Happy dog guide Tips for living in harmony with your dog #Betterlivesfordogs
Happy, healthy dogs mean happy and healthy people and communities
Your dog needs your Protecting your dog Should your dog have help to be healthy against rabies puppies?
• A healthy dog has shiny fur, bright • If you live in a country where rabies • Think about whether you can eyes, a clean nose and clean ears. is present, get your dog vaccinated care for puppies and their mother If you think your dog is sick, ask against rabies every year. Dogs with properly. Will you find homes for your local vet for advice straight rabies suffer very badly and die. the puppies? There are so many away. puppies all around the world being • Rabid dogs can pass the disease on dumped or killed because they have • Check your dog for injuries and to people and it can kill them too. no homes. illnesses every day. Daily brushing is a good way to do this. It will also • Only give your dog medicines • Female dogs can get sick if they help stop lice, fleas or ticks living in prescribed by a vet. Talk to your vet have too many litters of puppies. your dog’s fur. about how to protect your dog from rabies and other diseases. • Ask a vet about getting your dog • Parasitic worms can live inside your neutered. Neutering is an operation dog and make them sick. Dogs can that stops your dog having puppies. pass worms onto other dogs and It can help stop dogs becoming people in your community. This can aggressive to people and fighting make them sick too. with other dogs. Make sure the vet you choose to neuter your dog is • Deworming your dog with properly trained and qualified to do medicine from your vet will stop this the operation. happening. Making your dog happy
• Just like humans, dogs can feel all sorts of emotions. They can have fun and feel happy, but they can feel sad and afraid too.
• Be kind to your dog. It’s good to let dogs know when they’ve done something right. You can stroke them or give them an occasional tasty treat.
• Don’t hit or shout at your dog when they do something wrong. They won’t understand why and could become frightened of you. Scared dogs can become aggressive. Try to reinforce good behaviour by Your dog needs space Your dog needs the giving your dog positive attention to behave like a dog right things to eat when he or she behaves well, so they can learn wrong from right. • This means their own place to rest • Feed your dog daily with a good and lie down. They also needs diet of dog food, recommended by • Spend time with your dog. If you shelter from hot, cold and wet your vet. and your dog are good friends, weather. they will always want to protect you • Always make sure your dog has and your home. • All dogs need to run around and fresh, clean water in its bowl and play, so don’t tie up your dog for that it can get to the bowl whenever • Let your dog spend time with other lengthy periods. Being tied up can it wants. dogs – this makes them happy hurt dogs and make them sad and because they are very sociable angry. • Never feed dogs cooked bones. animals. Bones may look harmless but they • Take your dog for walks so he or can kill a dog by getting stuck in its • If your dog is barking for no she gets lots of exercise. throat or intestines. obvious reason, they might be bored or unhappy. A barking dog • Keep your dog’s home clean. Clean • Don’t let your dog eat food that he could also upset your neighbours. up your dog’s poo and throw it in or she finds when they're away from Find out why your dog is unhappy a rubbish bin. Dog poo can spread home. Food that’s lying on the street and do your best to deal with any disease to other dogs and people in near bins, for example, can make problems. your community. dogs very ill. And dogs looking for food in rubbish can become a • Your dog may bite you or someone nuisance to your neighbours. else if they are unhappy, scared or frustrated.
• Leave your dog alone when they are eating or asleep. Dogs don’t like being taken by surprise – they get scared and could become angry.
5th Floor, 222 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8HB T: +44(0)20 7239 0500 E: [email protected]
World Animal Protection. Company Limited by Guarantee in England and Wales, Registration No. 4029540. Registered Charity 1081849.
worldanimalprotection.org