Our checklist for responsible dog ownership

Whether you are brand new to the wonderful world of dog ownership or you are a seasoned dog whisperer, it’s well worth reflecting on the really important aspects that make us the very best custodians of these special animals.

Microchip

Microchip your dog as early as you can. It’s a legal requirement and means your pet can be easily, quickly and painlessly reunited with you should he get lost. It is inserted, in a few seconds, just under the skin and is read using a scanner - making it simple and effective.

Identity collar

By law, you dog must also wear a collar and ID tag when out in public. The tag should display a name (yours is best as it doesn’t provide the pet’s name to any would-be dog thief) and address. A phone number is useful but not essential. If your dog prefers a harness, that is completely acceptable as long as it also has an identity tag. This is ideal for breeds such as pugs and bulldogs who don’t do so well with a traditional collar.

Apart from some exceptions such as working dogs, anyone failing to comply can receive up to £5000 in fines.

Clean up

Always, always pick up your dog poop. It should be disposed of in your general waste wheelie bin, public dog bins provided by the council or added to a dog loo which you can set up in your garden. It’s vital to use compostable poo bags and never leave your bag anywhere with the intention of picking it up on your way home – it’s unhygienic, unsightly and almost always forgotten about and left behind.

Off lead manners

Off lead etiquette can often be the cause of dispute between dog owners. Quite simply, if your dog is off lead and you come across another dog who is on a lead, it is courteous to hold your dog by the collar while you establish, from the owner, the preference of the dog on the lead. If the other dog is nervous, aggressive or needs their space it’s important to respect these boundaries and consider it non-negotiable. Put your dog’s lead back on until you have passed each other. You can use this as a training exercise by giving your dog a treat and praising him for coming back to you.

This also applies to situations where there are people without dogs, especially young children or elderly people but really, it’s good to remember that lots of people are uncomfortable or scared by dogs of all sizes and breeds.

Love thy neighbour

If you have ever lived next door to a noisy or disruptive dog you’ll know it is a miserable experience. We know of people who have actually moved house because the dog next door barked or howled relentlessly.

One of the legacies of the Covid lockdown was a surge in puppy ownership and the assumption that the humans were always at home round the clock! Lifting of restrictions brought with it a reality check for the dogs who had never known anything different. This can be the cause of a noisy dog but there are lots of other reasons too such as boredom, anxiety, protectiveness and nervousness.

If you’re regularly out at work, it’s worth asking the neighbours if they are ever disturbed by your dog barking. It’s much better to know if your pet is distressed in your absence - opening up the channels of communication can be helpful to both parties and is ideal for neighbourly relations.

You can pick up an inexpensive dogcam from Amazon for just a few pounds to occasionally view your dog’s activities when you’re out. This can be quite reassuring, especially if you’re away for longer than usual.

Appoint a vet

It’s important to have a vet that you like and trust for both routine checks and vaccinations as well as for any potential emergencies. Make sure that they operate an out of hours service (this might be a shared service between several surgeries). And make sure you have their number to hand, you never know when you might need it. Some vets operate a monthly membership program that gives you discounts off treatments, food and regular check ups.

Insurance

Pet insurance covers more than vet bills and is recommended for a number of reasons.  The benefits vary from policy to policy so it’s worth working out what’s important to you and comparing them online.

• You can make decisions about treatment without cost being a primary factor (check the limit on your policy, some are quite low)
• You can cover any costs associated with finding a lost dog (eg posters and reward)
• You can cover costs arising from your dog’s damage to property, people or even other dogs
• Dental cover can be included in your policy
• The cost of your pet’s burial or cremation can be an option too

These are just examples and you should take advice relating to the right kind of cover your dog needs before committing to anything.

A final word…

These considerations sit alongside the more obvious ones of giving lots of love, the right food, exercising regularly and making sure your dog is well trained. That’s your baseline responsibility to your pet and the points above should also be taken into account. Your Nutritional Adviser – or our helpline – plays a role in making sure your dog is eating well and at the right weight. We have lots of information on all of these points on our website and in our blog pages. Please do get in touch if we can help in any way – happy, healthy dogs are what we all want!

Author: Sandra Herbert