Love Your Dog

People and dogs have lived together for over 10,000 years. Dogs are kept for companionship,
guarding, herding, also as assistance dogs for people with sight hearing or physical difficulties.

How To Care For Your Dog

In order to stay healthy and happy, a dog needs
● a balanced diet ● exercise
● veterinary care, ● companionship

Where Your Dog Lives

● A dog that lives outside needs a shelter to give protection from the heat or cold weather.
● A dog needs comfortable bedding.
● If your dog has to be tethered, use a long running line (pictured above). Fixed chains or rope
can become tangled around the dog causing injury.

Food & Water

● A dog needs a balanced diet of protein and
fibre. Household scraps will not be sufficient
to maintain good body weight or strong
muscles.
● Sharp bones can be dangerous, as they may
become stuck in the throat or cause problems if
swallowed.
● Fresh water should be given daily in a clean bowl.

Exercise

● A dog should not be permanently tied up, he needs regular exercise.
● A walk each day, and perhaps a game with a stick or ball, will
help to keep your dog alert, active and relieve boredom.
● A bored dog may bark excessively, annoying neighbours.
Hygiene
● A dog that is kept in dirty conditions can become
infested with worms, ticks, fleas or lice. Ask your vet for
advice.
● Keep your dog and his living area clean.

Vaccinations

● Dogs are vulnerable to many diseases which can be dangerous and costly to treat.
● Vaccination helps prevent illness and reduces the risk of infection to other dogs.

Grooming
● Regular brushing helps to keep your dog clean and free of tangles and
provides an opportunity to check for unwanted parasites.

Breeding

● Every year hundreds of thousands of dogs are destroyed
because there are not enough suitable homes available for them.
● Female dogs can produce many puppies every year. In six
years a pair of dogs and their offspring can produce 67,000
puppies.
● By constantly producing and rearing puppies, the health of a
female dog can suffer.
● Pregnant and lactating female dogs need extra food.
● Puppies generally suckle from their mothers for about three
weeks, gradually starting to eat additional food.
● A female dog is naturally protective of
her young and can be aggressive at
this time. A quiet place should
be provided for them.
● To prevent unwanted
puppies have your dog spayed / neutered – an operation
performed by a vet

Spaying

● Grooming helps to get your dog used to being handled.

Spaying / Neutering

● Modern veterinary equipment and drugs, make surgery safe, painless and recovery quick.
● Ask your vet when to have your dog spayed / neutered.
● Your dog does not need to have a litter before she is spayed.
● Early age neutering from eight weeks of age is now accepted as a positive
action.
● Once a female dog has been neutered she will never come into
season again and unwanted male dogs will keep away.
● In a female, spaying can reduce the risk of mammary
tumours.
● In a male, neutering can help to reduce aggression
and roaming.

Consult Your Vet

Remember your vet can advise you on:
● diet
● training your pet
● treatment against parasites
● vaccination
● spaying / neutering
● any other health concerns

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