| 1)
Never hit your dog. It can create a dog that is fearful of
the hand or hand shyness. Hand shyness can create
problems in obedience training where the dog is expected to
respond to hand signals. |
| 2.
Excessive thirst, frequent bowel movements, hiccups, and tail
chasing could be, but not necessarily be, indications of worms. |
| 3.
Ammonia cleaners should not be used when trying to
housebreak a puppy, as urine contains a form of ammonia.
The ammonia cleaner might attract the puppy to the same area as
the odor is similar. |
| 4.
Training collars, slip collars, and choke collars should be used
only for training and walking purposes. This type of
collar should never be left on a dog that is unsupervised
because it is possible for the collar to get caught on
something, thereby hanging the dog to death. |
| 5.
A dog should never be left alone in a locked car with all of the
windows closed, particularly in the summer. The
temperature in a closed car can rise drastically in a very short
time. If possible, bring the dog with you or leave
the dog at home. If you leave a dog in a shaded area
with the windows opened sufficiently, check on the dog every
half hour for the direction of sun changes. What was
once a shaded area might become a boiling hot area. |
| 6.
The word "down" means to lay down and should not be
used to mean to get down when a dog has jumped on people or
furniture. The use of the same word to mean two
different things can be very confusing to a dog. |
| 7.
Certain very common household plants can be poisonous if
consumed. If you suspect you own any of these plants,
speak to your florist or nursery. |
| 8.
If an otherwise responsive dog is unusually difficult on the sit
command, have the dog's hind quarters and anal glands checked by
a vet. |
| 9.
When boarding your dog, choose a boarding facility carefully.
Always inspect the kennel area. If possible, try to
visit unannounced rather than by appointment. |
| 10.
When purchasing a toy with a squeaker, remove the
squeaker as it will sometimes pop out and lodge in the dog's
throat. |
| 11.
If you ultimately want your dog to be housebroken, bypass paper
training unless there are special circumstances. If
there is no reason to paper train the dog - DON'T. By
paper training you are breaking your training consistency.
The dog is encouraged to go in the house on the paper,
reprimanded for going in the house off the paper, and encouraged
to go outside. This can be very confusing for a
puppy. |
| 12.
Never leave a lead or a rope on top of a crate. Part
of the rope could fall into the crate. The dog may
become twisted or entangled or perhaps strangled. |
| 13.
Keep cleaning items (ammonia, Drano, etc.) out of reach of dogs.
They can be fatal. |
| 14.
If you are bringing a newborn baby into the house, treat the dog
with child psychology. When friends come to see the new
baby, have them pay attention and say "hello" to the
dog first. Isolate the dog and baby as little as
possible to avoid jealousy and animosity. |
| 15.
An all human food diet is not as nutritious as a dog food diet.
Unless you are an expert in nutrition and know how to correctly
supplement, dog foods are healthier for dogs. |
| 16.
Toys not made for dogs could have toxic parts and should not be
given to dogs. |
| 17.
One word or simple commands will make training much easier.
Most dogs do not understand statements such as "Please
Rover get off the couch. You know Daddy doesn't like
that." |
| 18.
Prong collars and electronic shock collars should never be used
for training. If you are having that much difficulty with
your dog, contact a good professional trainer. |
| 19.
In the winter, check the feet on your dog regularly as many
de-icing chemicals used for sidewalks can irritate a dog's paws. |
| 20.
Before laying new carpet in your home, bring a sample or piece
into the house ahead of time. Let the dog adjust to
the new smell. This will avoid any territorial
behavior such as claiming the area by urinating on it. |
| 21.
Never reprimand a dog for not coming when he's called.
If someone called you and upon arriving, you were hit or
scolded, you would not be apt to come again. |
| 22.
Keep medication and other drugs out of reach of your dog. |
| 23.
When shipping a dog by plane, know what the temperature is gong
to be from departure to destination so you do not subject a dog
to arrival in 100 degree temperatures, such as in Texas,
California, and other warmer climates. |
| 24.
To determine your dog's correct collar size, measure the neck
and add two inches. |
| 25.
Never exercise a dog after a large meal as it is suspected as a
cause of bloating and gastric torsion. |
| 26.
When purchasing or building a dog house, the door should be to
one side rather than in the middle. This avoids excessive
wind, cold, and heat. |
| 27.
When using fertilizers, keep the dog entirely out of the area
for a sufficient amount of time. |
| 28.
It is extremely important to teach a dog certain basic things
even if you do not need them at the time. For example, all
dogs should be able to go up and down stairs even if you live in
a ranch house. |
| 29.
When teaching a dog to sit, never push down on the hindquarters.
Instead, tuck under the rear legs. |
| 30.
Do not let a dog consume paint chips, especially ones with
lead-based paint. They may get lead poisoning. |
| 31.
Avoid any situations where a dog may chew on electrical cords. |
| 32.
Over-training a dog is just as harmful as under-training.
A dog should never have to undergo a vigorous training session
during the heat of a summer's day. |
|
The
source of this article, Common Mistakes and How to Avoid them
are courtesy of
Venango County Humane Society Online |
|
More Links about
Responsible Dog Ownership
Before bringing your dog home
10 Things to do for your
dog
What is Responsible Dog
Ownership
Dog
Scouts of America
|
Santa Cruz
Pugs
