You profess your love for your pet, but are you truly a great pet owner? Here are some things that make good people into great dog owners. But don’t take our word for it—ask your dog how you’re doing, too!
Great dog owners:
Spay and neuter their pets
Neutered/spayed dogs typically live longer, healthier lives, are easier to focus and train, and will not birth unwanted pups.
Clean up after their dogs
Picking up and properly disposing of any feces their dog leaves behind is best for the community, other dogs, our water, and the wildlife.
Watch the temperature
Great dog owners never leave their dog out in the heat or extreme cold for longer than a few minutes. They keep an eye on the temperature and never leave their dog in a hot or cold car, even for a few minutes.
Ensure their dog has proper identification
A dog with a great owner never leaves the house without its collar and tags. A lost dog without ID is at risk of ending up in a shelter, or worse! A tag can bring them home quickly if they are found locally, and a microchip can still bring them home even if their collar gets removed, or they wander further afield.
Great dog owners also:
Take their dogs for vet checkups
Like humans, dogs benefit from regular wellness checks from a veterinarian. Prevention is the best medicine, so make sure you take your dog to the vet for regularly scheduled visits.
Walk their dogs on leashes
Leashes aren’t just for keeping your dog out of mischief; a leash could save your dog’s life. Keeping them leashed during walks will prevent them from darting out into traffic, or from going someplace they shouldn’t be.
Provide a secure place for their pup to play
Make sure your dog has a secure place (such as a fenced-in yard) to run free and burn off lots of energy. Don’t forget to get out there and play, too—your dog will love you for it.
Train their dogs
Training isn’t just about teaching your dog neat tricks. Being able to control your dog could save their life, especially in public places or dangerous situations. Plus, a well-understood dog is calmer and better behaved, and is therefore more welcome in public spaces than one who doesn’t understand what behaviour is acceptable.
Find a Trainer
Want to learn more, or begin training? We can help, let us find the trainer nearest you so that you can reach out to them directly.
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