Understanding Your Dog Part 2 - The Golden Rule(s)

Owning a dog comes with a great responsibility. It's almost like having a child that will never grow up. And that perpetual child will be around for about 10-14 years. It is said that dogs in their lifetime never exceed the intelligence of a 7 year old child. So when you bring a dog into your household you should be prepared to care for a 7 year old for many years.

Hundreds of years ago dogs were wild animals that lived off the land. They had an inherent ability to take care of themselves. But man has domesticated the dog and in today's modern world, dogs can not survive without the care of humans. Today, a dog living on the street is undernourished, diseased and destined for a short, miserable life.

Since it is we who made dogs dependent upon us, it is we who are now responsible for caring for them. Unfortunately, there are many people who should never own a dog but, they think they must have one. The dogs they own are the miserable animals that wind up tied to a chain in the back yard. Or, the one that cowers when their owner approaches because they fear their owner.

Dogs are not "things". They are living creatures with feelings. If you view a dog as a possession rather than a companion and if you believe that a good swat will teach your dog to behave, you are one of the people that should never own a dog. Which leads us to the first Golden Rule of dog ownership.

Golden Rule #1:
NEVER, NEVER hit your dog. Not with you hand. Not with a newspaper. Not with anything. Why would you want a dog that fears you? You should want your dog to love and respect you...to be a companion...your buddy. And with the simplest, slightest attention and care, your dog will return an unselfish love and loyalty that is rare among humans.

Golden Rule #2
Protect your dog as you would a 7 year old child. Dogs do not understand that cars will hit them if they run out in the street. Nor does a 7 year old child. No matter how you explain it to them they will not understand. Therefore, it is up to you to protect your dog (and child) from things they do not understand, which can harm them. Another example: if you feed chocolate to a dog, they will eat as much as you will give them. But chocolate will make them sick and, in sufficient quantities, can kill them. Dogs do not understand this so it is up to you to protect them.

Another example: Ever noticed the mangled bodies of dogs on the freeway or highway? Do you know how most of them got there? They fall from the back of pick up trucks. Dogs love to ride, unrestrained, in the back of open pick ups. Their owners think they giving the dog a treat to go for a ride. But they are jeopardizing their pets life when they do so. (It's also against the law in some states). Dogs do not sense the speed with which the truck is moving and do not know the consequence of falling out. Remember, they have the intelligence of a 7 year old. Would you allow your 7 year old child to ride alone, unrestrained, in the back of an open pick up truck?

Golden Rule # 3
Give your dog attention. Dogs are social animals. They are not "loners". To leave a dog alone for extended periods is as cruel as not feeding him. Make a point every day (especially if the dog is alone all day) to spend 15 or 20 minutes playing with your dog. It is good for the dog and studies have proven that a few minutes with a dog lowers the blood pressure and relaxes people too.

Golden Rule #4
Be aware of what you feed your dog. Your dog can not go to the fridge and prepare what he wants. He must depend on you for food. Please, do not feed your dog the cheapest dog food in the store.

There is much controversy over commercial dog food. Some maintain that all store-bought dog food contains preservatives which are poison. Also, that it contains the bodies, dog tags and plastic containers of euthanized animals sent to the dog food manufacturing plants from vets and animal shelters.

It is not the role of this article to render an opinion on this subject, however, perhaps you might want to investigate the many recipes available on the internet (free) for cooking your dog's food yourself. At least you will know what's in it. And it is cheaper than store-bought dog food.

If you love your dog, make some effort to understand how dogs think, follow these Golden Rules and you will be rewarded with the best companion one could ever want.

Ken Miller is the author of the Understanding Your Dog blog where you will find a wealth of detailed information on how to understand your dog and improve your relationship.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Miller