Care of dogs

Medical Care

Select a veterinarian and visit with the vet when you first get your dog for a routine health check. Once your dog has had an initial visit with a vet, you may only need to re-visit them once a year for a regular check-up and vaccinations. Consult with your vet clinic if your dog has any lumps, bumps, unusual skin problems such as red or raised skin, smelly ears, open wounds, becomes lethargic, refuses to eat, gains or loses excess weight or if you notice any other unusual physical conditions. You may also want to consult with your vet if your dog experiences a change in normal behaviour (e.g., refuses to go on walks, becomes terrified of visitors in your home, hides a lot, etc.)

Vaccinations

Your dog will be vaccinated when adopted from Ontario Canine Rescue. Your dog will require booster vaccinations if a puppy and annual vaccinations if an adult.

Spaying and Neutering

Our goal is to ensure all dogs are spayed or neutered prior to adoption to reduce pet overpopulation. If you have adopted your dog from Ontario Canine Rescue, likely it has already been neutered/spayed. If your dog is not spayed or neutered, contact your local veterinary clinic for information about the procedure and arrange for the surgery to be done. Keep in mind, spaying and neutering will also decrease the desire for dogs to roam, reduce aggression, and make them less susceptible to ovarian, uterine and testicular cancer.

Housing

Your dog will be most happy living and sleeping inside your home with the family. Set up an area with a comfy bed or blanket that your dog can call his own. Ontario Canine Rescue is strongly opposed to having your dog live outside and will not adopt a pet to anyone planning on keeping the dog outdoors.

Feeding Your Puppy or Dog

Puppies that are weaned (6-weeks and older) require good quality puppy food. They do not require milk. Adult dogs will thrive on a quality dry kibble. Both are available at your local pet supply store. Consult the feeding guidelines provided on the bag or can to determine how much your dog should eat in a day. It is common for most dogs to eat twice a day — in the morning and at dinner time. Puppies may require three meals a day.

Treats

There are LOTS of treats available for dogs at grocery stores and your local pet supply stores. Treats are great for training but should not replace dog food. Limit the amount of treats your dog receives each day and don’t forget to take into consider the size of your dog too.

Non-Kibble Diets

There are different types of dog food available other than the standard kibble and can food, including different types of the BARF (bones and raw food) diets and recipes for home cooked meals. Consult your veterinarian to choose a diet that is best for your dog to ensure your dog is getting the right amount of nutrients he needs.

Table Scraps

It’s very tempting to feed your dog table scraps but avoid doing so. This will not only promote begging at the table, but human food can be unhealthy to dogs and feeding your dog extra table scraps will likely lead to obesity. Human food is usually too salty or too sweet for dogs, factors that can affect good health.

Water

Your dog should always have access to fresh water. Change the water and wash out the bowl daily.

Training

Basic obedience training is essential for all dogs. Your dog should know the basic commands: sit, stay, come, relax, and off. We strongly suggest enrolling in an obedience class with your dog.

Practice commands with your dog at home. Keep training times short. Daily 5 to 10 minute sessions are much more effective than 30 minute sessions where you and your dog may start to get impatient, frustrated or bored.

Identification

An inexpesive way to protect you pet is with a Pet ID tag

If your dog is gets lost he’ll need some form of identification to help others find his way home. Make sure that your dog has two forms of ID. A visible tag that includes your dog’s name and a phone number that you can be reached at all times and a permanent form of ID such as an ear tattoo or microchip. It is also important to have your dog licensed - it’s the law and the license number will help you ensure a speedy reunion with your dog is he gets lost. Check with your city/municipality for more information about licensing and where to purchase one.

Socialization & Exercise

Dogs are extremely social creatures. Make sure that they spend lots of time bonding with the family and have opportunities to interact with other dogs. Take your dog to visit friends, children and people of all shapes and sizes. This will help your dog feel comfortable with different people other than their pack and decrease anxiety in new situations. Off-leash parks are great places to socialize your dog with other dogs

Your dog requires lots of daily exercise. The amount depends on your dog’s age and breed. Most dogs need one to two hours of outdoor exercise everyday. Some breeds (e.g., border collies, labs, and Jack Russell terriers) require more exercise than others (e.g., bulldogs, great danes, and mastiffs). If you are unsure of how much exercise your dog needs, consult your veterinarian.

Grooming & Nail Trimming

All dogs, whether short or long hair, require grooming. Longer haired dogs need to be brushed daily to keep mat free. Visit your local pet supply store for grooming tools appropriate for your dog’s coat. Regular grooming will also help you detect external parasites (e.g., fleas) or any lumps, bumps or skin conditions your dog may have.

When standing, your dog’s nails should not be touching the ground. On average, nails should be trimmed once every month by a vet, groomer or yourself at home. Consult with your vet or local groomer for tips on how trim nails. Great care must be taken that you don’t trim too much. You can cut the blood vessel in the middle of the nail called the "quick." If you trim your own dog’s nails, always have styptic powder nearby just in case you cut the quick. The styptic powder will stop the bleeding.