K9 TRAINING SERVICES 

 Residential Dog Training - Accredited Professionals - Behavioural Modification  

When choosing a dog you need to consider first whether a dog is what you need at this time in your life, Do you work long hours? Will the dog be left for long periods of time on its own? Will you want to take your dog for a walk after a long day at work or will the dog become a nuisance? You need to think about these factors because if you have said yes to one or more of these questions then i suggest you reconsider about buying a dog.

A canine takes a lot of management and care, it does not matter what breed of dog you wish to own each individual dog has needs whether this be medical needs or the demand for attention, managing a young pup can be very challenging  and if this dog is left for long periods of time then you may come home to a very happy puppy with chewed trainers in its mouth but you may not be very happy. You need to have a lot of time for your dog as it cannot provide for itself as us human took that freedom away from them when they were domesticated, if you cannot provide for a dog do not get one.

When caring for you're canine these five freedoms must be followed:

Freedom from hunger and thirst- Make sure your canine has access to fresh water at all times and is being fed the correct nutritional diet.

Freedom from Discomfort- Your dog should have suitable shelter and bedding in order for the dog to be comfortable, make sure if the dog has long hair that it does not have matts as this can very uncomfortable.

Freedom from pain, injury and disease- Prevent your dog from diseases and if diagnosed then treatment should be rapid in order to prevent any pain.You need to make sure that you will be able to provide your dog with the best care possible, when your dog needs veterinary assistance then it is your duty to take your dog to the vets to prevent as much pain and discomfort as possible.

Freedom to express natural behaviour- What type of breed is your dog? a border collie? if so then this dog should be allowed to express its natural behaviours which is herding. this dog is not best suited for city life if living in the city then the dog needs a lot of exercise and stimulation otherwise the dog may suffer mentally.

Freedom from fear and distress-  Prevent mental suffering and any fears your dog may have seek a behaviourists or trainers advice.

The five freedoms above are not just for canines but are stated to be followed for all vertebrates

The five freedoms are all minimum requirements and if you are only going to provide the minimum stated then you should not own a dog or any animal for that matter as providing food, water and a comfortable place to sleep is not everything your animal requires it is only the basics in order for the animal to survive however if you only provide the minimum then the animal will mentally suffer.

A dog needs love, attention, socialisation, training,  exercise, correct diet other things to think about are breeding, then you need to make sure you are able to find suitable homes for the pups however i do not advise breeding as there are too many unwanted dogs, you should consider getting your dog castrated or spayed to avoid any unexpected litters, getting your dog castrated or spayed shows you are a responsible owner.

When deciding you want a canine you need to decide bitch or dog? which is better suited for you the owner, are you willing to clean up after the bitch when she is on heat? are you prepared to control your dog when it smells another dog that is in heat? 

Bitch on heat

If your dog has not been spayed then your dog will come into heat at least twice a year and will last for about three weeks however this may vary from bitch to bitch, controlling heat in your canine lowers the chance of your dog having phantom pregnancy's, mammary tumours and uterine problems. Heat control can be achieved by either getting your bitch spayed or use chemical methods to stop the bleeding or the odour you should consult your veterinarian as it may not be the best method for your dog or breed of dog you have.

Male dogs

 If you want to own a male dog then you need to consider the factors of the dog wandering off as male dogs tend to wander more than females, you will need a secure fence and gate that is high enough so the dog will not be able to jump and the fence should also be deep in the ground that the dog will not be able to dig underneath the fence and escape. You're young male puppy may experience increased sexual behaviour as his hormones will increase the erge to meet the opposite sex with the increase hormone testosterone. The way to reduced or potentially eliminate the sexual behaviour is to have the dog castrated or synthectic hormones (balances hormones) the behaviour may still continue so this is where you must not reward the behaviour and correct the behaviour when it occurs.

Cost of having a canine

You need to make sure you are going to be able to pay for any veterinary bills, the cost to feed the dog, if your dog has medical problems and needs daily medication can you afford to pay for the medication? vaccinations, can you afford yearly vaccinations and yearly check ups.

Equipment, you need a leash and a collar to be able to walk your dog however if you need better control of your dog then you may needa halti collar or a harness, this is not a lot of money however if you have to continuly replace them it can become more expensive. You may want a crate for travel in a car or where the dog sleeps at night and depending on the size of the dog depends on the cost of the crate, Blankets you may use your own blankets which is cheaper or buy new blankets which costs money.Take a look at the canine breeds and read what breed may be best suited for you and your life.