Responsible Dog Ownership

•    Socialise your puppy to get along with people and other dogs.
•    Learn how to handle your dog in a confident, relaxed manner when it meets other dogs, to minimise aggression.
•    If you have children, supervise them when they are with your dog, especially when they have friends over.
•    Keep your dog within your property. Make sure you have good fences and keep your dog in at night. Don’t let your dog charge at people going past.
•    Provide your dog with adequate shade and shelter.
•    Always have fresh water available for your dog. If you have a puppy, provide water in a container that cannot be tipped over.
•    Do not leave your dog unattended in a car on a warm day. Wind the windows down far enough to provide ventilation, and check your dog every fifteen minutes.
•    If you are out a lot, ask your neighbours whether your dog barks a lot. If it does, follow the program for dealing with nuisance barking.
•    Unless you are a breeder or have a top show dog, have your dog de-sexed.
•    Take your dog to the vet for an annual checkup and vaccination.
•    Don’t let your dog jump up on people.
•    Don’t let your dog lunge or rush at people when you are out walking.
•    Don’t let your dog lunge or rush at other dogs when you are out walking.
•    Don’t let your dog use the footpath, playground or other public areas as a toilet.
•    Register your dog with the local council.
•    Put a collar on your dog with its registration tag and your name, address and phone number. Consider having a silicon chip implanted in your dog for identification.
•    Have your dog on a lead when you are walking in the street. There are some public places such as parks where you can exercise your dog off lead, but the dog must be under effective control. This means it will not attack or annoy people or other dogs, and it will come when called - reliably. There are training programs available to teach this.
•    Call your dog to heel when going past a playground, or when joggers, cyclists or walkers go by.
•    Never encourage your dog to attack dogs, chase cats or other animals.
•    Teach your dog to ride quietly in the car, without leaping around. Dog harnesses are available if you want to restrain your dog for added safety.
•    Teach your dog not to jump out of the car until asked.
•    If you have bought a dog for personal or family protection, you must aim for a very high standard of obedience training. You should also socialise your dog to be friendly and confident  with non-threatening people.
•    Train your dog in basic obedience. Start early and seek help if you are having trouble - or better still prevent problems arising .