THERE are eight 'essentials' that a dog must have, in order to lead a happy and fulfilled life. And these essentials should be well considered before you acquire your dog - not afterwards!
Where will my dog live
If your dog is going to be an outside dog, then it must have a kennel to shelter it from the rain and freezing cold in the winter, and from the sun in the summer. Ideally it will open away from the prevailing winds and will make your dog feel that this is its home - snug and warm. It must have a floor to lift your dog out of any draughts and it must be completely waterproof and windproof. It may be located in a shed or under a lean-to on your property (each with concrete or wooden floors so the kennel does not sit on the ground), which would be even better as any prolonged rain would not mean the kennel would be surrounded by mud and puddles. There is no need to chain a dog to its kennel if your fences are in order - and dog-proof fences are a necessity for any responsible dog owner. Your dog's safety may depend on it.
If you are going to have an inside dog you should decide, before you collect it from the breeder, just where it is going to sleep. A basket with a blanket, or a sleeping pad in an unused corner of the laundry or hallway; a special place in your bedroom or even a blanket on your own bed ... decide and then stick to it! If you decide to let your dog sleep on your bed there are sacrifices you will have to be willing to make. For instance, you will never again be able to use your gorgeous, lacy, delicate quilt or your heirloom duvet - from that point onwards you will use plain cotton, easy-wash covers.
One advantage is that if your dog is sick or has to go out in the night it will have no trouble waking you up - unless you can sleep through being jumped on, nibbled or licked.
The right kind of food
The way you feed your dog is your own decision but there are plenty of options. You may decide to feed only raw, natural food; or your lifestyle may dictate a diet of pre-prepared foods. Certainly some can be dry food (biscuits) and some can be table scraps, especially vegetables, which can be mixed in with a meaty packet food or some raw mince or chunks of meat. It is okay to feed chicken frames or necks, but NEVER cooked ones as chicken bones splinter when cooked. Even smaller pork or lamb bones should never be given cooked but they are a treat while raw! Never believe the dog food companies that say you should stick to one brand and feed it all the time. How would you like to be fed nothing but spaghetti on toast for life?
And if you want your dog to have good teeth make sure it always has a chewy bar to chew on after meals - preferably the kind of bar that will last it for about a week made of rolled and dried rawhide. Good dental habits will save you a lot of worry and expense later on and your dog should never build up tartar if it chews whenever it has some time to kill.
Vaccinations
These used to be given every year but most really need a booster only every three years. Leptospirosis is only necessary if you are likely to be walking on farm land or come in contact with cattle. Kennel cough does not even last a year as there are different kinds of the disease and a booster protects for about six months. If you are likely to be in areas with high canine concentrations constantly, such as shows, clubs and sports groups, then a yearly booster should protect your dog from kennel cough, but if your dog is a pet that rarely comes into contact with other dogs except maybe one or two on walks, then it may be completely adequate to take your dog for a booster only when you are booking it into a kennel.
Toys and things to do
Dogs are highly intelligent and need things to play with and to teach them new ideas and games. Behaviour like barking, digging holes, becoming over-excited when visitors arrive, and chewing everything in sight is usually caused through boredom. Adult dogs need at least a half-hour walk daily and at least 10 minutes' quality play time and the same training time. They love going to agility, obedience, search and rescue training, orienteering or trials championships etc - whatever suits their temperament. No dog is too old to learn and more learning makes them happier dogs.
Worming
Don't forget this essential chore - select a good brand that works on all types of worm and be regular. Never overdose - use the recommended number of pills for your dog's weight and at the recommended intervals. Make sure you bury or scoop up all doggy-doo in the yard as this keeps worm eggs away from your yard and family as well as from your dog. Heartworm is hugely important to keep at bay in many countries, so don't forget the pill every month on the same day. However, there is no heartworm in New Zealand.
Neutering your dog
Unless you have bought your dog intending to become a serious breeder, it should be spayed or neutered. There is no need for a bitch to have a litter first - best that she does not. There are too many unwanted dogs in the council pounds already. Spaying will prevent the bitches getting uterine diseases or mammary cancer as they age - canines are especially susceptible to such illnesses. And neutering stops dogs wandering by up to 90percent, and cuts down their urine marking of territory.
Coat care
Fleas can cause mayhem in your dog's coat. And if your dog eats one while it is grooming itself it may ingest tapeworm eggs that the flea carries. Decide on the remedy that suits your timeframe. If you have time to spare and can comb your dog every day with a flea comb then your dog will love the attention and you should need nothing else to keep fleas away. But for those with less time to spare a good flea shampoo should keep the coat free of livestock for a few weeks. You may want to use one of the preparations that you spray on or apply a few spots in one area. But if you use such a method do not use another chemical method as well (such a 'flea shampoo') - you would be overdosing your dog with chemicals.
Illness
If your dog has been sick with flu type symptoms for more than 24 hours it needs to see the vet. Lameness or lack of appetite also needs checking and always take your dog for a checkup if it is hit by a car - even if it seems to be okay.
If you are not sure whether you should take your dog to the vet, just phone and discuss the problem and your vet will advise you one way or the other. Be very careful not to leave any poisons within reach of your dog and identify any poisonous plants growing in your garden. A dog probably would not chew a poisonous plant but a puppy could easily make that mistake.
