Owning a dog can be fun when raised properly
Sometimes I hate mornings. You see, I have dogs. There is a right way to raise and train pets and a wrong way. Go the wrong way and trust me you will pay for it. I’ll give you a typical day in my life and help you find ways to avoid unnecessary puppy mess. Training your pets and spending time with them is extremely important to you and your pet.
TJ, my mean, fierce, spiteful miniature poodle (yes a poodle can be fierce, you’d be mad too if you were a boy and everyone thought you should wear pink sweaters and a bow) relieves himself on my leg and leaves loads of his contempt for me on the ground. I call him the “Miracle Dumper” because he walks and becomes number two at the same time. There’s nothing like a smart pump to ruin your nice, clean shoes first thing in the morning.
But is that normal?
From time to time he has an “accident” in the house. Maybe I should call him on purpose because I think he’s doing it to annoy me. It’s not my fault it’s so cute that people want to stuff it into a pink fleece. I think he has some deficiency problems and miracle dumping is his therapy. But that can be fixed with due care. In my case, as soon as I see him start to duck, I run for a plastic bag, launching myself into a prostrate position trying to catch his nasty projectiles like I’m a catcher in a baseball glove hooking a wayward knuckleball. The problem is that it doesn’t sit still long enough to stop the process. Not a great way to start the day.
So there I sit, face down, lying on the floor at 4 am with an empty bag in my hand and my face only inches from the beautiful gift he left me. Maybe I’ll make her wear a pink sweater from now on.
Geez…it’s not dawn yet, let me have a cup of coffee at least. Why can’t you be like Buddy, my good dog? For God’s sake, it’s raining outside too, now what do I do? The designated dog walking area is across the street, that’s where everyone is supposed to go, but for today as there’s no one around and it’s raining, Fugheddaboudit!
The good thing is that my apartment is on the ground floor with a large grassy area in front. Hell, I’m not going out there in my nightgown, with an umbrella with a flashlight and a poop scoop in hand. You could be arrested, even in New York. It’s bad enough I have to follow the little bugger around the house with a bag like a deranged catcher chasing a bunt. He would be soaked while he waited, and my shoes would be soaked. Who’s to know, anyway? There’s my neighbor, Fred, who has a habit of crossing the lawn on his way to his car. But he’s a well-mannered guy. I’ll take my chances.
I can’t help but love my dogs. Maybe that’s the problem, maybe I love them too much. The general rule is that you have to take responsibility for your pet and her mischievous behavior, even the stray piles she leaves behind. “Responsible dog ownership means more than just loving your dog. It’s a serious lifelong commitment that takes time and a lot of attention. Don’t forget: when Fido misbehaves, you’re the one who has to take the blame.”
The first step in properly training your dog or any pet is taking responsibility for him or her. Although we adore them, we must teach them and maintain discipline so that they do what they are supposed to do. It doesn’t mean they won’t love you. In fact, it means the exact opposite. A dog or pet that respects you and your discipline will probably love you. And he won’t leave you early birthday presents in stinky piles on the floor.
My pets aren’t that bad. I love them very much, but the life and behavior of any pet can be improved. Sometimes I call TJ Slippery Louie because he’s so fast. He is insecure, occasionally showing aggressive behavior to both me and Buddy, my beloved Cocker Spaniel, even though TJ has been neutered. It is important to spay and neuter animals if you are not going to breed them. Not only does it help control animal populations, it’s good for your pet. The last thing anyone needs is a super playful pet that assaults their visitors’ knees every chance they get.
TJ is usually very nice, he’ll lick the skin off your face, but he can be pretty unpredictable so I treat him with kid gloves. While Buddy is quiet and quiet, TJ is hyperactive. He is eight years old. Hyper is common for poodles, smooth is common for cocker spaniels. Although TJ Loves Buddy, he is also bullied by him. He is a bully. If Buddy comes near him while he’s eating, he bites him, so I always keep them apart at mealtimes. Again, it’s important to set boundaries with his animals. It is instinctive for a dog to protect food from him, so I take the precaution of keeping them apart at mealtimes. That’s another key part of raising animals, spending time with your pets. This is how you learn about them so that you can train them properly. Ignoring your pet or not spending time with it is a bad habit. If you are always traveling or on the go, then you should not have a pet.
My dogs are inseparable. I call them my bookends. TJ sleeps on one side of the couch while Buddy sleeps on the other side. Buddy and TJ bring joy to my life. Dogs are intelligent and have their own personalities. If I tell TJ to take a bath, the little shrimp starts howling like he’s torturing it. Instead, Buddy dances the St. Vitus dance, swaying like a break dancer with a bad case of Poison Ivy. For all of us who have pets, whether they are dogs, cats or any other type of pet, they are tremendously valuable to our lives. You are also valuable to their lives and you must remember this. Pets give us an internal feeling of joy and happiness. Pets make their owners laugh, which not only loosens facial muscles, but also helps lower blood pressure. This contributes to a longer and healthier existence for both of you. So I appreciate TJ’s annoying interruptions even when I’m writing.
Simply put, pets can help you live longer, so you need to take care of them. You have to give them exercise, but exercise is good for you too. Walking them, taking them swimming, even taking them for a walk is amazing exercise. Of course, proper training can fix surprises in the bathroom in a much more efficient way.
“Every time you take your pet out, say over and over again ‘go potty’. Take her out and ’empty’ her often so she can’t get into the house.”
The most important way to train your pet and keep it happy and healthy is to spend time with it. Believe it or not, dogs suffer from separation anxiety. They may have panic attacks, and this leads to bad behavior, both when you are out and after you get home. Pets will act to make you pay for leaving them alone. They are smart that way. They will not only leave you with sports piles to clean up, but they will destroy your house, destroying books and papers, scratching doors and damaging furniture.
Ultimately, you’ll find that your beloved pets will reward you with more than you can imagine—not just a little pile of poop in the middle of your living room! You have to get to know their personalities, adjust to their needs, and convince them to conform to acceptable behavior as well. This process is not bad. It doesn’t mean you won’t be standing outside your house at 4am in the rain letting your dog relieve himself, it means you’ll be happy not to have to clean the floor later and have moments and memories that will last a lifetime. Moments a pet owner wouldn’t trade for anything. Even a little poodle can carve out a big place for itself in your heart. We should all give them the time and attention their love and care deserve.