Content
- What does it mean to be a responsible dog owner?
- Good mental and physical health of the dog
- socialize the dog well
- educate the dog well
- What should you know before adopting a dog?
Be a responsible dog owner it takes some effort and is not as easy as it sounds in some media. Also, responsibility should start before you adopt the puppy, not when you already have it and it's too late. It's almost like deciding whether to have children or not, because in reality this pet will become another member of the family and you need to make sure you can take care of it and educate it correctly, because it depends on you and cannot take care of it. of himself.
if you want to know how to be a good dog owner and have a healthy and happy pet, don't miss this PeritoAnimal article in which we'll give you all the tips to be a responsible pet owner. You will find that with a little patience and affection it will be easier than you think.
What does it mean to be a responsible dog owner?
Good mental and physical health of the dog
Being the responsible owner or owner of a dog means many things. On the one hand, it has to take care very well of your puppy. It has to provide you with a safe place to live, as well as the daily food needed to keep you healthy. You also have to give him the medical care he needs, take him to the vet, give him time every day to share with him, and the exercise necessary to keep a dog fit and happy. In other words, you have to make sure your puppy enjoys good physical and mental health.
socialize the dog well
On the other hand, you have to make sure your dog doesn't become a nuisance (or a danger) to others. This means that you must socialize your dog correctly since it is a puppy so that it knows how to live in harmony with its environment and relate properly with other people and animals. It is also possible to socialize an adult dog if you have adopted it later although it costs a little more than when they are small.
educate the dog well
Most canine behavior problems have more to do with the irresponsibility of the owners than the bad attitude of the dogs. Many people think that having a garden is enough to have a dog. They don't bother to educate this poor animal and think that simply by giving it affection they will be experts in canine obedience. But this is a wrong idea, because when behavior problems appear, they decide that the best option to solve them is to reprimand the dog to abandon it, because according to them there is no solution, and in the best case, calling a handler dogs or canine ethologist.
Unfortunately, those who decide to call a trainer are in the minority. Furthermore, some of these people think that a dog trainer or educator is a person with the ability to "reprogram" a dog. Irresponsible owners believe the dog's behavior will magically change just because they've hired an expert. If these owners do not also participate in the dog education, the end result will be a dog that behaves perfectly, only when the handler is, and of course this is not being a responsible owner.
What should you know before adopting a dog?
If you already have a dog or are thinking about adopting one, then you've already taken the first step towards being a responsible owner: get informed. It is important that you have a few things in mind before adopting a dog and that you become aware of issues such as nutrition, health and education. Only then will you be able to assess whether you can properly care for a dog.
Some questions you should ask to find out if it is or can be a responsible dog owner are:
- Do you have enough time to devote to your puppy every day? Not to leave you alone most of the day?
- Are you willing to clean up your needs when you get them in the wrong place?
- Do you have time to teach him where he can and can't do what he needs?
- If you can't spend a lot of time with your dog, can you hire a dog walker to walk you for at least two hours a day? Will the walker be able to pick up his dog if he is not at home? Because it wouldn't make sense to take you for a walk when you're at home.
- Will you be able to pay your veterinarian's bills, your puppy's food, and the materials needed to educate him and his toys?
- Are you thinking of adopting (or already have) a dog of a breed that requires a lot of exercise? Many people adopt small terriers just because they are small, not knowing that they are animals that need a lot of daily exercise. Other people adopt Labradors because these puppies have gained popularity as family pets, but they don't know that these puppies need a lot of exercise. These people end up having destructive or aggressive puppies, as they need to spend their energy in some way.
- Do you have enough time to socialize and educate your dog?
- If you want a large breed dog, do you have the strength to dominate it if necessary? Will your monthly budget be affected by feeding a dog weighing over 40 pounds?
In addition, you will have to do some specific questions about the dog in question that you already have or that you want to adopt, such as if there is any specific rule about certain breeds in your city, etc. But in general, the answers to these questions are the ones you should know before adopting a dog. At PeritoAnimal we know that the best way to become a responsible dog owner is by reading and asking questions. So, congratulations for taking the first step!