15 everyday habits of great dog owners

When your dog acts up, you need to bring them back in line. But great dog owners know the difference between correction and punishment, says Kristi Benson, a certified canine therapy trainer and behaviour expert. They use their voice to reassure, comfort and correct their dog – not scare them, she says. “Good owners will not use yelling, swatting, training collars or other physical punishments as they know they are bad for the dog’s welfare,” she explains. “Modern dog training techniques can help you teach your dog to obey without using harsh punishments.”

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Sure, you could get mad at your dog every time they bark at the neighbour’s kids – or you could install some dog-proof shades and remove the temptation, Benson says. Similarly, if your pup freaks out when strangers come over, set up a room with toys and food for him to go to when you have guests. “Good dog owners look for easy ways to reduce problem behaviour instead of punishing it,” she says.

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“A big sign of a great dog owner is seeking veterinary care for their pets as soon as they get sick and scheduling routine health check-ups and vaccines,” says Sara Ochoa, veterinarian and consultant for doglab.com. Not only will this help your dog recover faster from injuries and illnesses, it will go a long way in preventing them from getting sick or hurt in the first place, she says.

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“Great dog owners know not to buy puppies from stores or online, no matter how beautiful the website looks,” Benson says. “Puppy mills are scary and awful for the breeding dogs and produce puppies that might have serious health and behavioural problems.” Instead, they will look to rescue an animal from a shelter or if they are looking for a particular dog will only purchase from an accredited and reputable breeder, she adds.

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One of the most basic responsibilities of owning a pet is providing a source of clean water but great pet owners will make sure that the water is fresh daily and the bowl is cleaned regularly, Dr. Ochoa says. “Slime can build up in the water bowl and cause your pet to get sick,” she explains.

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Great pet owners understand that while dogs may love it, human food and excessive treats are bad for your pet’s health, Dr. Ochoa says. Instead, try to buy balanced, quality food and keep it consistent while limiting treats to special occasions – being overweight is just as bad for dogs as it is for humans, she says.

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Source: RD.com/