So you decided to get a dog! Good for you! You're in for a great time. Although I'm not an expert, here's some things I've found to be true:
- Dog does not rule, you do.
- Dogs take a while to catch on the the rules. You must be ironclad consistent about enforcement. It's easy, you're bigger than the dog. It's within the realm of possibility that you are smarter.
- Never play tricks on your dog. It's about trust. Dogs should think we're minor gods, not jerks.
- Pecking order: Large human, smaller human, human babies, the cat, the bird, the gerbil, then the dog. Dog comes last and knows it.
- You, the dog's owner clean up after the dog as needed. No excuses.
The dog will assume you will take care of this. Your neighbors will
respect you; karma will be positive; your stock portfolio will rebound
quicker and your trash can will smell bad. Plastic Bags for this are
cheap. Deal with it.
- Rabbits and squirrels are fair game and can usually get away. Avoid Foxes, Skunks, Raccoons or Opossums. Dogs generally eat what they catch. Unlike cats, they tend not to bring their kills to you as gifts unless trained. Sorry, they're dogs.
- Dog does not jump on people ever. Correct if they do.
- Humping human body parts is not allowed. Correct if they do
- Under no circumstances may the dog put any part of a human in its mouth. Correct if they do. Be very serious about this.
- Dog eats LAST. After you, After the cat, and not until you say he can eat. Put the food down and make him wait. (20 seconds is plenty, we're demonstrating dominance, not teasing the dog. )
- Dog walks behind you or with his nose even with your knee. No exceptions. Enforce with lead held behind you and shortened.
- Dog does not pull on the lead. Penalty for violation is a quick tug on the lead, a direction change or full stop. Mine corrects if I jiggle the lead so his tags make noise. He also responds to the command "Hey!" Do not hurt your dog with that quick pull. Dogs allowed to pull or who are subjected to repeated hard corrections are at risk for a crushed trachea.
- Dog has a bed. It is not your bed.
- Dog is allowed only on furniture you allow the dog on. Ours is allowed on the top of one part of the couch and in one of the chairs which we keep covered. When we are not home, the dog will use whichever piece of furniture he pleases. If you discover this when you walk in the door, reprimand verbally.
- Comforting the dog when he's scared (Vacuum Cleaner, Fireworks, Thunder etc.) reinforces that there is something to be afraid of. Resist the impulse
- Protect the dog from all harm.
- Make your dog wear a seat belt. They make special ones for dogs. Buy one before you have even a minor accident with the dog in the car. The dog will not like the seat belt. Too bad!
- Dog has no access to chocolate, ever. Dog will definitely eat it if leave it out, even if wrapped up. If the dog gets into your chocolate, you will have a very sick dog, possibly needing immediate medical attention. Effects depend on how much, the kind of chocolate and the weight of the dog, but it doesn't take much.
- Aluminum foil wrapped food is dangerous. Aluminum is poisonous if eaten. The dog may eat the foil to get at the food.
