posted 05-18-2003 01:22 AM         

Probably the first decision you should make is whether or not to get the dog fixed. Unwanted breeding can be a bad thing. Imagine finding your dog pregnant, and having to deal with 5 or 6 new puppies. Or if it's a male dog, picture the neighbors complaining about him getting their own pups pregnant. The entire situation can get extremely complicated, and most would agree that getting your dog fixed is a good idea.

After that's out of the way, your next goal should be house training. If you get an older dog, already house-trained, it should only take a day or two for it to get adjusted to the new home. If you get a puppy, or a dog not house trained, it may take up to a few weeks before it'll learn to go outside. The best thing to do is take your dog out for a walk several times a day when you first get him. Also, if he goes in the house, let him know it's a bad thing and you disapprove. These two things together will give him an opportunity to go outside and help him to learn not to go inside.

It's extremely important to walk your dog at least twice a day. Some dogs only require it once, but most two or more walks are needed. The best situation would be to have a backyard with a fence. Then you could just let your dog exercise and do his business there, instead of having to walk him. Even if you do have a great backyard, you should still take him for a trip around the block when you can.

Feeding is an important job as well. If there is a young child, older than 8, it would help encourage responsibility if you let them take care of the feeding. Make sure the dog has its own dish for food and for water. This is especially important if you have multiple dogs, as they will fight for who gets which dish. Make sure to follow directions on the package for the food. For most dogs one feeding in the morning should be good, along with some snacks and treats in the afternoon. Also, most young children will try and feed the dog chocolate. Do not, under any circumstances feed a dog chocolate. It's not a pretty thing to clean up after he vomits.

There is also lots of cleaning involved. A bath on the weekends is good, but be prepared for everything to get wet. If you have a backyard and a hose, a low-pressure shower for him would get him pretty clean. It's also a good idea to run a brush over him every day. This is very beneficial because it will keep him clean, get hair from shedding before it goes around the house, and will make his coat nice and shiny. Only in extreme cases is scrubbing and soap necessary.

You have several options on how you should deal with fleas. There are collars, creams, drops, food, and several other over-the-counter products. You should probably consult a veterinarian to find which method would be best for your breed. If you can't do that, most flea and tick collars work well and for a good period of time. Please, make sure to do something for fleas or else you will regret it.

When you first get your new dog, you should go to a vet and take care of any vaccinations and shots that he needs. If you do anything for your dog medically, this is the most important. You need to protect him against disease not only for his health, but also for the family and neighbors.

These are the essentials for taking care of a dog. If it seems like too much to handle, maybe you should rethink getting one. But if you do decide to get a dog, make sure he's healthy and happy, he'll understand your care.