Environment
Becoming a dog owner is not a decision that should be taken lightly. It is all to easy to get carried away choosing pretty collars and designer dog T- shirts. However there are far more important decisions to make even before choosing a breed of dog. Although different breeds require other considerations the basic needs of the dog are set out in the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which came into effect in early 2007 although the act does not just refer to dogs, but all animals. The Act imposes a broader “duty of care“. The improved law increases the minimum age to 16, at which a person can buy an animal and prohibits giving animals as prizes to unaccompanied children under this age. Also not only is it against the law to be cruel to an animal, you must also ensure that all the welfare needs of your animals are met. With prosecutions possibly leading to a ban from owning animals, fined up to £20,000 and/or sent to prison. The following should be considered
A suitable environment (how it is housed);
The dog must be provided with a clean, comfortable, dry, draught-free resting area, not isolated from the family but also not in an area of constant traffic to which he has constant access offering security and “quiet time”. All areas accessed by the dog must be free from hazard substances The garden should be securely fenced to prevent dog theft or escape, taking care that garden furniture isn’t place near fencing giving the dog the opportunity to climb out. The dog should wear a correctly fitted collar and identity tag, not only is it a legal requirement when in a public place but also if an accident was to occur and the dog was found straying hopefully dog and owner would quickly be reunited, Micro chipping should also be considered with one of the benefits of this option being if the dog slips its collar it is still identifiable. Items should not be left in the garden awaiting removal to the tip for instance wood with nails protruding or rubbish bags enabling theft of tin foil ,chocolate or plastic bags to be ingested. Faeces should be regularly removed, ideally after each elimination.
A suitable diet (what it eats and drinks);
The dog should not be too fat or too thin. Ideally it should just be possible to feel the dogs ribs and clearly see its waist when viewed from above. Obesity is a serious welfare concern and increases the risk of developing certain health conditions later in life. Much research has been carried out producing a range of dog foods giving all the nutritional requirements and suggested daily amounts for a particular life stage, breed, psychical levels of work and exercise .A healthy, balanced diet is essential for health and well being. If a complete food is used it should contain high-quality ingredients instead of fillers and should be free of artificial colours and preservatives wherever possible (many of the colourings in today’s dog foods are associated with hyperactivity when included in the diet of children) many vets advise on feeding and nutrition which if incorrect can contribute towards a dogs bad behaviour. Colouring is used by manufacturers to make the food look more appealing to humans, dogs do not care what colour their food is, only if it tastes nice. A dog should always have access to plenty of fresh, clean drinking water.
The ability to exhibit normal behaviour patterns;
Dogs are highly social, before domestication dogs would have lived in packs where they would have had leadership, played ,ate and slept with their families. Instead they now look to us to fulfil their needs and as such need to be members of the human pack. The dogs natural instinct is not to have a solitary existance and as such he does not do well when expected to spend long periods of time alone. Exercise requirements may differ between breeds and life stages but time alone in a large garden is no substitute. Meeting new people and encountering different sights, sounds and smells when out on a walk not only offers physical stimulation but mental stimulation too with socialisation possibly being the most important part of the dogs life. Providing a dog with mental challenges like a game of catch, an agility course, teaching a new command or a reward-oriented obedience game. As well as toys and other play things create a stimulating environment. Care must be taken with the choice of toy, puppies or older dogs that chew should be carefully monitored if given a squeaky, fabric or stuffed toy to prevent any part from being ingested and causing choking or intestinal blockages. Strong rubber toys allow the dog safely to fulfil their natural desire to chew, also offering benefits of keeping the teeth clean with some also providing mental stimulation as they can be filled with treats or a proportion of their daily dried food intake requiring the dog to push the toy around and work out how to best dispense the food inside. Care should be taken with this type of activity in multi dog households, or dogs who resource guard.
Any need it has to be housed with, or apart from, other animals.
Considerations must be given to multi dog households. A male and female dog will tend to see each other more as companions and less as competition however that is not to say problems wont arise, some breeds of dog are less accepting than others. especially those of the same sex. Through selective breeding, dogs were chosen for their most useful traits aiding man in specific tasks. If we take the Jack Russell Terrier for example, Terrier’s were originally bred to hunt and control vermin such as rats and mice and other predators including foxes and badger. Therefore Terrier’s may not be the best choice for a household also owning pet rats unless great care is taken in housing the rats in a secure area offering safety from the dogs instinctive behaviour.
Neutering not only prevents unwanted litters but also offers many health benefits for instance bitches will not develop pyometra which is a life threatening womb infection, it is also thought that they are less prone to mammary tumours. Neutering males prevents testicular cancer and reduces the incidence of problems with the prostate gland. Whether it be personal choice or on medical grounds great care must be taken to provide a safe, secure area away from any male dogs for the bitch during her season to prevent any accidental mating’s. Leaving the male in the house and the bitch in the garden whilst quickly nipping to the shop leaves her not only in danger of theft or abuse but also from the neighbouring dogs. Male dogs show great determination in reaching a female and may also exhibit behavioural changes/ problems for instance straying, inappropriate mounting, aggression or inappropriate vocalisation when procreation is foremost in their minds.
Owners should think carefully about the size of their property and the financial and time implications of having more than one pet, also taking into account the dog’s likely acceptance of other dogs within its home territory. Owning more than one dog is not an alternative to providing regular exercise, as all dogs should be exercised routinely nor does it take away the owners need to spend quality time with their dog.
Protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
One of a dogs most basic requirements is access to Veterinary care when it is unwell, however owners should also ensure annual health checks and vaccinations, routine worming and flea treatments are undertaken regularly as well as regular grooming with schedules and management differing between breeds. In some instances it may also be necessary to tailor their environment to suit medical conditions for instance an older dog suffering from arthritis may encounter difficulties accessing the garden via the steps leading down from the decking. The Veterinarian should also be the first point of call should a dog be displaying behavioural problems if only to discount any medical reasons for the behaviour.
Whether the dog is encouraged to snuggle up along side its owner on the sofa or is an outside dog the level of commitment is the same. A large muscular breed possibly best known for it’s guarding abilities needs the same amount of care, patience, love and understanding as Grandma’s Yorkshire Terrier. Owning a dog for instance to purely live outside and ward off intruders or one that is tethered possibly due to lack of boundary fencing, time or a behavioural problem is not reason enough for owning a dog. Often these dogs live unfulfilled, miserable lives subjected to abuse or vulnerable to theft with their basic needs left un-catered for and can suffer a host of behavioural problems. This is not to say that every dog that lives outside is neglected or that every dog that lives within the home is cherished only that serious consideration must be given before taking on a ten to fifteen year commitment. Only when financial, home and work commitments allow you to be fully committed to a canine companion should careful research begin into which breed best suits the lifestyle you have to offer.
References
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/act/index.htm
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/welfare-dogs-cop/consultation.pdf
A suitable environment (how it is housed);
The dog must be provided with a clean, comfortable, dry, draught-free resting area, not isolated from the family but also not in an area of constant traffic to which he has constant access offering security and “quiet time”. All areas accessed by the dog must be free from hazard substances The garden should be securely fenced to prevent dog theft or escape, taking care that garden furniture isn’t place near fencing giving the dog the opportunity to climb out. The dog should wear a correctly fitted collar and identity tag, not only is it a legal requirement when in a public place but also if an accident was to occur and the dog was found straying hopefully dog and owner would quickly be reunited, Micro chipping should also be considered with one of the benefits of this option being if the dog slips its collar it is still identifiable. Items should not be left in the garden awaiting removal to the tip for instance wood with nails protruding or rubbish bags enabling theft of tin foil ,chocolate or plastic bags to be ingested. Faeces should be regularly removed, ideally after each elimination.
A suitable diet (what it eats and drinks);
The dog should not be too fat or too thin. Ideally it should just be possible to feel the dogs ribs and clearly see its waist when viewed from above. Obesity is a serious welfare concern and increases the risk of developing certain health conditions later in life. Much research has been carried out producing a range of dog foods giving all the nutritional requirements and suggested daily amounts for a particular life stage, breed, psychical levels of work and exercise .A healthy, balanced diet is essential for health and well being. If a complete food is used it should contain high-quality ingredients instead of fillers and should be free of artificial colours and preservatives wherever possible (many of the colourings in today’s dog foods are associated with hyperactivity when included in the diet of children) many vets advise on feeding and nutrition which if incorrect can contribute towards a dogs bad behaviour. Colouring is used by manufacturers to make the food look more appealing to humans, dogs do not care what colour their food is, only if it tastes nice. A dog should always have access to plenty of fresh, clean drinking water.
The ability to exhibit normal behaviour patterns;
Dogs are highly social, before domestication dogs would have lived in packs where they would have had leadership, played ,ate and slept with their families. Instead they now look to us to fulfil their needs and as such need to be members of the human pack. The dogs natural instinct is not to have a solitary existance and as such he does not do well when expected to spend long periods of time alone. Exercise requirements may differ between breeds and life stages but time alone in a large garden is no substitute. Meeting new people and encountering different sights, sounds and smells when out on a walk not only offers physical stimulation but mental stimulation too with socialisation possibly being the most important part of the dogs life. Providing a dog with mental challenges like a game of catch, an agility course, teaching a new command or a reward-oriented obedience game. As well as toys and other play things create a stimulating environment. Care must be taken with the choice of toy, puppies or older dogs that chew should be carefully monitored if given a squeaky, fabric or stuffed toy to prevent any part from being ingested and causing choking or intestinal blockages. Strong rubber toys allow the dog safely to fulfil their natural desire to chew, also offering benefits of keeping the teeth clean with some also providing mental stimulation as they can be filled with treats or a proportion of their daily dried food intake requiring the dog to push the toy around and work out how to best dispense the food inside. Care should be taken with this type of activity in multi dog households, or dogs who resource guard.
Any need it has to be housed with, or apart from, other animals.
Considerations must be given to multi dog households. A male and female dog will tend to see each other more as companions and less as competition however that is not to say problems wont arise, some breeds of dog are less accepting than others. especially those of the same sex. Through selective breeding, dogs were chosen for their most useful traits aiding man in specific tasks. If we take the Jack Russell Terrier for example, Terrier’s were originally bred to hunt and control vermin such as rats and mice and other predators including foxes and badger. Therefore Terrier’s may not be the best choice for a household also owning pet rats unless great care is taken in housing the rats in a secure area offering safety from the dogs instinctive behaviour.
Neutering not only prevents unwanted litters but also offers many health benefits for instance bitches will not develop pyometra which is a life threatening womb infection, it is also thought that they are less prone to mammary tumours. Neutering males prevents testicular cancer and reduces the incidence of problems with the prostate gland. Whether it be personal choice or on medical grounds great care must be taken to provide a safe, secure area away from any male dogs for the bitch during her season to prevent any accidental mating’s. Leaving the male in the house and the bitch in the garden whilst quickly nipping to the shop leaves her not only in danger of theft or abuse but also from the neighbouring dogs. Male dogs show great determination in reaching a female and may also exhibit behavioural changes/ problems for instance straying, inappropriate mounting, aggression or inappropriate vocalisation when procreation is foremost in their minds.
Owners should think carefully about the size of their property and the financial and time implications of having more than one pet, also taking into account the dog’s likely acceptance of other dogs within its home territory. Owning more than one dog is not an alternative to providing regular exercise, as all dogs should be exercised routinely nor does it take away the owners need to spend quality time with their dog.
Protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
One of a dogs most basic requirements is access to Veterinary care when it is unwell, however owners should also ensure annual health checks and vaccinations, routine worming and flea treatments are undertaken regularly as well as regular grooming with schedules and management differing between breeds. In some instances it may also be necessary to tailor their environment to suit medical conditions for instance an older dog suffering from arthritis may encounter difficulties accessing the garden via the steps leading down from the decking. The Veterinarian should also be the first point of call should a dog be displaying behavioural problems if only to discount any medical reasons for the behaviour.
Whether the dog is encouraged to snuggle up along side its owner on the sofa or is an outside dog the level of commitment is the same. A large muscular breed possibly best known for it’s guarding abilities needs the same amount of care, patience, love and understanding as Grandma’s Yorkshire Terrier. Owning a dog for instance to purely live outside and ward off intruders or one that is tethered possibly due to lack of boundary fencing, time or a behavioural problem is not reason enough for owning a dog. Often these dogs live unfulfilled, miserable lives subjected to abuse or vulnerable to theft with their basic needs left un-catered for and can suffer a host of behavioural problems. This is not to say that every dog that lives outside is neglected or that every dog that lives within the home is cherished only that serious consideration must be given before taking on a ten to fifteen year commitment. Only when financial, home and work commitments allow you to be fully committed to a canine companion should careful research begin into which breed best suits the lifestyle you have to offer.
References
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/act/index.htm
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/welfare-dogs-cop/consultation.pdf
