4 Things Responsible Dog Owners Should Do
Our dogs are our best friends, furry family members, and constant companions. If you are reading this, you are most likely a responsible pet owner already or are interested in becoming even more responsible.
Being a responsible owner, of course, means taking good care of your dog, but what exactly does that mean? Here are four things responsible dog owners do.
No. 1 - Responsible Dog Owners Make Time For Play or Walks Every Day
The phrase that many dog trainers and enthusiasts use, “A tired dog is a happy dog” or “A tired dog is a good dog,” is 100% true. A high energy dog who is left to their own devices to find an outlet for all of their spunk might end up turning things that aren’t toys into toys – like the living room couch pillows, or the bathroom trash, for instance.
Making time to play some tug, fetch, work on trick training, or go on walks daily is important to both your dogs’ physical and mental well-being.
No. 2 - Responsible Dog Owners Keep Their Dog Safe From Extreme Temperatures
Taking your dog on car rides and adventures out and about can be fun for both you and your dog, but part of being a responsible pet owner is keeping your dog safe from extreme temperatures. Never leave your dog in a vehicle for any amount of time. It’s a nice, mild, Indiana early summer day, with the temperature barely scraping 70 degrees, so it should be fine, right?
Wrong.
On a 70 degree day, the temperature in your car can quickly climb to 104. A midsummer’s day temperature of 90 degrees can reach a blistering 124 degrees in just half an hour. Dogs are very easily affected by body temperature variations and can quickly become hyperthermic and suffer heat stroke.
The same goes for colder months, where the risk of hypothermia begins when the outside temperature is 50 degrees (practically shorts weather for many Hoosier humans!)
No. 3 - Responsible Dog Owners Spay or Neuter Their Dogs
Pet overpopulation is a real problem in the United States, with approximately 1.5 million shelter animals euthanized each year. Adopting shelter pets instead of shopping pet stores and spaying or neutering dogs as soon as they are old enough to do so developmentally is how responsible pet owners help fight the pet overpopulation problem in America today.
Spaying or neutering your dog not only helps fight pet overpopulation, it can also help your dog live a longer, healthier, higher quality life. Female dogs that are spayed before their first heat can help prevent uterine infections and breast cancer, neutering of male dogs prevents testicular cancer.
For both males and females, the drive to find a mate is removed, which means they will not be as inclined to mark their territory in your house with a spray of strong, foul smelling urine.They’ll also be less likely to try to break out of the yard in search of a mate and they may be less aggressive.
No. 4 - Responsible Dog Owners Follow Routine Veterinary Care Recommendations
Keeping up with routine veterinary care visits and administering parasite preventative treatments (heartworm, flea, and tick treatments) is arguably the most important part of responsible dog ownership. Routine veterinary check ups can provide insight into any changes in your dog’s health, and give you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about your dog and their current life stage.
Following routine veterinary care recommendations also means keeping up to date on all of the necessary vaccinations that your dog needs to prevent infectious diseases.
If you are unsure of when your dog’s last vet visit was, don’t have a current vaccination record, or have questions about your dog’s health, don’t hesitate to contact us at Academy Animal Hospital. We are committed to keeping Greenwood area pets healthy and happy.