Responsible Ownership

Neutering

Most responsible dog owners have their dogs neutered to avoid unwanted pregnancies and sexually motivated behaviours.

It is important that you carefully consider the right time to have your dog spayed or castrated.

The best time varies in different breeds of dog, for more information please refer to https://dogsbestlife.com/dog-health/right-time-to-neuter-your-dog

Etiquette in Public

Always keep your dog under control, do not allow it to approach people, dogs or other animals unless invited. Keep it on a lead or line if it does not recall in all circumstances.

Never let it jump up at people or dogs you meet on your walks. Keep it on lead around livestock and horses. If necessary step off the path to allow others to pass safely.

Do not allow it to bark unchecked at other dogs or people, teach it to sit calmly and let them pass,

If you use food rewards, keep them for your dog, do not feed other dogs or allow others to feed yours, this encourages them to run up to strangers looking for food.

Pay attention to your dog and the environment and be aware of what is happening around you and what your dog is doing.

Always clean up after your dog.

Never take your dog into a children’s play area.

If your dog is nervous or aggressive and likely to bite if startled or approached for example by a running child, teach it to wear a muzzle on its walks.

Do not let a dog out on the road on its own. Keep it on a short lead when walking on the pavement, road or path shared with cyclists or horse riders.

When in a vehicle make sure dogs are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.

Training a Recall

Your dog MUST come back to you when called, so training a recall is one of the most important things you can do as a responsible dog owner.

First stage

Recall training starts immediately you get your puppy or dog. You teach it indoors from short distances and reward it for responding with a treat or exciting interactive game. Keep a house line on so not coming when called is not an option but always give it the chance to come voluntarily before you reel it in.

Second Stage

Once you have a reliable recall indoors, move into your garden where there will be distractions such as birds, interesting smells people, traffic etc.  Depending on where you live, train as above until you have a solid recall in the garden. Then move to a quiet outdoor public area where you will start at the baby stage and progress – put a longer line (not a flexi-lead ) on so the distance between you gets longer but you are still in control.

Getting better

When the dog recalls it has to get a high value (to the dog) reward so make sure you are exciting and play fabulous games, -you are setting the foundation for your dog to choose to come to you even if there are lots of exciting things going on in the park. If you are not able to be exciting, or your dog does not appreciate games use the best treats you can, try not to use just a dry bit of biscuit in the initial stages. As your recall strengthens move on into busier areas with more distractions, keeping a line attached with your dog running free around you and practice recalling lots and lots until it becomes automatic for your dog to come every time you call it.

Vaccinations

WSAVA vaccination guidelines

https://wsava.org/Global-Guidelines/Vaccination-Guidelines

Flexi-Leads

If you use an extending lead on your walks, ensure it is the correct size and strength for your dog. Be careful not to allow your dog to run close to people or animals, they can cause serious injury if people become tangled in them. It is recommended that you do not use a flexi lead in town or in traffic, the spring mechanism may break allowing the dog to run onto the road. If you must use one in town keep it on short length.

Dogs on Farmland

The Scottish Outdoor Access Code allows RESPONSIBLE access to most outdoor areas but you must always keep your dog under control:  You can do this by:

• never letting it worry or attack livestock;
• never taking it into a field where there are calves or lambs; Scottish Outdoor Access Code, 200519 • keeping it on a short lead or under close control in fields where there are farm animals;
• if cattle react aggressively and move towards you, by keeping calm, letting the dog go and taking the shortest, safest route out of the field;
• keeping it on a short lead or under close control during the bird breeding season (usually April to July) in areas such as moorland, forests, grassland, loch shores and the seashore;
• picking up and removing any faeces if your dog defecates in a public open place. Never drop your poo bags or leave them where animals can ingest them.