Thursday, November 18, 2010

Joys of Being a Dog Owner

By Tad Distin


Owning a dog is much more than a wagging tail and wiggly body greeting you each time you come home. If you have had a stressful day at work, your dog will pick up on your feelings, and he or she may even sit up, roll over, or perform another trick that the animal knows will cheer you up.

Being slobbered all over by your dog when you arrive home can be a bit irritating, but usually you end up in a better mood as a result. It is highly likely that you will find yourself grabbing a leash and taking your dog for a nice long walk, which is much needed by both of you.

If you have raised your dog from when it was a puppy newly weaned from its mother, then your pet knows no other family. You are it! It is lovely to watch a little pup grow into a gangling young dog and then into a thoughtful, mature animal that knows your habits.

When you are in the house, your dog will follow you wherever you go. If you go into the kitchen, the dog will be right behind you. Walk upstairs to the bedroom and the dog's curiosity will encourage him or her to follow again.

A dog is the ultimate good companion. They can be better than husbands, wives and other family members. No matter how you feel or how you behave, dogs love you no matter what. Even if you speak to them in anger they forgive you immediately.

Not everyone wants their dog to sleep with them in the bedroom, but certainly there are many dog owners who love their dogs to sleep at the foot of the bed. Some people get a sense of peace and security knowing that their dog is there to listen for noises and to protect them through the night.

If you think you are allergic to dogs, this is no longer an obstacle to owning one. There are short haired breeds produced by expert breeders that are suitable. These dogs produce very little dander, the fine skin flakes that fall from dogs.

Older dogs will need to be prepared if you will be bringing a baby home before long. They have been your "baby" until now, and it takes some adjusting for them, but before long, your dog will be protecting your baby just as it watches out for you.

When the Mom in the house goes to the hospital to have a baby, the husband or friend should bring home an item of clothing that smells of the baby so that the dog can get used to it. Encourage the dog to smell the item and get accustomed to a baby smell for when the baby arrives home.

In a matter of month your baby will be a toddler, and will probably climb all over the family dogs, pulling ears and tails and generally testing your dogs' patience. Show you dogs lots of love and they will show the same consideration for your toddler.

If you want to give your dog the ultimate treat, then take it for a long drive in the country. Dogs seem to love nothing more than sticking their heads out of car windows and catching the wind.

If you begin to train your dog while it is still very young, you will be able to teach it that good manners are required. Your dog truly wants to please you, so this will be the stimulus for learning proper manners.

Among the things you should teach your dog are not to jump onto people, to sit when instructed to do so, to stay when told to, and to stop barking when you say so. It is quite easy to train a dog that is well loved. Train your dog well and it will be a great companion for life.




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