Angelcare K-9 Academy

A Responsible Pet Owner

Author Unknown

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Jones family. They live in a friendly neighborhood with their four young children and four well-mannered dogs. The dogs are liked by everyone. They never leave their fenced-in backyard without a leash firmly attached to their I.D. Collars; they never leave “calling cards” on their neighbors’ lawns; they’re always clean and brushed. Furthermore, their owners clean their backyard twice daily with the pooper-scooper. Because the dogs are so friendly and good-natured (no doubt due to their obedience training and good upbringing), neighborhood children are often seen playing with them in the Jones’ backyard.

The Smith family lives next door. They have two toddlers that love to play with the Jones’ dogs. The Smiths were so impressed with how well-mannered their neighbor’s dogs are that they brought home an 8-week old puppy for their own children. The Smiths have problems right away with housebreaking their puppy but feel too embarrassed to ask for advice. It’s been a few weeks and their house is beginning to smell “funny.” They decide to limit the puppy’s house time to very short periods and make him stay in the garage and backyard.

After a few more weeks, the backyard is beginning to smell “funny” too, and they have a few more flies than usual for this time of year. Now, the Smiths begin to let their 3-month old puppy run loose in the neighborhood during the day. The puppy comes home at mealtimes and after his dinner they lock him in the garage. Sometimes they forgot to feed him and sometimes they even forgot to put him into the garage at night. Why can’t he be in the nice warm house to be loved and cuddled? Why do they forget to feed him so often? Why do they allow him to be so alone and unhappy? The poor puppy barks and cries all night. But when the toddlers come out to play each day, their puppy is there to romp with them. When they go back in for the night, he is then free to roam the neighborhood, to get into garbage cans, to play in the nearby creek and to get incredibly dirty and matted. He’s covered in mud and fleas and before long the puppy is completely banned from playing in the house. The puppy really doesn’t understand why no one loves him. He just wants to be close to his family…his pack…as all dogs do.

Now, he is four months old and he has just bitten a neighbor’s little boy. All of the neighbors are making a big fuss. He didn’t want to hurt anyone. He was just trying to stop the little boy from running away from him so that they could play together. The neighbors yell and throw big rocks at him if he goes near their garbage cans or if stops to leave his “calling card” on their lawns. He begins to distrust people. He also chases Mr. Smith’s car everyday as it comes out of the garage, hoping that the man who used to care for him will stop and play with him. Of course, since he can’t tell Mr. Smith’s car from any other car, he has to chase lots of cars. None of them ever stops, though.

Mrs. Jones is very upset at the way the Smiths are raising their puppy, but is hesitant to interfere. Mrs. Smith doesn’t understand why all the neighbors like Mrs. Jones’ four dogs and not her one puppy. Over coffee one afternoon, Mrs. Smith brings up the subject saying, “I think it’s really unfair to keep your dogs penned up in your backyard all the time; dogs were meant to run free.” To which Mrs. Jones replies, “My dogs have over half an acre of grass and trees in which to run and exercise. In addition to that, they go for lots of walks with our children, on leashes, of course. And we take them to the park, the beach, obedience, rally and agility classes, and even camping. I think it’s unfair to us and our other neighbors for you to let your puppy run loose. He leaves his “calling cards” on our lawns, and he cries all night, you know. In a few months he will be old enough to sire more unwanted puppies, and even now he could be hit or run over by a car. Your toddlers would be heartbroken to lose him.” Mrs. Smith hastily finished her coffee and left.

The next week, Mrs. Smith’s two toddlers are outside laughing and watching their puppy chase cars when he is suddenly hit by one and thrown to the ground. He dies only moments later while they watch. With tear-stained faces, they ask their mother how this could have happened to their puppy. They pointed out that Mrs. Jones’ dogs were never hit by a car. Mrs. Smith is unable to respond, and she knows she can never bring herself to face Mrs. Jones again.

Mrs. Jones hears about the Smith’s loss from the neighborhood children. She tells them, “There is something that I want all of you to remember, so please listen very carefully…Owning a puppy is a BIG responsibility. It’s a commitment for the whole family. Well-behaved dogs are not born; they are the result of care, attention, and training. In return for all of your time spent teaching your dog everything it needs to know, your dog will give you a lifetime of devotion, companionship, and loyalty.”

A note from Angelcare…

It is a sad fact that behavior problems are the #1 cause of pet euthanasia. Dogs are said to be man’s best friend…and they are; they really are. But they only learn what we teach them. Everything a dog does is imprinted upon them. Every minute of every day the dog is learning. If we don’t modify unwanted behaviors, they will remain and even worsen. In addition, if we always encourage and reinforce the behaviors we want, the dog will offer those behaviors again.

Your dog wants to please you. A lot of owners still believe that their pet can comprehend what they did wrong…and they can’t. Unless you catch your dog IN THE ACT, there is no way to punish for it! And even if you DO punish a few times while your pet is in the act of misbehaving…if the act occurs again, then the punishment didn’t work and you need to find a different way of getting through to your pet that the action was wrong.

An example: a lot of uneducated pet owners punish their pets for pooping or peeing in the house while they’re gone, then scream, hit, or throw the dog into it’s crate…and then they repeat this over and over again, not understanding why their pet keeps going to the bathroom in the house. So what should you do different? Stop punishing your pet for nothing. Your dog does not understand why you’re so upset…he only knows you’re upset and is trying to placate you with submissive behavior (the look that most owners misconstrue as “guilty”). We give our dogs their own rooms: crates. Your dog should NEVER be left unattended if it’s new to your home. If you leave your dog in the crate 24/7, then yes, you will have different behavioral problems, but if you use it as a good confinement while you’re at work and then stimulate your dog mentally as well as physically when you get home, your dog will be absolutely fine…if not happier!

Dogs like schedules: “I wake up, get a drink, go potty outside, go into the crate to eat quick, go potty outside, get another quick drink, play ball for 5-10 minutes in the front yard and a quick potty break if necessary, go into the crate for a stuffed kong, take a nap, work on the kong some more, take another nap, go potty outside when my people come back home, play tug & fetch in the yard, go back inside and get a drink, do some sits and downs for really awesome cookies and treats, go for a walk, where I get more treats for not pulling them along, go back into the house and take a nap on the couch with my best friend, get some more treats when my owners get up to get a drink, maybe peek every now and then at the weird noises that come from the front of that really hard box thing, and then go to sleep on my floor pillow, next to my owner’s bed. Whew! What a day!” And it starts all over again tomorrow, but with varying activities so that your dog is stimulated. We have an article on how to positively crate & house-train your pet, in addition to fun classes and training modules for you and your pet’s lifetime education program. Talk to one of receptionists today about our next Registration Day!

A simple fact remains in all of the programs at Angelcare…the best protection is prevention!

Thank you for taking the time to acknowledge that your pet is a cherished member of your family….

We need all pet owners to be like you.

DO provide your dog with a balanced diet, den (crate), and plenty of water.

DO give your dog lots of time, attention, and love. Make him a family member.

DO fence in your yard (or an area) to keep your dog home and safe.

DO use your leash whenever your dog is off your property.

DO use your pooper-scooper and clean up your yard daily.

DO pick up after your dog if he leaves a “calling card” on public or private property.

DO teach your dog good manners and attend local obedience, agility, or rally training classes.

DO have your dog checked by a veterinarian regularly. (Remember: puppies need to see the vet numerous times for multiple vaccines…one visit is not enough!)

DO spay or neuter your pet.

DO brush your pet daily and bathe as needed.

DON’T acquire a pet on the spur of the moment – be sure you have the time, money, and are willing to provide daily care…and DON’T be embarrassed to ask for help with your dog or puppy!

DON’T FORGET – YOUR DOG IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!