Being a Responsible Pet Owner: Part I

What does it mean to be a responsible pet owner? This is a question that has as many answers as there are pet owners. Luckily, there are some areas of consistency that hold true for most pet owners. In this first installment, we are going to focus on the pet’s position in the family.

When we decide to get a pet and welcome him/her to our family, that is exactly what we are doing…adding a member to the family. Our four legged family members deserve and should be treated with the same respect as every other member of the family. More importantly, he/she should be treated the way you would want to be treated…in every facet of their life.

I, like so many of my friends, consider my dog as my "kid". I am not saying that everyone has to do this, but it does help create that healthy and nurturing home environment. Just like with kids, we need to try and make sure that our home is “kid” proofed. This may include things like kid locks on cabinets, locks on the fridge, child gates, trash picked up and out of reach, etc. I have actually had to do all of these with my basset hound. Our “kids” look to us for protection from outside dangers and themselves.

Another area that people often overlook in the environment is the psychological needs of dogs.  Dogs have a great need to see the outside world. One of the easiest and best things we can do for our “kids” is make sure they have access to at least one window somewhere to enjoy the outside world. This is one reason why dogs get so excited to go on walks. It is a connection to the outside world.

Let’s just take a minute to look at the psychological benefits of “the walk”. We talked about the connection to the outside world, but how about the bonding that occurs with you, the owner. Too often, sad to say, this may be the only one-on-one time he/she gets with the owner. Also, walking your dog is a critical part of maintaining their health through exercise. Just like with people, dogs need their exercise.

We as pet owners need to be aware of the attention that different animals and breeds need on a daily basis. Too often we neglect our pets accidently by not understanding their needs. Do your research when deciding to get a pet and find one that is compatible to your lifestyle based on the traits of the breed. Every breed has different characteristics and needs to be happy. This will make for a much happier living situation for both of you.

Remember, just like people, dogs need a certain amount of undivided attention from us. This does not include having them by our side while we sit at the computer or in front of the TV.  I am talking about time spent where he/she is the only thing in the world that matters. It could be time spent playing or even cuddling. Believe it or not, he/she will be able to tell if you are giving them your full attention or not. Remember, every breed is slightly different, do your research to learn what the recommendations are for your “kid”.

Part of being a responsible “parent” is making sure that your “kid’s” diet is healthy. There are so many types of pet foods on the market. Do your research and find an appropriate food for him/her. As much as we may be tempted and want to feed them table scraps, these scraps could end up killing them. There are a number of foods that can be dangerous to our four legged “kids”. Please see my blog from May 23 to get a list of these foods.

The last topic I want to touch on is one that I personally believe can fit in the category of animal cruelty. I know it is not going to be a popular viewpoint by some people, but here it goes. Our “kids” do not deserve to spend a large portion of their life chained up in the yard or living in a crate or cage. Would you want to be chained in the yard every day for long periods of time or be put in a cage every time you came inside? Then, why do we think it is acceptable for them? This goes back to what I was talking about before with finding a breed that is appropriate for your lifestyle.

Our pets are some of the most amazing animals on earth. They have the ability to demonstrate a type of unconditional love, loyalty and companionship that is so rare to find in the world. We need to do everything we can to foster, nurture and encourage this behavior by giving back what they bring to our life. These four-legged family members should be the real role-models to how we live our lives.