1. Keep dog still.. no running/moving/jumping a week after spay/neuter.
Not so important to do with neuters (minor surgery), but with females, if they overextend before they have healed, can rip either internal or external (or both) stitches apart, and can cause uncontrolled bleeding, etc. So, yes, I follow this rule for the girls, for spays, and with all dogs having any abdominal or orthopedic surgery....
2. Do not switch foods right away! You don't want to shock their stomachs.
Sometimes this cannot be helped, again depends on each individual dog as to whether or not the time should be taken to do a gradual switch.
3. Never lets your dog sleep on the bed with you/play tug/etc..
These are activities that can encourage Alpha dog behavior leading to aggressiveness, so again depends on the dog... I have two that I have to be careful with as I am trying to make them less aggressive. My male wakes up in a terror (if he is abruptly or suddenly woke up.... if he was a PitBull, I'd be missing body parts or dead.)
4. Don't let your dog walk ahead of you on walks
Again can encourage Alpha dog behavior... but if your dog accepts you as the leader... no problem.
5. Never use a flexi!
I do on occasion, but know that they can malfunction. Also helps to be very familiar with how they work before putting oneself and one's dog in a dangerous/questionable situation...
6. Don't give your dog junk food
Depends on the dog, and I agree, moderation is key. Note: My idea of a 'tiny piece' is vastly different than my DH's. My 'tiny piece' is about the size of a dime, cut in half or quartered for smaller dogs.
7. Do not BABY or spoil your dog!
Ha! Who wrote this one?
8. Let your dog adjust for a week before bringing people over to meet him/her as a puppy.
Sounds like a good rule, been a while since I had a puppy though!
9. Don't encourage bad behavior.. no matter what.
My rule is: Do not encourage (or accept) any behavior you do not want to see repeated.
10. Do not leave your dog alone with kids/other dogs alone.
Depends on the kids... and I keep in mind that there are different stages of development in the human brain... expecting children to always do as they're told, or to make adult decisions is physically impossible for them.
Depends on the dog.
11. ALWAYS pick up your dogs poop.
I really hate stepping in poop so I keep the yard picked up. I also think it makes for a healthier environment, and it's a way for me to keep track of their intestinal health... to spot any problems like diarrhea or parasites.
On walks, in the woods, no I don't, unless it's in the pathway... but on the roads I walk on, yes, cause cars will squish it then I forget and walk through it the next day! |