posted 05-18-2003 01:14 AM         

Adopt from animal shelters whenever possible. Often young animals from puppy mills and breeders will exhibit sickness and behavioral problems.

First of all, make sure your dog is safe. A sturdy collar is mandatory so that it won't fall off and lose his ID tags. The tag should display the owner's phone number as well as the dog's name. Information regarding dog tags can be found in veterinarian's offices and on the back of most dog treat boxes. Safety also means your yard is adequately fenced and there's a leash attached to his collar when you take him out for a walk.

Training is important. Make sure he's taught to respond to simple commands such as 'sit', 'no', 'heel', and 'come'. You can't go wrong with those four words. Having your dog learn tricks is secondary to making sure he minds his manners.

Clean water and good food is essential for a healthy dog. Check the back of the dog food can or sack of food to ascertain he's getting good nutrients, vitamins and minerals and not a lot of fat. Don't give your friend a lot of table scraps as those have a tendency to be fatty and don't over feed him. Feeding the dog should be the adult's responsibility - never force this on a child. A child may start to see this as something he 'has' to do, will come to resent the task and the dog will suffer. Ask your child if he would like to 'help' feed the dog.

Your dog should have regular physical and dental exams starting with when you bring him home. He can't tell you when he's sick other than exhibiting odd or bad behavior. Make sure your pet is spayed or castrated at the proper time so you aren't adding to the unwanted pet population. Neutering also keeps conditions such as breast cancer in check and results in a happier, healthier pet.

Wash your dog, at the most, once a week. Washing more than this robs his skin and hair of needed oils essential to his comfort.

Bedding should be changed every time the pet is groomed and washed. If you wash your dog once a week, change his bedding as often. This will keep your pet clean and comfortable.

Exercise is a must. Walk him dog at least once a day. He'll enjoy his time out and this will be good for you too. Although usually walking a dog nowhere nears approaching aerobic exercise, the time you spend out results in a more balanced physical and mental state for the both of you. Simple games can be enjoyed by both of you -- throw a smooth stick or a ball. Have him chase a frisbee - that's the easy part. Getting him to return it to you is another story.

And love your pet. This is so important. Take time to talk, brush and lovingly touch your friend. Let your pet know he's an important part of your life. He loves you so much and depends on you for everything - that's why you're his hero. He deserves to know you appreciate him and you need to realize how lucky you are to have him.