some breeds have their ears pointed up and some have floppy ears, some breeds are especially fluffy and your dog will need to experience all these differences and more in order to be able to communicate with them effectively, otherwise he may just assume that they are being aggressive and may start fights with other dogs because of it.  The same goes for people and therefore it is important that your dog experiences all different shapes, sizes and types of people.

Security

A dog needs to feel safe and secure and a part of the pack.  Many people keep their dogs outside at night and sometimes during the day aswell.  These dogs often develop behaviour problems simply because they are being left to make up their own rules and are being left unchecked for much of the time.  They will often start guarding behaviours such as barking at every sound and movement, they can become aggressive and they will lack general obedience and manners.  It is my opinion that dogs should be kept as pets, in the house with the rest of the family, this will give them the security and leadership that they need to be well adjusted and happy.  Housetraining a dog is not difficult if approached sensibly and dogs don't need a constant supply of fresh air, they were domesticated thousands of years ago and are perfectly well adjusted to living indoors, if you are house proud and don't want to have to constantly clean up after a dog and are keeping him outside for that reason; the simple answer is don't have one.

A responsible owner

A responsible dog owner will protect their dog in case he goes missing by micro-chipping him.  This involves a tiny microchip being inserted under the skin at the back of the dogs neck.  The chip will contain a serial number which will be stored on a national database and is registered to you.  In the event that the dog becomes lost, if he is found and handed into the dog warden, vet or a rescue centre this chip can be scanned and you can be contacted and quickly reunited with your pet.  Many dogs are euthanized each week because they are handed into the dog warden and their owners cannot be found.  Don't let your dog be added to this list.  If you live in Northern Ireland you will also need a dog license, contact your local authority for an application form.  Micro chipping only costs around £15 and a dog license £5 so it is very little cost in comparison to the loss of a loved pet.  Just a quick note, there has been some speculation in the press recently suggesting that micro-chips can cause cancer.  To my knowledge, there is no evidence to support this claim and I will continue to micro-chip all of my pets as I feel that the risks are grossly outweighed by the benefits.  If you are concerned, then please discuss it with your vet before you make a final decision.

Stability

Dogs needs stability in their lives and they thrive on routine.  Dogs also need a calm environment in order to be calm and relaxed themselves, state of mind is infectious and if the household is manic and excitable then so will the dog be.  This is especially important when bringing a dog or puppy into a house with children.

Equipment

Dogs don't need much and they are not particularly fussy either, but they will need a lead and collar - check chains, half checks or other similar items are not acceptable as far as I am concerned, a regular buckle collar and lead should suffice.  Some breeds such as the Yorkshire Terrier should not wear collars as they have very fragile throats and these dogs should always be walked wearing a harness and lead.  A dog also needs a bed to sleep on, a brush designed especially for his coat type, toys food bowls and a heavy water bowl.

A typical day with the dog

7.00        Wake up and let the dog out to go to the toilet

8.00        Have breakfast and then feed the dog his breakfast

10.00      Take dog out for a long walk 60 - 90 minutes, including some free running in the park, meeting other dogs and a game of fetch

11.30      Arrive back from walk

12.00      Go to work

16.00      Arrive home from work, let dog out to do to the toilet

16.30      Feed the dog his tea

17.30      Take dog to training class

18.30      Leave class and go home to prepare your tea

19.30      Let dog out to go to the toilet

20.00      Settle in front of the TV, groom the dog and check his nails, teeth, eyes, coat condition and ears.

22.30      Take dog out for 20 minutes for a good sniff and a last chance to go to the toilet

22.50      Arrive home, put dog to bed and then go to bed yourself.

Time must also be allowed for the dog to chew appropriate objects and for affection to be given throughout the day.

Many people seriously underestimate the amount of time that is needed for the average dog, could you fit this dog into your life?  This example is based on the needs of an average, healthy 2 year old Labrador.