Responsible dog ownership starts BEFORE you purchase your dog.
You should spend as much time as possible researching the different breeds to find which is most suitable to you and your FAMILY.
There is nothing worse than getting a young pup and having to find it another home after 6mths - 1 year because it has totally destroyed your house or you did not realise that the dog could get so big.

Here are a few other things to keep in mind:

Prepare for the arrival of your new pup or dog BEFORE you bring him home.

Make sure you have the food that he is used to eating (see Feeding Section), a collar, lead, food and water bowls, appropriate toys and a bed in which to sleep.

Maybe a kennel if it is to sleep outside.

Obtain the telephone number of a local vet and stick it to your fridge permanently. It is also a good idea to have your new puppy vet checked as soon as possible.

Contact your local council and find out when your dog is to be licensed (so he doesn’t get destroyed just in case he escapes and is picked up by a ranger)

Make sure your dog is wormed regularly (every three months for intestinal worms, as directed for Heartworm) and is vaccinated yearly.

Make sure your dog receives good quality food and that fresh water is always available.

One of the most responsible things that you can do as a dog owner is to take your dog to OBEDIENCE training. Not only will your dog respond to you better, but you will also be able to socialise your dog with other dogs which is very important.
 
You should only breed dogs in order to improve the breed, don’t just breed for the sake of the bitch to have puppies.

Never leave a dog in a car unattended. Dogs can die in less than ten minutes in a hot car.

Keep all house poisons away out of reach, like you would with a young child. It is amazing what dogs can get into especially things like snail baits.

If you cannot completely control your dog at all times (even if a cat runs under its nose!!) keep it on a lead. You may prevent your dog from being hit by a car, mauled by another dog or from being a nuisance to another person.

If your dog makes a mess in a public place - please clean it up, particularly if it is on someone’s front lawn!

Don’t let your dog wander around your neighborhood- it might get hit by a car, picked up by a ranger, mauled in a dog fight or eat poisoned bait.

If you know that your dog is aggressive or unfriendly to people or other dogs do something about it. Keep your dog on a lead when you take it for a walk, warn other people before they get too close or seek professional training advice. In many cases, dog aggression can be avoided by proper socialisation during the puppy stage.

Make sure your home is adequately fenced, this will avoid people entering your yard and getting a fright when the dog barks and it will also restrain your dog from wandering.

Be kind and gentle to your dog. There is no need for physical abuse training methods any more. These methods are out-dated and there are many trainers who can get results with your animal in friendly ways, you just need to find them. If you do come across a trainer that you think is too hard on your dog, then go somewhere else.

Be courteous to other people - just because you don’t mind your dog jumping and slobbering all over you, does not mean that other people will appreciate the same treatment.

If your dog has an on going medical problem and it is ignored you may be breaking the law. Some dogs have skin problems from lying in the sand; this is caused by a mite and should be treated because it will only get worse.

Give your dog plenty of exercise and try not to over feed the dog as this will develop medical problems later on in the dog’s life.
In summary, have fun with your dog, give it lots of attention and try not to have it tied up all day without exercise. Treat the dog as one of the family and even though dogs lives are a lot shorter than ours they need to be free every once in a while for them to enjoy life too.

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