Owning A Dog

Owning A Dog

Owning A Dog

Basic responsibilities
There are many aspects of socially-responsible dog ownership. The basic welfare requirements for owning a dog (as stated by the Animal Welfare Act 1985), are the provision of appropriate and adequate food, water, living conditions and exercise. 

Registration
The Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 requires that all dogs over three months of age be registered with their local council. The local council will provide  a registration disc to be attached to  the dog’s collar. The unique number  on the disc is linked to a registry database containing the address  and ownership details of the dog.  This allows for quick and easy identification of your dog should it escape and become lost or injured. 

The person registering the dog must be over 16 years of age and the local council must be notified within 14 days if: 

• The dog has just been acquired
• The dog is moved to different premises (registration can be transferred between local councils)
• The dog is missing
• Ownership of the dog is transferred  to another person
• The dog dies.

Micro-chipping
  Micro-chipping is an extremely reliable method of identification which greatly increases the chance of your dog  being returned to you if it becomes  lost. A small microchip, about the size  of a grain of rice, is implanted under your dog’s skin by a vet or other qualified person. Each microchip has  its own unique number. Your details  are recorded against this number  on a central registry database which can be accessed by councils, vets, animal welfare groups and dog shelters.
Please note: Micro-chipping is NOT  a substitute for council registration,  but does provide a rebate against  the full registration cost.

Veterinary care
  A relationship with a local vet is essential to the health of your dog. To initiate this relationship book your dog into the clinic for an overall health check when you first bring it home. Your vet can provide advice on both health and behaviorist issues and is there to help you look after your dog, so do not be afraid to ask questions.

Desexing

There are many advantages of desexing your dog. For both males and females it can reduce the risk of a range of health and safety issues such as cancer, urinary and reproductive tract infections and territoriality. Desexing usually reduces aggression in dogs, promoting better social interactions.

The desexing operation, also called spaying, neutering or castrating, can  be performed from a fairly young age and should be undertaken before the dog reaches puberty (6-8 months of age) and can breed. Your vet can advise you what age would be best  for desexing your dog.

A discount on your council registration fees is available upon presentation of  an official desexing certificate or voucher issued by your vet.

Socialisation

If your new dog is less than six months old, it is critical that you consider the social training you will provide for your new family member. Socialisation is the process during which your puppy is exposed to a wide variety of environments, situations, animals and people, with you guiding and supporting it through each new experience.

Research has shown that a puppy’s experiences in its first 12 weeks of life will strongly influence how it reacts to the world as an adult dog. Failure to expose a young puppy to a wide variety of situations can result in it being fearful of particular circumstances, people or animals for the rest of its life. It is vital that your puppy’s socialisation is approached with a plan that provides a range of experiences. 

These experiences may include exposing your puppy to: 

• Men and women
• Children of different ages
• People with loud voices
• Places which are quiet and busy
• Street sounds
• Other animals
• Normal household sounds  such as a vacuum cleaner
• Music
• Different smells. 

It is important to ensure that any form of socialisation is a positive experience for your puppy and that constant supervision, reassurance and encouragement are provided. By keeping your puppy’s favorite treats on hand, any new experience and situation can be reinforced as a positive association.

It is also important to seek advice from your vet regarding situations that should be avoided until your puppy is fully immunised. Many clinics offer puppy parties or socialisation classes. These can be a great way for your puppy to meet other dogs in a supervised environment where the risk of illness can be minimised.