The 10 Golden Rules With Dogs

[corrie]

I was just thinking (that is scary enough in itself) and wondered if it would work to raise community awareness to decide on the 10 biggest issues regarding dogs and the general population and...um...well, I'm not sure really.....I was kind of thinking maybe put them on flyers for the leash free park, notice boards,

pet shops or notices in the letters section of the paper.

What prompted the thought is the copious amounts of topics we get on here of people doing the wrong things such as dogs off lead in on lead areas. Alot of people with a family pet wouldn't seek out a dog website and 10 Golden rules is probably fairly easy to remember.

I don't really know. I'm just rambling.

[Dju]

Rule number one-- Your dog's shit is your shit.

[corrie]

Love it.

[Dee_al]

Dogs are dogs, therefore they need to be treated as dogs. They are not humans.

[rastus_froggy]

Desex your dog

Teach you dog a RELIABLE recall

[kiesha09]

Ask another dogs owner for permission before allowing your dog to play with their dog. For this to work your dog therefore needs to have a RELIABLE recall to be off lead!

[Lollipup]

Ask before allowing your dog to approach any other dog. Dogs should meet nose to tail.

Good idea by the way

ETA: ah, someone beat me to this

Edited December 6, 2010 by Lollipup

[Kelly_Louise]

Dogs are for LIFE.

Research and choose a breed that will be comfortable and happy in your family's lifestyle/environment.

Ensure your dog is trained and needs are met so it can be a good member of the community.

Understand your dogs needs.

[corrie]

Teach you dog a RELIABLE recall

I like that one.

Pick up after your dog.

Do not pat a strange dog without permission from the owner.

Keep your dog on lead unless you are in a designated leash free area.

When in leash free areas do not let you dog annoy or hump other dogs.

[corvus]

Ask before allowing your dog to approach any other dog. Dogs should meet nose to tail.

You know, it's kinda rude actually for a dog to walk right up to another dog's butt without first at least making eye contact. My boys are extremely well socialised and they honestly do not really like this. They greet nose to nose, then nose to tail. A dog that lets them know they have arrived by sticking their nose up their butt gets the "how crude" look.

Incidentally, I would never stick to this rule. You know why? Because IME most people don't actually know when it's a good idea to let a strange dog greet their dog. The number of times I've asked specifically because a dog has looked a little uncertain, been told it's fine, then had my dog snapped at... I don't believe anyone anymore. I've learnt not to ask, but to use my own (or my dogs') judgment. We just don't bother anymore. I'm yet to meet anyone who has said no.

I think it's hard to apply any rules about dog behaviour. Every dog is different. I would just like people to pick up after their dogs. If they did that, I'm sure I could deal with everything else.

Edited December 6, 2010 by corvus

[raineth]

yeah there is a dog up the road that roams around the street infront of her house (her owner is there too) and she will charge up to my dog's bottom and sniff it, and if he so much looks at her she bares her teeth at him and growls. So she sniffs him and he is not allowed to look at her, let alone sniff her back!

Anyway i know that sounds off topic but that is the greatest annoyance of mine - having other people's off lead dogs charge up to my dog (who is leashed) when we are going for a walk.

So don't let your un-leashed dog approach a leashed dog.