Bringing a new family member into the home can be confusing and difficult if you are unsure what to do.
Here are some important things to think about if you are considering or have brought a new dog or puppy into your home.
Firstly you must provide adequate food , shelter and medical care all which can be costly so you may want to get your dog insured.
by Ray Breslin
Getting a dog is a life time commitment, dogs can live up to 7-15 years so you must be prepared to put in lots of time and effort all which is very rewarding.
Choosing a dog! Choose a dog that fits your lifestyle. Whether that is being reasonably active to a couch potatoe there will be a dog for you. If you are unsure how to select a dog get in touch with a professional.
Now you have chosen a dog what must you think about?
If you own a dog you should consider entering in an obedience class. This will give you general knowledge and the do’s and dont’s about what to do with your dog. You will learn how to teach your dog basic commands and manners.
If you choose to get a puppy be sure to get them in to puppy classes for early socialising.
Too often people do not socialise their puppies young enough and they end up with lots of issues from being dog aggressive to over excited around other dogs.
Provide regular exercise you should give your dog at least a 45 minute walk every day along with lots of play sessions to keep them occupied.
For puppies however their walks should be limited as their joints and growth plates are not fully developed. A suitable walk for a two month old for example would be 5 minutes, you can then add on 5 minutes to the walk for each month thereafter.
Provide your dog with the proper diet. This is not an area to be cheap about. The quality of the food you feed your animal will directly affect his quality of life as well as length of life. Remember, cheap dog food equals lots of vet bills in the long run. Buy a quality food from a reliable pet shop. Pet shops generally carry good quality pet food and should be able to advise you on what food you should feed your dog.
Have a safe area that your dog can run around in but not to be left in for hours on end. Either a fully enclosed garden or a dog run would be sufficient.
If you work all day you should really provide something for your dog to do or bring them to a day care service that your dog will be able to exercise and socialize. If a dog is left in a back yard everyday you may find they will become destructive, hyper active or just out of control. This is purely out of boredom.
Things to remember
Ensure your dog is micro chipped this will help identify your dog in the case that he is stolen or gets lost.
Always provide access to water.
Be sure your dog has its vaccinations and get regular vet checks.
Enrol in some sort of training with your dog for your benefit and your dogs.
If you find that you have any issues contact a certified professional.
K9 Academy also offers Dog training, Puppy Classes and Behaviour modification. If you would like to find out more you can visit the website www.K9academy.ie . Visit the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/callK9academy
Or call 0864468313 or Unit 3 Carrygally Business Park, Lismonaghan, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.
