| The Well-Equipped Dog | | | | enough within his pack that his stuff |
| | | | beunmolested. |
| Part 9 in a 10-Part Series | | | | |
| | | | SAFETY |
| By Steph Bairey | | | | |
| | | | This is the simplest, but best, reason to buy |
| Dogs are one of the most popular companion | | | | equipment for your dog. |
| animals worldwide. Thisseries of articles | | | | |
| will discuss the basics of feeding, | | | | The outside world is full of speeding cars, |
| habitat,health, lifespan, size, grooming, | | | | unfamiliar animals,pesticides, and even pet |
| time, breeding, equipment, and costof caring | | | | thieves. All dogs must have sturdy |
| for your dog. The focus of this article is | | | | collarswith tags, and be walked on a leash. |
| equipment. | | | | Lost pets without tags usuallyend up being |
| | | | put to sleep at the shelter when they lose |
| *** | | | | their wayhome. Dogs who are allowed to run |
| | | | loose while on a walk may dart infront of a |
| There are many items you can buy in aid of | | | | car, fall into holes or ravines, or approach |
| caring for your dog,including apparel, dishes | | | | an unfriendlyanimal, even in play, all with |
| and feeders, beds, dog doors, food, | | | | disasterous results. |
| treats,medicated lotions and oils, electric | | | | |
| trimmers, scissors and clippers,books, flea | | | | Grooming supplies also fall into the Safety |
| and tick control products, shampoos and | | | | category. Dogs candevelop matted hair and |
| conditioners,brushes and combs, gates and | | | | sores on their skin if left unbrushed, |
| barriers, carriers and crates, othercleaning | | | | dentalproblems if they don't have their teeth |
| products, hair pick-ups, tie-outs, collars, | | | | cleaned often enough, and canscratch human |
| tags, harnesses,toys, computer software, dog | | | | family members accidentally if their nails |
| houses, training supplies, dentalproducts, | | | | are leftunclipped. Buying and using the |
| leads, waste disposal aids, and dietary | | | | proper grooming equipment is a veryimportant |
| supplements. | | | | part of owning a dog. |
| | | | |
| For any dog, the minimum recommended list is | | | | ENRICHMENT |
| a stout collar and tagwith your name, | | | | |
| address, and phone number including area | | | | This term is most often used at zoos, to |
| code, aleash, nail clippers, dog dishes, and | | | | describe the objectsintroduced into habitats |
| lots of toys. | | | | which keep the animals engaged andinterested |
| | | | in their environment. It also applies to the |
| There are three main reasons to buy such | | | | equipment youprovide your dog. Dogs are |
| equipment for your dog:possession, safety, | | | | curious and intelligent animals who wantto |
| and enrichment. | | | | explore and enjoy their environment. New toys |
| | | | are an excellent wayto keep your dog's mind |
| POSSESSION | | | | engaged and interested. |
| | | | |
| Dogs are most comfortable with routine, and | | | | Dog's will play with whatever they can find, |
| most insecure aboutfrequent change. By | | | | be it a sock on thefloor, an extension cord, |
| providing your dog with his own food bowl, | | | | or a rawhide chew. Which of these would |
| hisown bed, and his own grooming brush, your | | | | yourather your dog play with? If that rawhide |
| dog gets used to havingthose items around, | | | | chew is a few days old,you can bet that the |
| and familiar with what they are for. He is | | | | sock and the cord will be more interesting. |
| morelikely to disdain food dropped on the | | | | |
| floor if he knows that "his"food goes in his | | | | Provide new toys frequently, and try to find |
| dog dish, and more likely to sleep in a | | | | those that will makeyour dog think a little. |
| strangeplace if provided with his usual bed. | | | | An example of these would be the popular |
| | | | |
| Having his own possessions also gives your | | | | Kong toys, which are hollow rubber toys, |
| dog a place in yourfamily, which he considers | | | | easily filled with kibble oranother treat. |
| his pack. Dogs understand status, | | | | The dog must work at getting the treat out of |
| andappreciate having items that belong to | | | | the toy,which interests and rewards him when |
| them, as proof of theirstatus. This sounds a | | | | he plays with it. Much betterthan a simple |
| little advanced for a creature like a dog, | | | | dog biscuit! You should also provide |
| butis nevertheless true. Teaching a small | | | | interactive toys,such as tug-of-war ropes and |
| child to leave the dog's fooddish alone | | | | balls for fetching, and play with yourdog |
| proves to a dog that he has some value, since | | | | often. |
| his statusmerits the consideration of | | | | |
| ownership. The dog doesn't actually careabout | | | | Buying the proper equipment for your dog can |
| his property, of course, but can appreciate, | | | | be expensive, but is anessential part of dog |
| in a very vagueway, that he is important | | | | ownership. |