Caring for your dog

All dogs need the same amount and quality of care whether they are hearing dogs or pet dogs.

The following information on caring for your dog is an extract from the manual which is given to all recipients of hearing dogs.

"You must look after your dog or he will become sick, tired and unhappy and will not work or behave well."

There are two types of care you should give your dog:

1. Physical Care Making sure your dog is exercised, fed, toileted, groomed and kept healthy. Above all, make sure that he does not become fat or he will be lazy and unhealthy.
2. Emotional Care
   Making your dog feel loved so that he is happy and trusts you, but also respects you as his owner.

Physical care

Feeding

• It is not good for a dog to become fat. You can help by being careful about the food you give your dog. You may have to change or reduce the food if your dog starts to get fat.
• Just like humans, it is not good for dogs to exercise near mealtimes. You should not walk or run your dog within an hour before or after feeding.
• Do not leave food down for long periods. If your dog does not eat the food quickly, pick it up and put it in the fridge. Offer it to him later.
• Do not feed human food to your dog – he has special needs for his diet and these are all specially balanced in his own food.

Water

• Dogs can be thirsty anytime – you should leave water out for your dog all the time and clean the water dish every 2-3 days (more often in hot weather).

Toys and chews

• Smoked bones or other chew toys are the only safe bones to give your dog.
• Never leave chicken, turkey, fish or pork bones anywhere the dog can get them. These brittle bones can be very dangerous as they might get stuck in your dog’s throat or intestines.

Toileting your dog

Toilet your dog at the same time every day. Dogs need to go outside first thing in the morning, have a good walk during the day, and be let out regularly until bedtime.

Here is a suggestion of suitable toilet times for your dog -

7.00 am You wake up and let your dog outside
8.30 am You let him outside after his breakfast
10.00 am You take your dog for a walk
1.00 pm You let your dog out at lunchtime
5.00 pm You let him outside after his dinner
6.00 pm You take your dog out for a walk
9.00 pm You let him outside
11.00 pm You let your dog out before bedtime

During the day, he will also want to go to the toilet after he has been fed, after he has been asleep for a long time, and after he has been playing.

Give your dog enough time to toilet. Dogs like to smell the scents around the garden and choose their toilet spot. It is good to go out into the garden with your dog and offer encouragement such as "hurry up". Stay outside with the dog until he has had plenty of time to do everything he needs to do.

Toilet place

Dogs like to toilet in the same place every time they go out into the garden or on familiar walks. It is very important to remember to pick up after your dog every time. You can train your dog to toilet in one place so that he does not foul public areas such as the pavement or children’s play areas. Good places for your dog to learn to toilet are on the grass or in the gutter.

Exercising your dog

Your dog must be exercised every day. It is not enough just to let the dog out into your garden. You should walk the dog or play with him. This is an enjoyable time for you and your dog, and he will look forward to it. If you jog, take the dog with you, but not in hot weather.

Vaccinations

A dog has to have vaccinations from your vet. These are special medicines which stop your dog catching unpleasant diseases.

Your vet will give you a vaccination certificate. This also tells you when your dog will require his next vaccination.

General health

If you feel that your dog is unwell, always consult your vet. Sometimes dogs can be sick if they eat grass, and you shouldn’t worry about this. However, if your dog vomits repeatedly and/or has diarrhoea then consult your vet.

Signs of sickness

Take your dog to the vet as soon as possible if -

• he is being sick constantly
• he has a lot of diarrhoea or blood in the motions
• he is off his food for over 48 hours
• he is unusually tired or lazy
• he is coughing
• he scratches his bottom on the floor or grass
• there is anything else that worries you

Emotional care

Your dog needs to feel happy, loved and safe. If he is unhappy he may behave badly or not work well.

Quiet time

Some dogs need time alone, especially if they are with children or have been in noisy places all day. A good time for your dog to have a ‘quiet time’ is for half an hour after his dinner or after obedience training.