Dog Care
- Housing
- Nutrition
- Puppies
- Identification
- Bathing and Grooming
- Veterinary Care
- Desexing
- Exercise and Play
- Training
- Breed Concerns
- FAQs
Dogs are very social animals and that is why they make such good pets. They are a pack animal, so minimum company is two. They thrive on plenty of company whether it be the family, another dog or other playmate.
Housing
Dogs should be provided with a clean, comfortable and safe environment.
If your dog sleeps outside, the area:
• Must be escape-proof (fenced in)
• Include sheltered areas
• Contain a warm, dry, draught-free kennel
If your dog sleeps indoors:
• Provide a “dog-bed”
Do not leave dogs unsupervised with children, indoors or outdoors.
All dogs need a place where they can feel secure and safe like the den they would have had in the wild. A sheltered area out of the rain and cold is essential. They will need access to fresh water and a place to toilet. Responsibilities will need to be allocated. Your dog will feel more settled if there are regular patterns in place. If you have a puppy you may want to proof your house for chewing and lots of activity. Make sure your yard is escape proof!
Nutrition
Feed your dog a combination of a high quality commercial food and natural food. Natural food may include:
• Fresh raw meat
• Raw meaty bones
• Vegetables
Many human foods cause illness, so avoid:
• Cooked bones
• High fat foods (such as sausages and pork fat)
• Chocolate
• Garlic
• Avocado
• Grapes
• Onions
Adult dogs should be fed at least twice a day.
Ensure that your dog always has an adequate supply of fresh, clean water.
Feeding a balanced diet appropriate to your dog’s age and lifestyle is fundamental to the health of your dog. Dogs love meat but they are not carnivores, they are omnivores and can live on both vegetable and meat based diets. Meat alone is not balanced in nutrients, roughage, vitamins or minerals. Often the easiest, cheapest and most convenient way of ensuring correct nutrition is to feed complete balanced products prepared by good pet food manufacturers.
Most brands these days have a range of 'lifestyle foods' i.e. foods with nutrition levels aimed at the specific age or activity of the dog, with feeding guides on the packaging.
Generally younger and very active dogs should be fed at least twice daily. Aged dogs also often benefit from smaller more frequent feeds.
Home cooked diets can be prepared but this should be done in consultation with your local Vet or a pet nutrition guide to ensure it is completely balanced and provides everything your pet needs in the correct ratios. Part of getting it right is to monitor your dog’s body condition, or amount of body fat. You can easily feel the ribs, but not see them, in a puppy or dog that is in ideal condition.
Puppies
To support the growth of bone, muscle and other tissues, puppies need to consume more energy, protein and minerals in comparison to body weight than adult dogs. Your puppy needs to stay on formulas for growth till they are approximately adult size so this depends on the breed. Some of the larger breeds are not fully grown till over 2 years of age and do best on large breed puppy formulations. Young puppies less than 3 months of age are best fed smaller meals, 3-4 times per day.
Identification
In NSW, you are legally required to have your pet microchipped and registered. Costs for registration
vary according to whether your dog is desexed or not. Check with your local council for further details.
If you move, it is important to update your details with the local council. It is also a good idea to have a tag on your dog’s collar with your contact details.
Bathing and Grooming
Regular grooming is essential. If you establish this habit early in your dog’s life:
• Grooming will be an enjoyable activity
• Provide bonding time
• Become part of a routine
Dogs should be bathed when necessary using a shampoo specifically prepared for dogs.
Most dogs will enjoy a brush. Some breeds have been developed that will require clipping and brushing on a regular basis. Be sure you are able to maintain this level of care if you choose such a breed. The short haired breeds do not need much coat care. Some breeds are more prone to skin problems and white coated animals are more susceptible to sun damage.
Veterinary Care
Your dog will require annual visits to the vet for vaccinations and general health checks. Taking your dog to the vet once a year is equivalent to you visiting the doctor once every 5 years. However, it’s also important to treat your dog at home regularly for worms and fleas.
All dogs need regular health checks and need to keep their vaccinations up to date. Minimum health care should include regular worming, heart worm prevention, flea control and teeth cleaning. There are lots of products and some dry foods that clean teeth. Any changes in eating, drinking, urination, defecation or weight loss or gain should be checked out with a visit to the vet. Theses days there are treatments available for many problems ranging from diabetes to arthritis.
Desexing
RSPCA recommends early age desexing. Desexed animals:
• Will generally live a longer and healthier life
• Have less risk of getting cancer
• Have less risk of getting diseases such as uterine infections and prostate problems
• Are less likely to roam and wander
• Display less aggression
• Are less likely to display anti social mating behaviours
Exercise and Play
Dogs need regular exercise, at least once a day.
Forms of exercise may include:
• Walks
• Off leash runs
• Structured play
A large back-yard will offer some exercise but this is not a substitute for regular walks.
Dogs who get regular exercise are less likely to:
• Bark
• Dig holes in the garden
• Pull washing off the line
• Be frustrated and bored
All dogs need regular exercise. Even a big yard becomes familiar after a short while and so interactive play and outings at least once a day are essential for the physical, social and mental needs of your pet. Dogs are a pack animal so if your pet will be alone most of the day you should consider a playmate as a necessity. Lots of company will minimise lots of demands on busy lifestyles and reduce behavioural problems that often stem initially from boredom.
Training
Training is important as it:
• Provides mental stimulation
• Keeps your dog happy
• If combined with exercise, tires your dog out
Puppies have a ‘critical socialisation period’ between about 3-17 weeks old. “Puppy Preschool” classes are recommended, as is taking your dog to off leash parks to socialise with other dogs (but only after he/she has been fully vaccinated).
Training should always be based on positive reinforcement training and kindness.
• Reward good behaviour with a pat on the head, a food treat or a pleasant tone
• Ignore ‘unwanted’ behaviour
Breed Concerns
Since humans domesticated dogs we have selected them for different purposes, leading to the development of breeds. When choosing a specific breed it is important to look at what the breed was developed for e.g. the working breeds such as Cattle Dogs, Kelpies and Border Collies are extremely active and intelligent which is not suited well to being alone in a yard all day. Breeds that have been selected for fighting are more likely to fight. Many breeds have inherited health problems which may need veterinary intervention or management and so costs will be incurred.
All breeds have breed societies so it is wise to find out about a breed’s characteristics before you acquire one to make sure the pet is appropriate to your lifestyle. Remember that pets can live well over 10 years so it is a long term commitment. A crossbreed dog may be more robust and have the best of the breeds.
FAQs
1. Should I feed my dog bones?
Yes. Your dog will certainly enjoy chewing bones which may provide them with hours of activity while you are not at home. The safest bones to give your dog are either raw brisket bones or large marrowbones. Never give a dog cooked bones or raw/cooked chicken bones. Initially you should supervise your pet, the benefit is only if they chew on the bone not swallow them, so remove any bones if concerned about their chewing behaviour.
2. Do I need to get my dog trained to be a good watch dog?
No. All dogs are territorial to some extent and will let you know if someone strange is entering the property. Aggression in a dog is never appropriate, the highly trained working guard dogs, for example with the police force, do so on command, not just because they are aggressive.
3. Do I need to take my puppy to puppy preschool if I already know a bit of training?
Yes. You do need to take your puppy to training school as it is between 6 and 12 weeks of age that is the most important time for socialisation. At puppy preschool your puppy can be safely socialised with people and other puppies and you will learn lots of helpful training tips.
4. Should I get my dog desexed?
Yes. It will make your pet more suited to the domestic life you have chosen for it. Mating drives lead to escaping and competition which then endangers pets’ lives. Other health issues in female dogs, such as mammary cancer, infected wombs and prostate problems will be avoided, not to mention the obvious control of unwanted litters. Your pet dog is no longer competing in the wild and so will benefit from desexing.
For more information please consult the RSPCA Knowledge Base.
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