People and dogs have been living together in harmony for over ten thousand years. This relationship has been cultivated and perfected through time, until it has become one of the most solid ones among all the species. Dogs are considered to be pets in the whole world, and they can also be used for specific tasks such as vigilantes or guards for cattle. They equally give an inestimable help to the blind and incapacitated, improving their quality of life.
Before taking a dog in, this decision must be carefully considered, as all the responsibility regarding its care and well being falls exclusively on the owner. IN order to keep them healthy and happy, dogs need a balanced diet, exercise and veterinary care. Dogs, whatever their form, size or colour, are loyal animals, devote and loveable towards their friends, humans, with whom they share this planet.
SHELTER
If your dog has to live outside it needs a refuge free of air currents and with the appropriate dimensions which will protect it from an excess of sun or a cold climate. Something padded for it to lie on will add to its comfort. If your dog has to be tied up, the best way to do it is with a rope or a long cable fixed at both ends (like a washing line) to which the dog can be tied, giving him more mobility. Chains and thick ropes can get tangled and cause injuries. Your dog must not be permanently tied up. It can be kept under control by erecting a strong and safe fence.
FOOD AND WATER
In order to keep your dog in good shape, it needs a balanced diet with proteins and fibre. Left overs are usually not enough and inappropriate for maintaining a good weight or strong muscles. Splintery bones, especially birds bones, can be dangerous for dogs, as they can get stuck in the throat and cause serious problems if they are swallowed whole. Fresh water must be supplied on a daily basis in a clean receptacle.
EXERCISE
Regular exercise will keep your dog in good shape. Dogs get bored if they are confined day after day in their kennels or yards, and begin to bark, which can be bothersome for the neighbours. A good daily walk and, perhaps play with a stick or ball, will help your dog remain alert and active.
HYGIENE
When dogs are brought up in dirty conditions, they can easily be infected by parasites such as worms, ticks, fleas or lice. Treatment against these infections should be diagnosed by the veterinary. You must collaborate by keeping its bed, shelter and surroundings clean.
VACCINES
Dogs are vulnerable to many diseases which can be dangerous and difficult to treat. The best way of protecting your dog is with a vaccine. This not only will help to prevent diseases, but will give better results (cost-effective) on the long run, reducing the risk of infecting other dogs.
The veterinaries here advice to deparasite your dog every 3 months, because we live in a subtropical climate here, which is nice for us, but a risk for our 4-legged friends because it's the perfect climate for flees, worms, and mosquitos causing Leishmania and Filaria.
BRUSHING
Dogs benefit from a good brush in various ways. A regular brush will keep its fur clean and free of knots and also helps control parasites. If you brush your dog from an early age, it will get used to people and be more sociable.
STERILIZATION
Each year hundreds of thousand of dogs and unnecessarily sacrificed as there are not enough homes available for them. Many of them are the result of indiscriminate accidental breeding. The most effective way of overcoming this problem is by sterilizing the animal. As well as reducing the number of unwanted pups, castration brings other benefits.
Uncastrated dogs will go a long way to be able to breed; they will jump walls and dig beneath fences to escape. Meetings with other dogs can provoke fights. Sterilization will help to reduce aggressiveness and problems, which is very important, especially if there are children or old people at home. Sterilized dogs become more obedient and less territorial, which makes them more loyal to their owners.
OFFSPRING
Bitches are capable of breeding twice a year. The average litter is of six pups, but some of the larger breeds can have up to ten pups. The bitch's health and well being will suffer when giving birth and in time she could become ill. It would be a difficult task to find homes for 12 to 20 pups each year from only one dog. This multiplied by hundreds of dogs, rapidly increases the problem.
Pregnant bitches and pups need more feeding. From three months onwards, pups need solid food. Bitches can become very protective of their pups which could be a risk for children who want to play with them.
THE OPERATION
Once the bitch has been sterilized, she will never be in heat again and males will keep away. The possibilities of suffering diseases such as cancer or tumours is enormously reduced in sterilized dogs, which will mean a better health, and less veterinary fees.
At present, the modern veterinary equipment and medications make surgical operations safe and unpainful allowing the animal to recover rapidly. Your veterinary will advise the best time to operate. There is no justifiable reason to believe that your dog must have a litter before being sterilized. The sooner the operation is done, the less problems will appear.
