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1. Security
Make sure your dog is safe all the time. Never let your dog outside alone unless he’s safely behind a fence or in a kennel run. When you take your dog out, the safes practice is to keep him leashed. Obedience training is also useful because it teaches your dog to respond to calls like “Stop,” or “Come,” helping to assure your dog’s safety.
If you leave your dog at home alone, particularly as a puppy, the safest place for him is in a crate. That way he won’t be able to knock things over or chew through electric cords.
2. Good Dog Food
There’s a lot of choice out there and without guidance, it’s hard to figure out which brand is best for your dog. Ask your breeder what kind and how much food to give your dog. Don’t just give your dog table scraps or generic brands. You want a good quality food that makes her coat shine and keeps her trim and energetic.
3. Fresh Water
You must keep close tabs on your dog’s water supply at all times of the year. In the summer, he’ll drink more of it quicker. In the winter, it can freeze. Water can also become warm or dirty and can be spilled, so check your dog’s water supply several times a day. Make sure your dog can reach it, that it’s clean, and if you keep your dog outside, put his dish in a shady spot.
Be sure to buy a weighted water dish that won’t tip. Some even have heating elements for the winter to keep the water from freezing. There is also a gadget you can buy that attaches to an outside faucet, allowing your dog to lick fresh water at any time.
4. Shelter
The best shelter you can provide is your own home. But it can be comforting to your dog to have a little space to call her own, whether it’s a rug, crate, or bed. It’s nice for him to have a comforting den to retreat to when he needs rest or some alone time.
When your dog is outside, even for short periods, he needs a house or a door to the garage or other protective shelter to provide a barrier against sun, freezing cold, wind, and storms. He doesn’t need a fancy dog house, just a simple two-room shelter made from plywood. The second room provides a partition to curl up behind for protection against cold, wet, and wind.
5. Family
Be sure to make your dog a true member of the family. When dogs are isolated, they become bored, depressed, and/ or destructive. They’re smart animals meant for pack living. Once you remove them from their canine family, they are part of your pack.
6. Obedience Training
The commands a dog learns in obedience training not only help the owner control the dog, but also protect the dog. There is no more important command for her to learn than Come. When it’s 100% reliable it can be the one thing that saves your dog life when she’s running straight into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
7. Regular Exercise and Mental Stimulation
Dogs can’t properly exercise on their own. If you don’t take your dog out of the house or backyard, they will not get the mental and physical stimulation they need. Take him out for a walk around the neighborhood (on a leash, of course). Throwing a ball or Frisbee around in a safe, off-leash environment will be a great delight to your dog and help form a bond between you.
Most dogs don’t have to work to earn their keep nowadays. The modern dog typically has one purpose: companionship. To be a good companion, they need to keep their minds sharp. Toys are good. You can also play games with your dog like “Find the Hidden Treat” which teaches dogs to use their noses. Organized events and classes are also a good way to provide mental stimulations, whether it’s in tracking, agility, earth digs or field trials.
8. Weight Management
Dogs can’t diet themselves. You’re the one who feeds them, so you have to do it. So when you think you’re only feeding your dog a cup of food twice a day but she’s still getting fat, count how many times you’re giving her a treat or feeding her table scraps.
Try breaking the treats in half. Your dog won’t know the difference. Try giving her a fresh carrot. Some dogs even like ice cubes. Unbuttered popcorn also makes a good low-fat treat. Be sure to also increase her exercise. And, if necessary, switch to a food with less calories or cut back on the amount you give your dog.
9. Grooming
All dogs need the basics: nail trimming, ear cleaning, baths, and brushing. Long-haired dogs need regular brushing/ combing to prevent the formation of mats, which cause discomfort. Some breeds need trimming, stripping or cording. These require professional grooming or an owner who will learn the necessary skills and spend the time doing the job.
Mats and filth cause sores and can attract parasites, so be sure to keep up the grooming routine.
10. Vet Care
Regular physical examinations and inoculations must be given to your dog. They need to visit the vet at least once a year for check-ups, vaccinations and to be tested for heartworm.
As your dog ages, she’ll need to visit the vet twice a year and it would also be a good idea to regularly examine her for bumps, lumps and sores.
These days, owners are advised to brush their dog’s teeth with specially formulated toothpaste (not meant for humans) at least once a week and have them cleaned professionally when needed. This helps prevent tooth and gum problems as well as infections, abscesses and heart disease.
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