Advice for first-time dog owners

Here are some tips that are helpful to first-time dog owners:

1. Provide your dog with identification

The dogs of even the most careful owners can get lost or stolen.  Dogs often wander off when they are first brought home: one of my rescues escaped my fenced-in yard within 20 minutes of her arrival home!  A buckle-type collar with identification is the minimum identification that your dog should wear at all times.  It is safest for the dog to always wear the identification because unexpected situations can develop, such as a car accident or an unexpected dash out the door.  Your odds of getting your dog back are astronomically better whenever it is wearing a tag.  The tag should display your own name, area code, and telephone number, assuming your have a working phone and reliable voicemail.  Some writers recommend that you add a street address for the finder’s convenience; I am leery of the security of this in today’s day and age, but it is a decision you will need to make for yourself.  Check the tags frequently to make sure they are securely fastened, legible, unworn, and up-to-date.  Update the tags whenever you move or change phone numbers.

Tags are no guarantee of a safe return, however, even if your stray happens to avoid mishaps with passing traffic.  Despite your best efforts the tags could be lost.  A collar or tags can also easily be removed by thieves.  Dogs are stolen for many of the same reasons mentioned in “Why Free to a Good Home is a Bad Idea:” dog-fighting, sales to laboratories, etc.  Once a collar has been removed, it can be nearly impossible to prove that a particular dog is yours, and you will likely never see his return.  More secure options include tattooing the dog and/or having the dog microchipped.  In either case, the tattoo/microchip should be registered with one or more national registries such as the National Dog Registry (for tattoos) or HomeAgain and 24PetWatch (for microchips; 24PetWatch is free).  Your dog should still wear a collar with its tag(s) even if it is chipped or tattooed, since not everyone has the special scanner required to read the microchip.  Even shelters and veterinarians who have the equipment do not always think to use them.  If you tattoo your dog, it is safer to tattoo on the thigh rather than on the ears, which can easily be cropped or cut off by criminals.

Some owners are afraid to leave a collar on their dog for fear of strangulation or other injury.  These accidents can occur, often when playing with another dog or when the collar catches on a fence, grate, crate, or shrub.  Premier Pet Products has produced the KeepSafe Breakaway Collar to help.  The dog can wear its identification tags, the collar can be used reliably on walks, but the collar is designed in such a way that the dog can break free before it strangles on a fence or is choked by a playmate.

2. Keep Your Dog under Control at All Times

It is safest for your dog and for your community if you have your dog on a leash anytime he is off your property.  This simple rule can save tremendous heartbreak!

3. Visit Your Veterinarian

Bring your new dog for a checkup as soon as possible.  Be sure all its shots are up-to-date.  Ask about diseases, such as Heartworm, that might be common in your community and what you can do to prevent them.  Get your dog on a flea-control regimen with your veterinarian’s advice.  Bring in a stool sample to check for parasites.  Make an appointment to get your dog spayed or neutered as soon as possible if not already done.  

4. Provide Food and Fresh Water

Dogs should have constant access to fresh water, except under your veterinarian’s orders before surgery or possibly when they are sleeping at night.  Ask your breeder or veterinarian for advice on what and how often to feed.  Generally the law requires that you feed your dog at least once every 24 hours.  Deep-chested breeds are often fed twice a day as adults to prevent bloat.  Keep in mind that your dog’s diet should be nutritionally balanced.

I highly recommend measuring the dog’s food and feeding him on a fixed schedule at roughly the same time(s) each day.  When done, remove the food bowl, clean it, and set it aside for next time.  This has several important benefits over “free-feeding” him:

1.      It reminds your dog that the food comes from you, and that you are its leader,

2.      It reduces the odds of the dog developing food-bowl aggression,

3.      It makes it much easier to keep the dog trim and healthy rather than overweight,

4.      It promotes regular bowel movements (about 15-40 minutes after eating) as an aid to housetraining,

5.      It provides an extra opportunity to train your dog (as explained in Section III) as you practice having your dog “sit” or “stay” before enjoying his meal (which reinforces #1:  You are the leader!)

You can find a list of foods that should never be fed to your dogs under Section III.

5. Provide Exercise

For most dogs, a walk once or twice a day plus playing games like fetch or tug provide enough exercise.  Certain breeds and certain individuals require more.  If in doubt, consult your breeder, trainer, or veterinarian for advice.  Remember, a tired dog is a good dog!

6. Pick up Poop

Your dog has a right to a clean environment.  If the smell is not enough to motivate you, consider the following:  dogs’ feces attract flies.  Flies bite.  Bites result in sores on the dog’s ears, and enough flies will be persistent enough to eat the ears off.  This process is painful and maddening for the dog.  Can you imagine his suffering?  If you cannot, then you shouldn’t have a dog.

In the yard, the easiest way to pick up poop is to have a light-weight, flat shovel available with a lightweight rake.  Pet supply stores sell pooper-scooper sets for this purpose, or you can find something similar (and often cheaper) at your local hardware store.  Make it a daily habit to walk around the yard with your equipment and to rake any messes onto the shovel.  Empty the stools into a sturdy bucket or pail (lined with a garbage bag) kept handy for this purpose.  Be sure it has a lid and is kept out of the dog’s reach!  Empty the container at least once a week for disposal with your regular trash.  You may find you need to empty it more frequently in summer to keep down flies and the smell.  By the way, if your dog tends to eat his own stools, this is not unusual.  The best way to deal with this is to keep the yard very clean.  Try to pick up the dog’s stools as he produces them, and he will lack the opportunity to dine.

Even when you are out walking, you should bring along baggies and pick up your dog’s poop.  You can purchase bags made for this purpose or save and use plastic shopping bags from the grocers and other stores.  If you use the latter, make sure there are no holes, first!  In many areas scooping is the law, but even where it is not, it is the right thing to do.  Feces are not just a nuisance; they carry parasites (worms) that can infect children, other dogs, and wildlife.  By picking the waste up, you are protecting others.  Recent studies show that dog waste threatens fish and other aquatic life.  It pollutes waterways significantly.  By picking up the dog’s waste, you are protecting the local watershed and the environment.  Your neighbors will appreciate, too, the fact that you care about protecting their lawns.  You and your dogs will be much more welcome in your neighborhood as a result!

7. Dog-proof Your House

This is especially important if you are bringing home a puppy.  Use a dog-proof trash bin or store the trash in the garage or some other area out of the dog’s reach.  Human medications can poison dogs.  Rubber bands, string, yarn, dental floss, and ribbons can strangle them or cause blockages.  Keep live electrical cords out of reach.  Spray items that cannot be moved with a bitter-tasting spray (such as bitter apple) to discourage chewing, but be sure your dog dislikes the taste first.  Remove harmful chemicals, especially sweet-tasting antifreeze, from the dog’s reach.  Shoes, pillows, etc. that tempt teething puppies to chew should be removed for the time being, also.  Remember that some plants in your house and yard might be poisonous to your dog; check the ASPCA and HSUS websites for details.

8. Provide Training and Grooming

A training class is a great idea!  Ask to sit in on a class first, if possible, to get an idea of whether you and your dog will like this trainer and his methods.  Look for a trainer that uses positive reinforcement training such as those suggested in this book.  A good trainer will also suggest ways to stimulate your dog mentally in other ways, such as with toys.  Find a trainer by asking for a referral from your breeder, shelter staff, or veterinarian.  The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) maintains a list of trainers, although the organization cannot guarantee that these trainers exclusively use the humane methods it endorses.  Major pet supply chains usually offer classes, too.  Get your dog used to being handled and groomed on a regular basis, at least one a week, or more often according to his needs.