Responsible Dog Ownership
When should I take the new dog to the vet?
You should take your new dog to the vet immediately. If you've got a purebred puppy you've probably got about 3 days on their warranty within which to find out if the dog has a genetic defect like a heart murmur. That's the sort of thing you want to know right away, before you fall way in love with your dog. You want to know about that. It's also important, although it's something that people don't particularly do, to take a fresh poop sample, because even if your dog's been wormed, they might have another protazoa or worm. So, please, take in a fresh poop sample. Take your dog to the vet right away and get a good health check.
How do I find a good vet for my dog?
I would like to find a vet who is balanced. He does traditional medicine, as well as holistic medicine. He looks at the whole picture, and he's somebody who is kind and loving and really, really understands dogs.
Does my dog need an ID tag?
Your dog absolutely needs an ID tag on its collar. It's imperative because if your dog gets out of your yard, you won't think...if you got in a car accident, you're out, the dog goes. Somebody needs to get you this dog back. You have to have an ID tag. It's imperative.
When and where do I get a dog license?
You get the dog licence at four months. That's after the dog has had his rabies shot and that's the time you possibly get the dog spayed or neutered, if they didn't come that way. That's the time you get it. You can't get the dog licence prior to having the rabies certificate.
What is microchipping and how is it done?
Microchipping is a process wherein the dog is injected with a little needle with a little glass cylinder that has all your information. The best is probably your Social Security number. However, the problem is that there are a couple of micro-chip companies out there, and therefore the place that's scanning your dog may not have that particular scanner. So, the jury's kind of out on microchipping. Also, I have a little bit of an issue with microchipping, because I have heard of the microchip migrating and becoming a physical problem for some dogs. However, the overall situation with microchipping in dogs is good.
What does spaying or neutering do for my dog and how is it done?
Spaying or neutering should happen around five to six months for each dog, whether it's a male or female. It's a very simple process, and it does all kinds of things for you. For the females, it stops any kind of uterine cancer or mammary cancer. Of course you're not going to go through the heats, and you're not going to have males knocking at your door for your girl. For the males, it's actually even, in a way, more important, in that it does change some of their behaviours. Not into bad behaviours; into good behaviours. So, what it does is that it takes away roaming, marking, and fighting: all things you don't want to have in your dog. It makes him a much more companion animal in essence.
When should I spay or neuter my dog?
Spaying or neutering, depending on the age of your dog, should happen at least by six months. All dogs should be spayed or neutered by six months. However, if you have a dog who's showing behaviour such as lifting leg, marking, or other behaviors -- aggressive behaviors -- you can spay or neuter that dog earlier, and there's no detrimental effects.
Is spaying or neutering good for my dog?
Spaying and neutering is so good on many, many levels. Behaviourally speaking, neutering makes the males less aggressive, less prone to roaming, or leg lifting. If they're not neutered they also get beaten up, because if a young male dog, or any male dog that is intact (meaning he retains his testicles) is walking down the street, other dogs want to beat him up. He's like an up and coming young buck that has got a beanie on his head, and everybody wants to beat him up. So, sometimes dogs who remain intact get beaten up and they don't even know why. That's one reason. The second one is, behaviourally speaking were talking about less roaming, less fighting, and less leg lifting in your dog. All these are behaviours that you don't want. They do not get fat from being spayed or neutered. That is a great, great misnomer; it's a great wives' tale. The reason dogs get fat is because you feed them too much and you don't exercise them enough.
