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There
is SO much to consider when thinking of bringing a dog into your home.
They are one of the most loving and rewarding animals you could ever
wish to share your life with, but you have to be prepared to give aswell
as receive.
Do
not even consider getting a dog if it will be left home alone for long
periods of time on a frequent basis. No dog should be left alone for
longer than 4 hours at a time, and puppies should not be left alone
at all! So if you are in a household where everyone is out at work/school
all day, then a dog may not be for you. And if there isnt somebody at
home ALL the time, then a puppy is definately not for you.
Regardless
of breed/size, All dogs need regular exercise. Atleast two walks a day
( on lead and off lead runs ). This means seven days a week, every week
of the year, regardless of the weather.
You
need to be prepared to train your dog, for them to be safe and happy.
Make sure it is well socialised from an early age, with animals and
people. A puppy should be shown as many different sights and sounds
as
possible every
day . Teach the dog basic commands such as 'come', 'sit', 'stay'. These
can be vital in keeping a dog safe.
When training a dog, never hit it, use rewards and praise for good
behaviour. Your dog should not be scared of you, but should see learning
as fun, and want to please you. Never use shock collars, Spike collars
or choke chains. Play with your dog and provide it with toys to keep
it stimulated.
If
you get a puppy, do you have time and patience to train it? It will
pee and poo, it will chew, it will want to play and need lots of attention.
Make
sure your dog is fed two quality meals daily. ( For portion sizes/best
food etc for your breed ask your vet/rescue centre for advice ) And
have a bowl of fresh water always available. Never feed a dog human
chocolate, it is poisonous to dogs.
Whether
male or female, make sure your dog is neutered. It is a myth that it
is cruel to have a bitch neutered before she has one lot of pups. It
is also a myth that you should let your male dog 'sow his seed' before
being neutered. Get your dogs done as soon as they are old enough! You
will not only be preventing illnesses like cancer and helping with temperament,
but making sure you never add to the number of healthy, young dogs that
are put to sleep every week because they cannot find a home.
Make
sure your dog receives regular vaccinations. Also consider getting your
dog microchipped, incase of lose or theft.
Unfortunately
dog theft is on the increase, whether it be by somebody who wants the
dog themselves, or wants to sell the dog on, or use your dog to breed
from and make money. Aswell as microchipping, you can gets collar tags
that clearly state that your dog is chipped and neutered. Never leave
your dog alone outside shops, or even in your own garden.
When
you first bring your dog home, decide on house rules and stick to them.
Dont let a dog get away with something one day, then not allow it another
day.
You
should ALWAYS poop scoop when out on walks.
Remember,
cute little puppies can grow into BIG dogs. They will moult, paddle
through your house with muddy paws etc. They may become ill and mess
in the house accidentally no matter how well housetrained they are.
They can live for 10-15+ years, are you prepared to care for them and
give them all they need for all their lives?
So
if you decide you want a dog, you then have to decide what breed, size,
age of dog you would like. Also consider personality, just like humans,
all dogs are different. So talk to your local rescue centres and let
them help you decide which dog is right for you. Getting a dog from
a rescue centre not only means you are saving that dogs life, but you
are making space at the centre to save another dog too. You will also
know that the dog has been vet checked, and neutered/vaccinated/microchipped.
DOG
OWNERS
Owning
a dog is a wonderful and rewarding experience. But it also
involves a lot of responsibility.
Any good dog owner will want to do all they can to keep their
dogs happy and safe, and also respect other dogs, animals
and people.
There is no excuse for not poop scooping after your dog. Buy
some cheap scented nappy bags, you can buy 100 for less than
50p!
Dont allow your dog to bark for long periods of time, especially
late at night and early mornings.
If your dog is in your garden make sure all gates are closed
and there are no other escape routes. Never allow your dog
to wander unsupervised.
When walking your dog near any roads, always keep it on a
lead no matter how well behaved you think your dog is, or
how quiet the roads are.
Never allow your dog to approach other dogs. Some dogs have
fear aggresion and other problems, through no fault of their
own. Allowing your own dog to approach another dog can cause
distress to the other dog and owner, and put any training
back weeks or months. It may also not be safe for your own
dog, dont assume that just because your dog is passive and
good with other dogs, that all other dogs are the same.
If your dog doesnt have 100% perfect recall be very careful
where you allow it off lead.
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Toxic
Foods:
Chocolate/Caffeine:
Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound that is a cardiac
stimulant and a diuretic.
After their pet has eaten a large quantity of chocolate, many
pet owners assume their pet is unaffected. However, the signs
of sickness may not be seen for several hours, with death
following within twenty-four hours. Symptoms include Staggering,
labored breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, tremors,
fever, heart rate increase, arrhythmia, seizures, coma, death.
Cocoa
powder and cooking chocolate are the most toxic forms. A 10-kilogram
dog can be seriously affected if it eats a quarter of a 250gm
packet of cocoa powder or half of a 250gm block of cooking
chocolate. These forms of chocolate contain ten times more
theobromine than milk chocolate. Thus, a chocolate mud cake
could be a real health risk for a small dog. Even licking
a substantial part of the chocolate icing from a cake can
make a dog unwell.
Semi-sweet
chocolate and dark chocolate are the next most dangerous forms,
with milk chocolate being the least dangerous. A dog needs
to eat more than a 250gm block of milk chocolate to be affected.
Obviously, the smaller the dog, the less it needs to eat.
Onions/Garlic:
Onions
and garlic contain the toxic ingredient thiosulphate. Onions
are more of a danger.
Pets
affected by onion toxicity will develop haemolytic anaemia,
where the pet’s red blood cells burst while circulating
in its body. Symptoms include Hemolytic Anemia, labored breathing,
liver damage, vomiting, diarrhea, discolored urine.
The
poisoning occurs a few days after the pet has eaten the onion.
All forms of onion can be a problem including dehydrated onions,
raw onions, cooked onions and table scraps containing cooked
onions and/or garlic. Left over pizza, Chinese dishes and
commercial baby food containing onion, sometimes fed as a
supplement to young pets, can cause illness.
While
garlic also contains the toxic ingredient thiosulphate, it
seems that garlic is less toxic and large amounts would need
to be eaten to cause illness.
Mushrooms:
Mushroom
toxicity does occur in dogs and it can be fatal if certain
species of mushrooms are eaten. Amanita phalloides is the
most commonly reported severely toxic species of mushroom
in the US but other Amanita species are toxic. Symptoms include
Abdominal pain, drooling, liver damage, kidney damage, vomiting
diarrhea, convulsions, coma, death
Grapes/Raisins:
As
few as a handful of raisins or grapes can make a dog ill;
however, of the 10 cases reported to the ASPCA Animal Poison
Control Center (APCC), each dog ingested between 9 ounces
and 2 pounds of grapes or raisins. Symptoms include vomiting,
diarrhea, abdominal pain, and lethargy.
Macadamia
Nuts:
Macadamia
nuts are another concern, along with most other kinds of nuts.
Their high phosphorus content is said to possibly lead to
bladder stones. Dogs develop a tremor of the skeletal muscles,
and weakness or paralysis of the hindquarters. Affected dogs
are often unable to rise and are distressed, usually panting.
Some affected dogs have swollen limbs and show pain when the
limbs are manipulated.
NOTE:
Pets owners should not assume that human food is always safe
for pets. When it comes to chocolate, onions, garlic and macadamia
nuts, such foods should be given in only small quantities,
or not at all. Be sure that your pets can’t get into
your stash of chocolates, that food scraps are disposed of
carefully to prevent onion and garlic toxicity and that your
dog is prevented from picking up macadamia nuts if you have
a tree in your garden.
Baby
Food:
Can
contain onion powder, which can be toxic to dogs. Can also
result in nutritional deficiencies, if fed in large amounts.
Bones
from fish, poultry, or other meat sources:
Can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system.
Cat
Food:
Cat food is generally too high in protein and fats.
Fat
Trimmings:
Can
cause pancreatitis.
Milk
and other dairy products:
Some adult dogs and cats do not have sufficient amounts of
the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk.
This can result in diarrhea. Lactose-free milk products are
available for pets.
Raw
Eggs:
Contain
an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of
biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat
problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.
Raw
Fish:
Can
result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss
of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common
if raw fish is fed regularly.
www.entirelypets.com/toxicfoods
also
see
www.earthclinic.com/Pets/poisonous_foods
and
also
Plants
poisonous to dogs
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Hot
summer days can be dangerous for dogs, here are some ways
to keep your dog cool...
Never
leave dogs in cars or caravans.
Walk
dogs early in a morning and late at night.
Fill
a childs paddling pool with cold water and put in a shaded
area of the garden.
If
your dog isn't a water lover, try dipping his paws in a bowl
of cool water, this will help cool the blood.
You
can buy special cooling bandanas that a dog can wear around
its neck. The bandanas contain crystals, that, when soaked
in cold water, keep cold for long periods.
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If
you need any more help or advice, or want to start looking for that
perfect pooch, the following websites are a wonderful place to start.
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This
is great for planning dog walks, and seeing how much exercise
you and your dog gets...
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