However, at any age, a dog can be trained to obey at least five basic commands — "Come," "Sit," "Heel," "Stay" and "Lie Down." The best way to teach your dog obedience is to attend a dog obedience school. Kennel clubs, humane organizations and extension divisions of some universities offer obedience courses. There are also many good books on obedience training.
Are you aware of laws in your community regarding dog owners' responsibilities? Most communities require each dog in a household to be registered. Some have limits on the number of dogs and cats one household can own. Many communities have "pooper scooper" laws requiring owners to clean up after their dogs. Law or no law, cleaning up after your dog reflects your consideration for others. Many municipalities require dogs to be walked on a leash. Roaming dogs may be picked up and owners must pay fines to reclaim them.
Daily walks can be a treat for both of you when your dog is trained to walk quietly at your side on a loose leash. This on-going training helps you control your dog so it won't jump on people or on other dogs.
A fenced yard is the best way to keep your dog from soiling or digging in a neighbor's yard. If your yard is not fenced, check pet stores and catalogs for tie-outs. Two of the most popular are a swivel stake or a tree trolley. A swivel stake set firmly in the ground works well to contain smaller breed dogs. One end of a chain clasps to the stake, the other to the dog's collar, giving the dog freedom to run without becoming entangled around a tree or a post. However, larger dogs (even giant breed puppies) can pull them out of the ground. A tree trolley fastens to a tree, but allows a dog to run around the tree without the chain becoming tangled.
A barking dog can become a neighborhood annoyance. Excessive barking is frequently the result of boredom or anxiety when a dog is left alone for long periods of time.
Regular walks and play periods with your dog and teaching it tricks will help prevent boredom.
If you are a cat owner, keeping your cat indoors avoids problems with neighbors and protects your cat from being hit by a car, encounters with unfriendly dogs or attacks by other animals.
Cats who are allowed to roam may damage neighbors' gardens or use planters as litter boxes. If you allow your cat outside, keep a watchful eye on it. If it leaves to visit a neighbor, bring it back to its own yard.
A pet who is not neutered or spayed may become an undesirable neighbor. A female dog usually comes into heat twice a year and the period lasts about three weeks. During this time, male dogs will be seen around your house, possibly barking and becoming a nuisance to you and your neighbors. If you decide to breed your dog responsibly later in life, the best way to handle the situation is to place her in a boarding kennel during the heat period. Otherwise you must keep her in the house most of the time. When you take her for a walk, be prepared to fight off male dogs. Never let her off the leash.
A neutered male dog is usually calmer and more companionable. He is less likely to run off in pursuit of females in heat and engage in fights with other dogs.
Female cats come into their first heat cycle between five and seven months of age and may have several heat cycles throughout the year. Spaying eliminates the problem of a female in heat who attracts male cats and annoys the neighbors.
A male cat who is not neutered can be a neighborhood nuisance and an undesirable pet. He has an uncontrollable urge to roam and fight. He also sprays urine which has a strong, unpleasant odor.
A pet in good health is unlikely to spread disease. Keep your pets well-nourished by feeding a nutritionally complete and balanced quality pet food. Take them to your veterinarian regularly to keep their vaccinations current and to be certain they are free from internal and external parasites and in general good health.
A final thought
Proper identification for your pet is important. Dogs should wear collars with an identification tag as well as having a microchip or tatoo identification. If your cat is allowed outdoors, train it to wear a safety collar with an expansion device and a tag that gives your cat's name and your telephone number to distinguish your cat from stray cats. Proper identification enables someone to contact you if your pet wanders far from home.
