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Meeting Your Dogs Basic Needs
Use
management and training to teach your
dog what the rules are instead of constantly reprimanding him for the same
mistakes over and over and over…..that isn’t fun or fair to either of you.
Exercise
One of the very best
ways to ensure your dog doesn’t develop behavior problems is to provide
adequate physical and mental exercise. It is very difficult for a dog
to calm down and relax if this basic need is not met. Always
remember the dog trainer’s maxim “tired dogs are good dogs.” Here are some
(mental and physical) exercise ideas:
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Take your dog for
walks off your property where there are novel smells, sights
and sounds at least once a day, preferably twice, for 30 minutes or
more. This is important regardless the size of your dog or yard.
Go to
http://www.thedogpark.com
for dog friendly park locations.
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Get a child's
wading pool and fill it with water and a couple of toys. Get a
second pool and make your dog a sand pit for digging, and bury stuff
he likes in it.
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Make meal times
more fun for your dog by feeding from a Buster Cube, Kong,
Roll-A-Treat ball or other enrichment device.
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Satisfy your dog's
need to hunt and forage by letting him play "Find It" games--hide
treats around the house or yard.
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Two toy retrieve
game: Stand in the middle of your yard and toss a toy to your
right--as your dog returns toss the a second toy of the same type to
your left.
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Teach your dog a
new trick. There’s lots of info on the web that explains how to
do this. If you are interested in taking a course – consider
taking my Heart-Tickling-Tricks Class.
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Provide your dog
with lots of chew toys.
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Go to
http://www.dog-play.com/ to find other activities you can do with
your dog.
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Give your dog a
massage. This is therapeutic for you and your dog.
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Health and Safety Needs
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Heartworm
preventative- HW disease is always fatal if not treated and treatment
is both expensive for you and often stressful for the dog--prevention
is far better.
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ID tags and/or
Microchips --Dogs get lost in all kinds of unforeseen ways; those with
ID are usually returned to the owner.
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Flea & tick
treatment--The best are liquid products such as Frontline--it only
takes a small amount applied to the dog's skin to banish flea
problems. Some dogs are more sensitive/allergic to some products
than to others--check with your vet.
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Doggy odor--be
alert to changes--if your dog smells bad he probably has a skin or ear
infection or both. Dogs with thyroid conditions are more apt to
develop skin problems, so you may want to get that checked out as
well.
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Regular coat
brushing: Grooming tip: I have a long coated, non-shedding dog
(Coton de Tulear) that needs regular brushing. When I brushed
her only once a week it took me over an hour to groom each time, now
that I groom her daily it usually takes closer to 10 minutes and her
coat rarely mats. Daily grooming is much easier on both of us.
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Different coats
require different tools, be sure to ask a groomer what tools are
recommend for your dogs coat. The right tools really do make a
huge difference.
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Bathing-- Most
dogs should be bathed at least once a month. I bathe my
dog bi-weekly. I’ve tried several shampoos on my dog, most of them
made her coat brittle and skin itch. The one I use now is called
AvoDerm Skin & Coat Formula – LOVE IT! She’s got a nice shiny
coat that rarely mats and she never itches afterward.
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Shaving--Think
twice before you shave your dog to make him more comfortable in hot
weather. His coat protects him from the sun and from insect
bites. And, certain dogs will never be able to grow their normal
coat again. Usually a good trim is preferable to shaving.
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Nail trims -- Long
nails can cause serious foot problems. Nail cutting needs to be
done at least once a month; twice a month is better.
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Tooth
brushing--Every day is best, but at the least, brush your dog's teeth
once a week and be sure to use a toothpaste made for canines because
human toothpaste can make dogs sick.
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Food & Water
Dishes--Feed and water your dog from a metal or ceramic dishes and
wash after each meal. Scratches in plastic food dishes can hold
harmful bacteria.
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Food-- All dog
foods are not the same. When choosing a kibble I always read the
label and make sure the first two ingredients are real meat. I
don’t buy dog food with Corn, Wheat, Soy (known allergens) or Meat
By-Products. Feed your dog a quality kibble and supplement it
with wet food or whole food if you like. I regularly mix fish,
meat, fruits and vegetables in with my dogs kibble. If you
decide to feed whole foods just make sure they are healthy, unseasoned
and lean. Learn from your vet what foods are toxic for dogs,
such as chocolate and grapes. By feeding your dog a high quality
dog food today and you are less likely to spend lots of money on
health issues later. You’ll also have a lot less doggie doo doo
to pick-up as quality foods have less fillers in them, are more
digestible and produce smaller, firmer stools. Never give your dog
cooked bones as they can splinter and lodge in dangerous places.
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Maintain a clean
yard--use a scooper and covered pail lined with plastic bag. To make
it easier to pick up after your dog on walks, you can now purchase a
ready supply of plastic bags stored inside convenient tiny containers
(some are shaped like fire hydrants).
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Outdoors-- Most
dogs prefer to be indoors when left alone vs. outdoors; it would seem
that dogs consider being left outdoors akin to being ostracized from
the den. Typical behavior problems that result from being left
outdoors are excessive chewing, digging and barking. Dogs who
spend lots of time outside should be provided with lots of water and a
doghouse in a nice shaded area where they can relax and get out of the
sun and rain. During hot summers consider providing your dog with a
kiddy pool to cool off in when he has to be outdoors.
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Do not allow your
dog to be off leash unless they are in a safe area away from traffic.
If you want your dog's company while you garden or work in the front
yard, use a ground stake with a swivel tether so that when necessary
you can quickly contain your dog or get your dog back inside the
house. Even if you are there to supervise, off leash dogs can
get into danger by chasing cats or squirrels into the street or they
may approach or be approached by a passing dog and get into a fight.
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Cynthia Edgerly, owner of
Bingo! Dog Training in Watsonville, California, is a Professional Dog Trainer & Certified Dog
Behavior Consultant. To contact Cynthia please go to her website:
http://www.bingodogtraining.com
or Phone: (831) 768-9308 or (408) 335-8745. |
