5 Tips for Dog Owners to Know
When I was a kid, many people talked to their parents about 'I want to keep a dog!' And said, 'It's hard to keep a dog.' Ineke van Herwijnen, who has been a board member of the Royal Dutch Dog Conservation Society for over 10 years, explains what new dog owners need to know.
Five top tips to consider before getting a canine companion
Archaeological sources show that humans have had dogs for more than 10,000 years, and that keeping dogs not only eliminates loneliness, but also reduces the risk of death from a heart attack or stroke. There are also research results .
However, just as mothers in the world tell their children that it is difficult to keep a dog, it is not easy to keep a dog, such as feeding, walking, toileting, discipline, taking care of illness, and old age. There is none. There are various difficulties that can be expected before keeping a dog, but Herwijnen's idea that 'you should think before you keep a dog' is as follows.
◆ 1: You have to take responsibility for a long time
The average lifespan of a dog is 10 to 15 years , and keeping a dog means that you have to take care of it for this period. And, for example, if you go out for a little day, you have to leave your dog to an acquaintance or take your dog to the destination, so 'life with a dog' has the joy of having a dog. There are also practical inconveniences. In addition, dogs, whether large dogs or small dogs, cost money, and in Japan, 'dogs cost 340,000 yen a year' such as food expenses, living space maintenance expenses, dog sitter fees, medical expenses, etc. There are also findings.
Annual Expenditure Survey on Pets 2020 | Anicom Insurance Co., Ltd. Press Release
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000049.000028421.html
◆ 2: Dogs need contact
Dogs are originally social animals, and 'contact' is important for maintaining mental health. Exercise and play are typical ways of interacting with dogs, and it is generally said that 'time to interact with dogs' centered on walking and playing should be set for at least 2 hours a day.
According to Herwijnen, when a dog is left alone for more than 5 hours, it often causes separation anxiety, which causes various behavioral problems due to stress. In order to avoid separation anxiety, Mr. Herwijnen starts by staying in the same room but keeping a distance, gradually increasing the time to stay in an empty room, and finally leaving him at home. It explains that 'answering training' should be done.
◆ 3: Social education and discipline are required
Discipline at an early age is especially important for dogs, and most of the problem behaviors in adult dogs are attributed to early childhood. From an early age, interacting with acquaintances, strangers, children, other dogs, and other animals, and taking them to unknown places to gain social experience has the function of preventing problematic behavior after they grow up. There is.
In addition, even if you say 'puppy training' in one word, there is a wide variety of knowledge required, from toilet training and obedience training to walking manners. And since most dogs can't be fully disciplined until the rebellion is over, 'it takes at least a full year to discipline,' Herwijnen said.
◆ 4: Personality is important
Dogs are cute / cool pets, so when choosing a dog, the appearance is a big part of it, but Herwijnen states that 'personality is important.' Herwijnen cites a
According to Herwijnen, when choosing a dog, check how much the dog wants to monopolize the toys, how much he likes walking, how much he likes to play with people, and it looks exactly like him. It is especially recommended to choose a dog with a personality.
◆ 5: How to purchase
Dogs bred for commercial purposes often inherit pedigree-derived personality traits, and breeds such as hunting dogs may not be satisfied without playing outside for three to four hours a day. Since it is impossible to suppress these genetic characteristics by discipline, it is important to deepen the knowledge about the breed before keeping it and select a breed that suits your lifestyle.
And when buying a dog, it's also important to find out who it sells to, and illegal sellers should definitely avoid it, Herwijnen said. According to Herwijnen, many dogs purchased from non-profit breeders have less anxiety and less aggression, so if you buy a puppy, you should have at least two interviews. The recommendation is to purchase from a non-profit breeder who is waiting for cancellation, or to become a foster parent of a rescue dog / therapy dog after retirement, so becoming a foster parent of a rescue dog or therapy dog is Helweinen says it's especially recommended because it doesn't require discipline and it also saves dogs in need.
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