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Your dog will also need to be vaccinated. Vaccines prevent your pet from developing serious, sometimes fatal, illnesses. Your veterinarian will establish your dog’s vaccination schedule. Most dogs are given vaccines for rabies, distemper, parvo, infectious canine hepatitis, canine influenza, and kennel cough. These are usually given in a series of shots over a period of time. Another part of pet ownership is taking the responsibility to either spay or neuter your canine friend. Spaying or neutering your pet ensures that they won’t be able to have puppies. It can also reduce rates of cancer. Pets who are “fixed” in this manner are also less likely to feel the need to get out and explore, putting themselves in danger of becoming lost or injured. Ensuring Your Dog Is Trained Training your dog is an important part of being a responsible owner. According to RSPCA Australia, training “provides mental stimulation which helps to keep your dog happy, and if combined with morning exercise your dog will be mentally and physically tired at the end and far more likely to sleep during the day.” Training helps you build a happy and positive relationship with your pet. If you make training fun and positive, your pet will begin to associate fun and positive things with you. According to dog trainer Victoria Stilwell, “Dogs that are taught using positive reinforcement methods are more tolerant, self-controlled and behave much more predictably in different situations.” Socialization is also important. A well-trained dog is typically a more confident dog. According to Victoria Stilwell, “Increasing your dog’s enjoyment of social interaction will give her the confidence to deal with the pressures of domestic life. Training your dog to have good manners and behave well in different situations requires effort, but consistent commitment ensures success. We have high expectations for our dogs, encouraging them to be friendly with

Dog Ownership & Training

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