How to be a Responsible Dog Owner

How to be a Responsible Dog Owner

Have you considered the real price of owning a dog? The annual cost for maintaining a dog can range from $300 to $1,500. Basic expenses include food, equipment, vet costs, medicines, grooming, and boarding. Start up costs may include micro chipping, crates, training, fencing, and the puppy, which can cost up to $4,000 in today's market. You also have to be prepared for unexpected medical problems that can cost thousands of dollars.

Dog ownership is more than a financial obligation; it is a time commitment. Our pets rely on us to take care of them and this responsibility can last up to 15 years. Furthermore, having a dog also requires becoming educated about dog behavior.

Do you want to have a friendly, clean, and mannerly dog that is a pleasure to own or one that is excluded from family events and banished to the backyard? The tips below will help you to becoming a better, more responsible dog owner:

1. Select a dog or a puppy that matches the needs of your family.
2. Puppy/dog proof your home. Gate off areas you do not want destroyed and pick up items you do not want chewed. Use a crate when you are unable to supervise.
3. Keep your dog in your yard. There are fines for picking up strays, or, worse, a car could hit them.
4. Go the Vet regularly for vaccinations and medicine to prevent fleas, ticks, and heartworms. Neuter/Spay your dog to put a stop to unwanted puppies, to reduce aggression, marking, and roaming.
5. Take care of their appearance. Brushing the coat reduces shedding and brushing their teeth reduces plaque and dog breath. Find a groomer to do it for you.
6. Provide good leadership. Obedience train your dog so that you can control him at the Vet's office, around other dogs, in crowds, and around children.
7. Socialize your dog with as many different people as possible, with kids, seniors, disabled folks, and people of different ethnic groups.
8. Socialize your dog with other dogs at a level that is GOOD for your dog. Obedience classes are a great place to give your dog important social skills.
9. Learn your dog's bodily functions to prevent accidents and to identify abnormal behavior. Learn your dog's body language to prevent bites.
10. Build a stronger bond with your dog by taking walks or playing games.
11. Respect your city's leash laws.
12. Pick up your dog's waste ALWAYS!
13. Stop your dog's nuisance barking. Some cities charge $25.00 each violation.
14. Spend time with your dog. They are pack animals and want to be with the pack, not tied up outside all night.
15. Understand that not all people love your dog as much as you do.

If you learn how to be a good dog owner, your puppy will pay you back with years of unconditional love and devotion, which is well worth the effort.

Copyright 2006 by Susan Jakobs. This article or any part of this article may not be reproduced in any form or circulated without author’s permission. We post articles to educate the public and would allow the use of printed materials for that purpose. If you want to use any publications, you must contact us first. Materials cannot be edited or changed and must be used in whole, including our logo.