General Dog Info

Information about Dog Care and Ownership

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There are few things in life more rewarding than a wet nose and a wagging tail greeting you at the door. Dogs have been a source of assistance and companionship for millenia and now they have become much loved and treasured family members.

For as much as they love us, we need to return their love by giving them proper care. Here are some dog ownership basics that every owner should know.

Training: For your dog's safety and overall wellbeing, training is ESSENTIAL. Being able to re-call your dog, having him sit and stay on command, having control on a leash - all of these skills will ensure that you can keep your dog and other dogs and people safe. It will also make your life MUCH more convenient. We always recommend positive reinforcement as a training method. When your dog does something good, give him a treat (whether food or toy). When he doesn't obey, no treat. This provides great incentive for them to repeat the GOOD behavior. When your dog misbehaves, a quick, firm NO and a behavior correction should be done right away. There are tons of local experts who can assist you with training methods. See our Ask The Trainer link above and our Resources for Pet Owners page for recommendations.

Leadership: Dogs are pack animals, and they follow the command of the alpha dog. In this case YOU the pet owner are the alpha dog. If you provide your dog with calm firm leadership, he will not feel the need to take over your house and do whatever he pleases. That means no high pitched yelling, no letting the dog get away with bad behavior "just this once", no ignoring the dog and letting him entertain himself. You need to be engaged with your dog and to earn his respect. While we might think we are showing kindness to the dog by spoiling him, we are actually doing a great diservice. Remember, you are a human. Your pet is a dog. You wouldn't be happy if you were treated like a dog and he won't be happy if he's treated like a human.

Exercise: Certain breeds of dog were bred to work: herding, hunting, guarding, drafting.... so sitting on a sofa or in a crate all day and then being expected to sit quietly on the floor simply isn't in the cards. Dogs NEED exercise. They need REAL exercise. If you have no desire to exercise a dog, you may want to consider a small toy breed dog rather than, say, a labrador. Exercise is as important as food and sleep to their overall wellbeing. AND its a great opportunity to bond and have a wonderful time with your dog, walking, playing fetch, swimming, doing agility or flyball... And remember, a well-exercised dog is a tired dog, and a tired dog is a GREAT dog.

Food: Dogs eat a heavily protein-based diet, with fat and carbohydrates included for energy and health. In selecting a dog food, its important to look for foods without an overabundance of preservatives. It is also essential not to overfeed your dog, as a healthy weight will prevent future health problems, particularly with hips, knees and spines. Dogs that are traditionally pack hunters (like Beagles) have to wrangle with other dogs for their food and will continue to eat whenever they can - so portion control is a must. For detailed information about dog nutrition, click here.

Affection: Dogs are companion animals, and they need human attention and affection to be complete. Leaving them alone for extended periods of time can lead to depression and undesirable behavior. They need interaction, the same way we do. Be sure to take care of your dogs physically AND emotionally. They will return all the love you show them tenfold!