Dogs
1. Buy the best dog food you can afford. Dogs can live a long time, buying a good quality dog food will help your dog avoid many long term illnesses. It only takes a couple trips to the vet to make up any savings you had by buying cheap dog food.
2. Feed your dog just enough to maintain weight. Now if you're buying expensive dog food you want to be able to use less! Feed measured amounts. We fed our dog the amount listed the label of his food. Then after a few weeks reduced this slightly checking to make sure he wasn't getting too skinny. We found an amount that works for us. Be sure to experiment though, the label was not written for your dog. Your dog has his or her own metabolism and activity level so the amount that works for one dog may not work for yours. Maintaining a trim dog will also drastically reduce the risk of many diseases that can cost a fortune to treat and may require a maintenance program that limits your future lifestyle like daily shots or medications.
3. No People Food! None of our pets gets fed any kind of people food. (I realize the dogs are vacuum cleaners and that can't be helped.) Aside from health and weight issues that can ensue, I do this mostly for behavior. I don't know if this works for everyone but it has worked for us. The extent of begging around here is sad eyes, no whining, or pushing mostly he just comes by when we are done eating to see if we dropped anything. He also doesn't steal food off the counter or table, (even the coffee table! when we are not home.) He knows that the food in his bowl is his.
4. If you do give people food or a bone for a treat make sure it has very little fat on it. Your dog can experience pancreatitis after just one treat. Our dog did. We gave him a big butcher's bone that was fatty. He couldn't keep food down starting the next day. Our dog fully recovered, but it was a scary time.
5.Dogs need exercise. Medium to large dogs can need a lot of it. I walk mine around 2 miles almost every day. He probably needs more, I know he wants more. Proper exercise will do wonders if you have neglected this part of dog ownership. I have a pretty mellow dog, but his behavior greatly improved once we got him on a walking routine. I appreciate the bonus of getting myself in shape while we walk.
6. Be responsible for your dog. Clean up after him or her, fix what they break, and keep them under control to the best of your ability. If you need a fence, get one. (I know this should be a no brainer, but my dog is in a cone right now due to another owner's carelessness.)
7. Have fun with your dog. Dogs can be a lot of work and a lot of mess and expense. Make time to just enjoy this amazing creature you have invited into your life. Give your pooch a little more scratching time or play time, whatever works best between the two of you.
8. If you are thinking of getting a dog and have never really had one, I highly suggest borrowing one before you make a decision. In this Facebook age you should have no trouble finding someone who needs a dogsitter for a week or two. You can really experience what dog ownership will look like in your house and life.
9. I know this is almost cliche but, get your dog neutered or spayed. There are so many reasons, here is mine: Every time a pet is put down at the Humane Society it breaks the heart of the amazing people who work there. The people at these organizations work there because they love animals. They want to be around them and often wish they could take all of them home. They can't. So do your part and help these helpers even a little bit.
I'll let my big guy tell you goodbye!
Thoughtfully,
Kristin
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