Good Care for Dogs

How to Choose a Dog

Puppy or mature dog? Short-hair or long-hair? Pure bred or mixed bred dog? A lot of decisions have to be taken before deciding for the perfect dog. With a puppy you may not know how large he will become, or what sort of disposition he will have. With a grown - or nearly grown - dog, what you see is what you get! And this can be a loving beautiful unique mixed bred dog!

Do you want an adult dog or puppy?

It's easy for almost anyone to fall in love with a puppy. But it takes a special person or family to adopt an adult pet. But once you adopt and adult dog, you will find that there are many advantages. The love and companionship you will share with a mature are only the beginning.

However, it's important to remember that what you don't see is your new pet's past. The dog may or may not have been housebroken or trained. He has certainly learned to live in different environments. Be patient and give him time to become accustomed to your lifestyle.

Feeding and Grooming

Now you have your dog – and need to take proper care of her: this means proper bathing, feeding, and grooming and training.

Feeding

• Commercially available dog food includes everything that your dog requires. But never offer your dog chicken bones -- they can splinter into sharp pieces and get stuck in your dog's throat which is an emergency and can be life-threatening.
• Free access to water is essential for dogs as they have to go for walks and might dehydrate easily. This can lead to urinary and kidney problems. You should fill your dog's water bowl daily with cold tap water and freshen it often. Let your dog drink as much water as he likes especially after long walks in hot temperatures.
• If moist pet food is not eaten within one hour, refrigerate it. Dry food and biscuits are the only foods that can be left out for any length of time.

Grooming

• Brushing of dogs should be done daily especially for long hair dogs. They often suffer from matted or tangled fur.
• In general, a dog only needs a bath when its coat gets soiled. It also depends on the breed of dog and the place where it is kept. If your dog is kept inside your home, you will probably want to bath him more often (e.g. twice a month or even once a week). A dog that lives outside will only require an occasional bath. Human shampoos should never be used to bath a dog as this may lead to skin problems. In most cases, it is better to get it done by professional groomers as special dog breeds or long hair breeds require regular hair cuts.
• Professional grooming place like the Royal Grooming Parlour of the ADFH Pet Care Center have not only extensive experience and specialized staff, but also special equipment to care for all different dog breeds. Before you get your dog for adoption, it will be bathed and combed already.

Husbandry and training:

Husbandry:

• Your dog requires its own place, special dog toys and dog chewing bones to keep them happy and healthy.
• Daily walks at least mornings, midday and evenings are mandatory as dogs need to go for toilet. Moreover, they require exercise in order to stay fit. And this will keep you fit and healthy, too! But never walk them during the hot summer midday heat as they might collapse due to a sun stoke.
• On your dog’s first day home, show him where he is to sleep, where fresh water is always available, when and where he is to be fed. If he is an indoor dog, take him outside at frequent intervals (every hour or two) so that he may relieve himself and understands that he should do his toilet outside the home. Until your dog learns the new routine in his new home, you will have to be very watchful and patient with him. Mistakes will happen, especially during the first few days when the dog feels strange in his new environment. Stay patient and give your dog a chance. Nobody is perfect – not you and not your dog!
• When you are traveling and do not have somebody taking care of your dog, do NOT throw your dog in the street and abandon him. You have always a possibility to bring your dog to boarding facilities like the dog kennels of the ADFH Pet Care Center where you can keep him for the time of your stay abroad. Very competitive boarding charges enable everybody to keep their dogs in boarding and to take them back home after your return.

 

Training:

• Obedience training can be very helpful to the adult dog and should always be regarded as essential for a good relationship between dog and owner. However, it is not the same as training a puppy with no prior training. Your dog may have learned commands other than the ones you use. Take time for him to adjust to your commands.
• You can train the dog yourself or take him to an obedience class with a qualified trainer. Our dog trainer will be happy to assist you and to assess your dog’s needs.