I’m planning on getting a dog soon and would love some tips and tricks.
My tip is that when you take your dog for a walk, before crossing any street make them sit and wait for you to tell them to cross.
It helped when my dog got out a few times he would only walk around the block and never cross streets or run into traffic.
Socialisation is the most important thing you’ll do with a dog, even if they’re an adult you need to get them used to as many things as possible so they can live a calm life.
Learn dog body language, so many people get into issues because they can’t tell their dog is stressed, or in pain, This is my favourite guide, but you can also learn for free online.
If you’re causing your dog pain then you’re not training their minds and setting you both up for failure. Find a different way to get what you want.
Most issues people have with their dog is because they’re not getting the correct physical or mental exercise.
Understand the breed you have as it will teach you how to make your dog comfortable.
I 100% agree about the importance of learning doggie language, after all studies have shown domesticated dogs are extremely adept at learning human body language and are excited and motivated to learn human body language far past the point really any other animal gives a shit about doing. We owe them the same curiosity and interest in their language!
Simple things like a yawn usually means “hey I’m just here not trying to start anything” or a playbow is actually an invitation into playful energy most of the time, or how dogs evaluate how nervous to be about the threat of a nearby unfamiliar dog or person by whether the dog/human’s hips/shoulders are aiming towards them or not (a dog has to “aim” it’s shoulders at something it is about to attack, so aiming your hips and shoulders to the side is a form of de-escalating an immediate threat of violence for dogs).
Knowing how to differentiate the stress/pain pant from a normal pant is also CRUCIAL to picking up when your dog is suffering.
Absolutely. Plus we forget that dogs can be dangerous, I work in rescue and a lot of people will say a dog has “bit me out of nowhere!”
I can think of one dog that genuinely bit out of nowhere, and he had a health concern, all other dogs warn you a thousand times but the owner just hasn’t understood what their dog is saying.
My last dog was a bichon, maybe a mix since he was a bit big for the breed. I used to take him to the dog park and walk around, but he never wanted to play with other dogs. Even if we were alone in the whole place all he wanted was to sit on my lap with the biggest grin on his face. He loves going places and taking drives, but no matter where we went he only wanted to sit on my lap.
I miss him so much.