Are you ready for a long-term relationship? A relationship that promises you commitment and will be rewarding in its own way. It will replace the emptiness in your life with barks of excitement and paws of happiness. Yes, it’s about getting a dog.
Responsibility towards animals starts with puppyhood
Before acquiring a dog, future pet owners should ask themselves whether they are ready for a long-term commitment and have the time and financial means to care for a new pet. Dogs in particular require time as they need to be walked every day and generally need a significant amount of attention.
Owners should ensure they acquire their new cat or dog from a responsible and reputable establishment (pet stores, pet events, breeders, animal shelters, etc). Theyshould ensure that puppies are weaned, and that weaning wasn’t forced as this can lead to behavioral and growth problems.
Socialization is key to well-integrated dogs
The socialization process for a dog should entail exposure to as many different sights, sounds, and experiences. This should begin in an early stage of a dog’s life. Introduction of the dog in the new home should be in a neutral setting. A separate sleeping and feeding area should be provided for the dog. Dogs’ sleeping areas should be warm, calm, and free of draughts.
Interactions with others dog should start regularly but for little time. As a sign that the dog is ready to interact you will find their tail and body relaxed, as well as their mouth partly opened. It is important to note that a dog’s positions, postures, and behaviours are key to understanding their language. Tail-wagging indicates happiness, lying on their back with their tail between legs is a sign of submission, and crouching low with ears laid flat on the head and the tail drooping between their legs means they are frightened or stressed.
Dogs’ role in society is evolving and the benefits they bring are more widely acknowledged
Dogs offer psychological and social benefits. Spending time with pets reduces stress, helps children’s development, and expedites social interactions. Bringing home, a dog demands a long-term commitment, time, and financial means. But, if you are ready then ensure that the dog must be acquired or adopted from a responsible and renowned pet store (pet events, breeders, animal shelters, etc.) While adopting a pet, ensure that puppies are weaned.And, their weaning wasn’t forced, as this can lead to behavioural and growth problems in them.
Deciphering behavior in dogs is key to understanding them and best care for them
After the adoption of a pet, the pet parentneeds to take special precautions while introducing a new pet to the family. A familiar and predictable home in which the dog can exercise some control over their physical environment over social interactions helps reduce their stress levels and enables them to cope with any challenges.
Dogs are inquisitive by nature and desires to explore all aspects of their new surroundings. Thus, it is important to hide away any toxic substances, medication, vitamins, poisonous plants, electric wires, and certain food items like chocolates leaving adverse effects on dog’s health. Dogs have a keen sense of smell.It is important to consider eliminating cleaning products with a strong smell as well to avoid interfering with the pet’s sense of smell, which may create stress.
The way a dog bark is also a good indication of how they feel. Regular, long sorrowful barks are a sign of boredom. While a dull growl or bark that develops into a howl means the dog feels threatened.And a recurring stuttering bark is a sign a dog wants to play.
Dogs have fundamental and emotional needs necessary for their wellbeing
Dogs need to be kept stimulated physically and mentally, engaged in outdoor games and exercises are an excellent way of achieving this. Activities, combined with proper feeding habits, are essential for dogs to live a healthy life. Walking, jogging, cycling, and playing fetch and catch are all excellent ways for pet parents to exercise their dogs. Adapt these activities to your dog’s needs. As dogs can easily overheat, owners should take special precautions such as exercising during cooler parts of the day and ensuring dogs have access to shade and fresh water. Also, keep the dogs away from heat-absorbing surfaces such as asphalt or metal.
A Dog needs to be taken out several times per day to relieve itself. A pet parent should use this as an opportunity to establish a routine with their dogs. It is essential as they tend to have weak bladder control. Using the same words and offering a reward while urination in the right place helps in developing a behavioural habit.
Dogs, much like humans, have a variety of needs: physiological needs, security needs, social needs, self-worth, and value needs. These include their basic needs (eating, drinking, etc.) as well as their need to feel safe, loved, praised, and fulfilled. It is important to keep dogs’ needs in mind as the owner-pet relationship develops.
The key to a happy and healthy dog is through health, nutrition & stimulation from early growth
Dogs, like other pets, have unique nutritional requirements depending on a range of factors, such as breed, size, age, lifestyle, activity, and environment. A balanced diet that provides all the essential nutrients, besides adequate water intake, will keep pets healthy and prevent future health issues. Puppies under six months should consume three meals a day, while adult dogs can have only one or two meals per day. Dogs should be left alone with their food bowl for 10 minutes before taking the bowl away. Lack of physical activity and unsuitable food consumption will lead to excess weight or obesity, hence the need to respect dogs’ daily rations. Preventive healthcare is key to reducing a dog’s risk of developing a wide range of problems.
In order to help dogs to live healthy and happy lives, it is important to respect them for the animals they truly are and to put their real needs first when choosing their nutrition.
The optimal food for dogs is not necessarily related to ingredients, as pets need specific nutrients, not ingredients, to sustain their health. According to the Pet Food Institute, dogs and cats require more than 40 essential nutrients in their diets. A pet food labelled as ‘complete and balanced’ means that the diet will meet all nutrient needs of the pet if the proper amount of food and water is consumed.
It is recommended that puppies see a veterinarian every six months. Once they’re adults, a yearly visit suffices. A comprehensive nutrition-focused approach, counselling, vaccinations, parasite control, dental care, and behaviourcounselling can help mitigate issues and diseases.
