This entry was posted on Thursday, April 22nd, 2010 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Tip of the month. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Always make sure that your dogs are under control on walks, that you carry a lead with you at all times and are ready to use it if the need arises.
Unfortunately, not everybody likes dogs, so all of us who do have a responsibility to improve the perception of dogs by our society through responsible dog ownership. While there are people who irrationally fear and dislike dogs, we must always ensure that our dogs’ behaviour (and our own!) does not give any real grounds for complaint or criticism:
1. DO socialise your dog. A dog that is not used to other people or other dogs is more likely to show aggression in social situations. Controlled socialisation should begin as soon as you bring your puppy home.
2. DO train your dog. An untrained dog will not know how to behave in public and even friendly dogs may upset others if they have never learned any manners. Training should begin as soon as your puppy is brought home. If you have no idea how or what you should teach your dog, seek help from a dog trainer or animal behaviourist as soon as possible.
3. DO keep your dog inside your property. Dogs that are allowed to wander can come to all sorts of harm and may also be accused of “crimes” they did or did not commit!
4. DO walk your dog every day. Walking provides an outlet for many doggy activities (sniffing, socialising, digging, swimming, running etc) and leaves less energy for unwanted behaviours.
5. DO leash your do when walking in the streets. Besides the danger that traffic poses to dogs, many dogs find it fun to approach dogs behind fences and bark at them causing an unnecessary disturbance.
6. DO always carry a leash with you in areas where dogs may run freely. Always be prepared to leash your dog in any situation where he may not be well trained enough to stay out of trouble!
7. DO spay or castrate your dog. Unless you have a registered dog and intend breeding according to KUSA regulations, it is unwise to produce puppies which all have to find good homes. Neutered dogs are also generally easier to live with and to take out in public.
8. DO NOT allow your dog to soil public pathways.
9. DO NOT allow your dog to bark incessantly for long periods of time. Dogs that are allowed in the house and are treated as part of the family are generally far less noisy than dogs that are left outside all day.
10. DO NOT purchase two puppies at the same time. It is a lot harder to train and socialise two puppies than one pup. When two puppies grow up together they often do not bond well with the owner and instead become over-dependant on each other. Dogs of the same age (especially if they are the same sex) are also more likely to fight with each other.