10 Guidelines for Rating Yourself

by Laurie Leach

If you are reading this article, you undoubtedly like dogs (or you are trapped on an elevator with no other reading). Most likely you provide a good life for your dog. But there are ten guidelines that separate great dog guardians from merely good ones.

These guidelines address a canine’s basic needs but also go well beyond to include factors that enrich a dog’s life.

As you read through this list, take a moment to rate yourself. At the end, you will find a scale to determine what kind of dog guardian you are.

Guideline 1: Your dog matches your lifestyle

Dogs come in a stunning array of sizes and energy levels. Some are serious couch potatoes. Others can bring a flock of sheep a hundred miles over rough terrain with minimal help from humans. Some dogs are inherently devoted. Others give cats a run for their money in terms of independence. Some dogs are easily trained. Others resist every effort to teach them to "come" when the countryside beckons.

Step one to being a great dog guardian is simply making sure that the dog with whom you will share your life is a good match for you. I recently worked with a lovely, quiet woman who had impulsively purchased an Australian Shepherd, a high energy breed. Her life has become a whirlwind of training classes and dog parks, but she still feels guilty that her dog is not getting adequate exercise. She is in a quandary about keeping the pup.

Finding the right breed or mix of breeds requires adequate research. If you are a quiet person, find a quiet breed with lap dog tendencies. If you have a prize garden, consider breeds not genetically programmed to dig. If you want a pal to keep up with your busy schedule every day, then a herding or working breed may be just the right match.

Guideline 2: Your dog is a full-fledged member of your pack

There is a characteristic about dogs that has powerful implications: they are pack animals. The implication: dogs must be with their "pack" to be happy. Once you get a dog, it is your responsibility to become a (kindly) leader of the pack.

Great dog guardians understand that pack animals are miserable when they are isolated. It is up to you to make sure that your dog has adequate time hanging out and playing with you. Dogs should never be kept in the backyard full-time or tethered off by themselves. The term "outdoor dog" is never used by a great dog guardian.

Guideline 3: Your dog is safely confined

Occasionally you may have to go to work or off on an errand. Making sure your dog is safe and quiet are important goals.

There are many options for physical safety: a house or garage with a dog door, a fenced kennel, a secure backyard, or a dog crate (if your absence is not too many hours).

Guideline 4: Your dog has plenty to do

Dogs who are locked up and bored can easily become noisy and destructive. A big dog with nothing appropriate to do can cause significant damage to house siding or even remodel a deck. Some of you may be unlucky enough to live close to a non-stop barker.

There are dozens of toys and treats to keep your dog busy while he is alone. Try large raw bones, safe chew toys, Kong toys stuffed with peanut butter, and toys that dispense treats when they are rolled.

Guideline 5: Your dog gets adequate exercise

Like people, dogs need to get exercise, ideally on a daily basis. Obviously, requirements for exercise vary. My Papillons work up a sweat when I just toss a favorite toy down the stairs for ten minutes. My Shelties need a good outdoor run at least two or three times a day. A Border Collie will require you to quit working, buy property, assemble a small flock of sheep. The bottom line is that your dog should get tired out every day. A tired dog is a well-behaved dog.

Finding opportunities to exercise your dog is not always easy in a suburban area with leash laws. Explore city and county parks and bike paths for leash walks. Make dog play dates with friends who have fenced yards. Play games such as kick-the-water- container in your backyard. On a rainy day, play hide and seek in the house. Be creative. In our case, we tore out a lovely perennial garden to make a dog-friendly space which now allows for a lively game with the Frisbee.

Guideline 6: You socialize, socialize, socialize your dog

Like people, dogs either learn to be self-confident in the world or they learn that the world is a scary place. Scared dogs can be dangerous dogs.

Before five months, your pups should go on outings to visit your friends, attend puppy class, and walk in safe areas. As your pup matures and has his adult shots, it’s time to branch out. Take your pup on walks around outdoor shopping centers, to the feed store, and to the park. He can begin obedience classes. By seven months, he is ready for busier places and lots of social interactions.

Guideline 7: You teach your dog using positive methods

Dog training has undergone a revolution in the last few years. Positive training, including the use of clickers, now provides an alternative to correction– based training.

Positive training can be used for everything from house training to the highest levels of obedience competition. Positive techniques can be used to teach a pup simple exercises such as "Sit" at eight or nine weeks.

Initial training should focus on raising a canine good citizen who can walk nicely on leash, socialize with friendly strangers, get along with other dogs, and handle all sorts of situations.

Guideline 8: You provide ongoing training to keep your dog’s mind busy

For many dogs, training stops after one obedience class. This is a great waste of a good mind. Ongoing training has three benefits. First, it builds your relationship with your dog. Secondly, training is as good as physical exercise because mental challenges tire a dog out (in a good way). Third, a dog’s mental capacity continues to expand with challenges exactly the same as people’s minds do. This is not to say that your pup will make it to Princeton, but a dog who has learned five tricks will have no trouble learning ten.

There are dozens of good books on dog tricks, or you can make them up. To get started, teach your dog to weave in and out of your legs or to spin right and left . If you prefer an organized sport, there are a variety of organized dog games available. Check out classes and clubs that teach agility, rally, freestyle, lure coursing, obedience, disc dog, tracking, field work, herding, or flyball.

Guideline 9: You provide an outstanding diet and thoughtful health care

Not long ago, dog owners simply grabbed a bag of dog food off the shelf at the supermarket. In the last few years, interest in healthy dog foods and general dog care has expanded exponentially. Great dog guardians pay special attention to their dog’s physical well being in six areas:

1. Feeding a diet that is made from quality ingredients that fits the dog’s individual needs.
2. Adding appropriate supplements with input from a veterinarian.
3. Protecting your dog with appropriate inoculations but without over-vaccinating. Protocols about the correct intervals for vaccines have changed drastically in recent years.
4. Maintaining your dog’s teeth. Like people, dogs can become ill if their teeth and gums are not kept healthy.
5. Trimming nails regularly so that they don’t touch the floor.
6. Restraining your dog in the car. Loose dogs are very vulnerable in case of an accident. An airline-approved crate fastened down is the safest way for your dog to ride.

Guideline 10: You follow the rules of public etiquette

Getting your dog out in public is important, but when you are out, there are parameters of acceptable behavior. Sadly, dogs have lost their privileges in many places because owners didn’t follow the rules. They are simple. Keep your dog leashed where required. Pick up after your dog. Excellent dog owners find plastic bags in the pocket of every jacket. Lastly, don’t let your dog charge up to other dogs or people without permission.

How did you do?

Give yourself one point for each guideline to which you answered affirmatively. Score a half point where part of the guideline was true but part was not. For example, you feed your dog a great diet, but you haven’t had his teeth cleaned.

If you earned a score of 9 or 10, you are the real deal. Lucky dog.

If you scored a bit lower, it is never too late. Just a small eff ort and you can take the leap to becoming a great dog guardian. Your dog deserves it.