Responsibilities of caring for a dog.

Having a dog takes a lot of responsibility and understanding what your dog needs will prepare you for a long, happy life with your dog. Owners not meeting their dog's needs cause most behavior problems in dogs. To help prepare you for what the responsibilities of having a dog are, I've written a list to guide you below:

You have to walk them twice a day for about 30-45 minutes each. High-energy pets will need more, and Senior and toy dogs may need less. If you work all day, you'll need to wake up about an hour earlier to get the walk in before you go as well as repeat it after you return home.

The dog will need lots of time with you and the family every day.

Feed them twice a day and always have fresh water available.

Dog Training. Dogs that are well trained are happier and more bonded with their owners. They also get to spend more time with their owners because they are well behaved.

Clean up their poop, both in your yard and on walks.

Adult dogs will have to do a Veterinarian exam at least annually, as well as be up-to-date on all their vaccinations. Puppies will require several more trips to the Vet the first year for additional vaccinations as well as spaying/neutering. Contact your local Vet to learn about cost, etc.

Puppies require a tremendous more amount of time and money their first year. You'll also have to house train them, which requires a lot of extra time on your part then an adult dog would.

You'll need a well-maintained fence at least 6-feet tall if you plan to have them off-leash in the backyard at all.

Brush them/bathe them/grooming/nail cutting/ear cleaning.

Flea/tick care.

Extra expense. There is a lot of expense in having a dog. You need to consider: Veterinarian costs, food, supplies (leash, collar, id tags, bedding), toys, chew bones, flea care, bathing, grooming, travel expenses or dog sitting expenses while you are away, medical care should they become ill, etc.

You'll also have more cleaning due to Dog Hair. Dog hair has a way of finding itself on everything and will require more cleaning on your part.

Arranging for care of your dog while you are away on trips. Dogs cannot be left alone overnight.

Oral care for your dog. Veterinarians are recommending teeth brushing and cleanings.

Extra Things to think about if you have children.

1. Do not expect that the children will take over all the dog-care, no matter how much they say they will. They may be able to assist you, but as the parent, YOU will have the responsibility.

2. Access your energy level. It can be a lot of work keeping up with children and adding a dog means you have one more responsibility.

3. Supervise your young children around the dog at all times. (Children can be unpredictable and do things like pull tails or whiskers and cause the dog to feel threatened.) You should not leave your child with the dog unattended, and you will have to teach them how to be gentle and what areas are off limits to touch.

4. If your children are very young, say under 8, it can be better to adopt a dog older than three, and medium to larger size dog rather than a puppy, because puppies have sharp milk teeth and claws that can scratch easily. Puppies and small/toy dogs can also be fragile and injured more easily.

5. Also consider your child's friends that may be coming over and you will also have to supervise them around the dog.

Having a dog can be a wonderful experience if you prepare yourself and meet your dog's needs.

This article was contributed by Julie Bjelland Lokhandwala the founder of webDogTrainer

webDogTrainer is a popular website that offers Consultations with Julie, the dog trainer, LIVE about any dog-training related questions you may have! Also on the site you will find more in-depth information on how to train your dog to be the kind of dog you always wanted and how to fix problem behaviors should they occur.

Contact info:
www.webDogTrainer.com
info@webdogtrainer.com

Special Dog Training Offer: Julie Bjelland Lokhandwala is currently offering the first 20 signups from the PGAA site 50% OFF her normal consulting fee by using coupon code: PGAA50. After the first 20 you can still get 25% OFF by using the coupon code PGAA25.

Visit Julie's site at www.webDogTrainer.com for the dog training help you need at a much reduced cost. She's good at what she does!!

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