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Key Points to Owning a Dog
- Take it to a Vet for a health check (see Vet Page for address list)
- Get males neutered, firstly they are cheaper to castrate as is a simpler operation with very little after care and also stops them from having any tendency to be aggressive making them calmer and better as pets. Neuter even if you use your pet as a guard dog. Get female dogs (bitches) neutered at six months.
- Vaccinate against deadly diseases annually, Rabies, Heartworm, Parvovirus, Canine Viral Hepatitus and Leptospirosis.
- Monthly treat with Stronghold for dogs consult your vet for correct dosage. This prevents infestations from fleas, ticks and mosquitoes (all of which can carry deadly diseases when your animal is bitten) and ‘Stronghold’ prevents internal parasites. See Diseases-Vaccinations page for detailed instructions on how to apply. Dogs cannot keep themselves clean, so they need grooming every day if long haired and once a week if short haired. In Mediterranean climates long haired dogs whatever breed should have their hair cut and a bath by a professional grooming service. Certainly once a year in June, better twice per year. Vets and pet shops will be able to recommend Grooming Services. This information is in the Yellow Pages (Paginas Amarillas) at the local library (Biblioteca) under Peluquerias caninas y felines in Spain. The grooming professional or Vet will also cut their toe nails. Keep the dog’s ears dry and if their ears look black inside take them to your local vet for a check up.
- Every four months Worm your dog if using ‘Frontline’ and not ‘Stronghold’. Drontal powder or tablets in correct dosage are available from your local Vet. This prevents internal parasites which are spread between dogs that do have worms. Particularly important when you have children in the household so it will be safe for them when they inevitably go near the dog’s mouth.
- Every four months buy a Tick Prevention collar, so write a reminder of the next due date in your diary
- Walk your dog twice day, for twenty minutes each time - minimum.
- Keep your dog on a lead. To protect your dog and to prevent road traffic accidents. Practise the Countryside Code and keep your dog on a lead in the countryside away from cows, goats and sheep. Cows can attack dogs when they have calves, thinking they are wolves. Dogs can kill sheep by the undue stress they cause to them.
- Keep your dog off the streets at night. Give them their dinner at dusk.
- Train your dog Start house training immediately your dog arrive at your home. Start discipline training at six months to ensure it is a well-behaved member of the household. Dogs are pack animals and it is important to train them, that they are at the bottom of the ‘pecking order’ in your household. That includes below children and importantly below cats. It is vital to train your dog near traffic to protect it and this helps to prevent road traffic accidents.
- Feed your dog a small breakfast and a larger dinner. Try not to change your dogs food if it eats dry food stay with that, if you do want to change to tinned food or visa versa do it very gradually as they can become unwell with sudden diet changes. Dogs need protein and do obtain nutritional value from vegetables in their diet as opposed to cats where it is critical they have meat or fish to be healthy.
- Buy a collar and a name disc available from www.losanimales.org for 10 euros or free with donations. Put your surname, current telephone number and post code or zip code on it
- Microchip your dog This is a legal requirement and you can be fined if your dog is not microchipped. Also if you lose your dog and the Local Police pick it up – it will be (put down) euthanised after one week. Always ensure that you always update the microchip with your current address in Spain or whatever country you live in, by telling your vet who will inform the central pet database.
- Daily provide plenty of fresh water
- Provide a bed, a dedicated soft, dry bed not in direct sunlight and away from draughts. Dogs must have a secure place to sleep, where children are not allowed to disturb it and a place to go if it is ‘under your feet’ or disobedient or unwell.
- Provide toys, a ball larger than its mouth, not a tennis ball if it is a large dog as they can get stuck in their throats, a rope raga to chew on, a cube treat box which they push around to release the biscuits or a squeaky toy – take care they do not chew and swallow the squeaker part.
- Give your dog affection always be gentle with dogs and give them some time each day by stroking them, sitting with them, having a game with them, talking to them or combing them. They will reward you with affection back and will come to their name and greet you each time you come home. Unconditional love always consistant whatever your mood. Walk your dog twice a day for twenty minutes - minimum. Never leave it on its own for more than four hours. Never leave your dog in a hot car. Should you leave your dog in a car only for a short time with all the windows open, access to water and in the shade whatever the weather.
- Have two dogs, or a dog and cat. Do buy the cat first and always, always feed it first and in a position high up where the dog cannot reach, so that the dog realises that the cat is the ’boss’. They make very good companions, eventually sleeping together and keeping each other company. Dogs must have company and develop behavioural problems if left alone too long and too often. Terriers are not always the best temperament with cats and breeds that chase by instinct such as greyhounds but there are exceptions so be sure and take necessary precautions if you do introduce one of the chasing breeds into your household if you also have cats.
- Report Poison if you know of anyone or any area which you suspect has poison where it is put down to kill cats and dogs and this does happen far too often - report the person and or the area firstly to your Vet and secondly to the Local Police - see Vets page and Lost page for telephone numbers - it is your duty to help irradicate this horrendous practise.
- Poisonous plants. Take care what house plants you have and never have lilies which are poisonous to cats
- Adopt an old dog that needs re-homing. All the training is done and they just need some care and a loving home. See the losanimals.org website for web address of Refugio Kimba and Greyhounds in Need and other web sites where there are many dogs to choose from to adopt
- Adopt a stray street dog or a lonely dog. Same as the key points to owning a dog. The very least be kind to them, leave water and food out for them or contact one of the Volunteers on the losanimales.org website
- Donate to www.losanimales.org by contacting us by visiting the website. FREE Identification Metal Discs with any Donations.
- Volunteers, people who can provide temporary homes whilst we search for a permanent home, people to collect money from charity boxes, dog trainers, people who can give a talk to school children educating them about pets and their care, people who can lobby governments to change the law to encourage duty and care of creatures, people who can put up posters, volunteers are always needed please contact the email address on the website
- Buy a Book on Caring for your Dog
- Buy a Book on Training your Dog please see www.crosskeysbooks.com
Thank you for your attention and we hope you find this useful.
www.losanimales.org
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