10 rules for healthy dog guardianship

[KurtNYC]

(not sure why the other thread got locked since I didn't see it before the lock, but after reviewing the "Dog Listener" here is my list)

1. If you aren't prepared to clean up after, train, groom and get vet care for your dog(s) then you should wait until you are. Likewise, if your schedule would have you crating the dog 9 hours a day during the week then perhaps you could look for someone who is home during the day and who would enjoy your dog during those hours. If you are in an apartment remember that the #2 reason that dogs wind up in shelters is landlords or other issues with renting (eg. your dog barks all day when you are not home). If you have never had a dog before or are unsure of your abilities and the commitment involved, you might dog sit for a friend. Bottomline, avoid bonding with a dog that you ultimately just can't keep -- it's tough on BOTH of you.

2. Don't get a rescue just because you "feel sorry for" them. If a dog has issues that you are not prepared to deal with (aggression, high energy, herding instinct, chronic barking) then you aren't doing the dog any favors by adopting it. An often mis-quoted rule says "there are no bad dogs, only bad owners" -- what some miss there is that some dogs are, at least temporarily, "bad dogs" (because of abuse or misguided training) and it will take some good training to bring them back into balance. Know your limits.

3. Have a look at what is in that dry dog food (www.dogfoodanalysis.com). A high quality dog food may cost only 10% more than the cheap ones (partly because you feed less quantity) and is well worth it. Some foods with great reputations don't deserve them.

4. Before you spend a fortune treating allergy symptoms, try to find out what the source of the allergen is and eliminate it from the diet or environment. Many foods contain grains that dogs may be allergic to.

5. Have your pet spayed or neutered. Good for their health, behavior and the right thing to do.

6. Your dog is NOT defiant, lazy, deaf, or willful. You should look at the failure of your dog to do what you want it to do, as your failure to effectively communicate. For example your dog is not peeing on that same spot on the rug again out of defiance and it is not going into another room to pee because it is "sneaky." A dog likely doing these things is confused and scared to pee in front of you. If your housebreaking methods aren't working don't be shy about reaching out to someone who can help.

7. NEVER rub your dog's nose in it! It is not just cruel but absolutely pointless and counter productive (see #6).

8. Your dog communicates to you in variety of ways. Learning more about dog body language and common behaviors can go a long way in helping you understand what your dog is telling you and will enhance the bond between you. It can also avoid seeing 'laziness' or 'defiance' where there is none.

9. Do not approach your dog while angry. If it pooped or tore something up and you are upset, take a minute or two to calm down and get perspective. Remember that if you don't 'catch them in the act' that you can't correct the behavior. If you are loud and physically threatening (or worse) then communication with your dog gets shut down. Never threaten your dog or think that it is stupid because it doesn't heed your threats. Being loud etc. only tells the dog that you are erratic. It simply wants to get away from you at that moment and is not thinking about why you are angry.

10. Instead of telling the dog "No" -- tell it what you want it to do. Show it what it CAN chew on, the RIGHT way to greet people, etc. "No" isn't a command -- it is the absence of one. Much more effective to tell the dog 'chew this, not that."