Responsible Dog Ownership

Google "responsible dog ownership" and you will be flooded with images and sites. On DogWellNet, we aim to lead you to examples of dependable sources of information. Our partners and collaborators will be contributing resources that to which you will be able to link and/or find in our Downloads section. Also, while we realize pre-acquisition issues are part of responsible dog ownership, on this site we have separated them due to the fact that they have slightly different audiences. In addition, responsible dog ownership is, of course, a function of human-animal (human-dog) interactions, included under the Welfare category on the site.

Community event in Sweden in April 2013. By Swedish Kennel Club, in cooperation with local clubs in several cities. See accompanying article for a Case Study of the event (Don't Blame the Dog: Case Study) and experiential input from the organizers.

Event Overview Organized by the Swedish Kennel Club (SKK), county clubs in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö, as well as local breed clubs, Don’t Blame the Dog was a multi-city initiative held on April 13, 2013. The regional clubs managed the local event logistics while the SKK managed the overall campaign, including all marketing and advertising.  

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Whether you've just purchased a puppy or are thinking about bringing a new dog into your home, what you know about puppy development and socializing dogs will make a difference in the relationship you will have with your pet...

For some time, pet obesity has been recognized as a crucial, widespread issue that impacts the health, welfare, and lifespan of dogs. Earlier in 2019, following the 4th IDHW,  IPFD endorsed the Global Pet Obesity Initiative Position Statement, joining 24 International Veterinary Professional Organizations, including the American Veterinary Medical Association Board of Directors, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, World Small Animal Veterinary Association, among others.
 
Pet obesity is a studied health and welfare issue that is, presumably, quite straightforward... and under control of owners to fix.  However, as for issues around human obesity, in reality the situation can be more complicated; and recent studies have examined some of the complexities, for people and their pets.  An IPFD collaborator, Prof. Peter Sandoe (University of Copenhagen), and others published a paper in 2014 on Canine and feline obesity: A One Health perspective that offers a broad coverage of the problem, why it is important, how the Human-Animal Bond impacts challenges, and, importantly, "Why we should care".  From the article: "Recent years have seen a drastic increase in the rates of overweight and obesity among people living in some developed nations. There has also been increased concern over obesity in companion animals. In the latest article in Veterinary Record's series on One Health, Peter Sandøe and colleagues argue that the relationship between obesity in people and in companion animals is closer and more complex than previously thought, and that obesity should be treated as a One Health problem."   Below, under Recent Research you will find articles that address specific challenges, including perception of obesity and inaccurate assessment of body conditions score (as a measure of obesity).  The evolution of obesity: from evolutionary advantage to a disease describes the historical perspectives and the current situation: "Obesity as a disease was first described by Hippocrates" ... and ... "in 1920’s the Insurance Companies, in 1948 World Health Organisation and in 2013 both American Medical Association and The American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology and The Obesity Society recognized obesity as a disease."  As described above, this approach has also been taken in the veterinary world.  These acknowledgements are made with the goal of facilitating treatment, promoting research, and with an aim to curb this growing health and public health problem. Obesity can cause or worsen many health conditions, and the risk is enhanced for certain breeds and types of pets.  Brachycephalic (flat-faced pets), already challenged in terms of respiratory function and heat regulation, are further compromised if overweight.  This can be viewed as not only a health problem, but also as a welfare problem - but many owners remain unaware.  See, e.g. Owners' perception of 'responsible dog ownership in our Blogs section.   Veterinarians can offer clients sound advice for management of their pet to optimize health.  Here, we'll feature work done by IPFD's collaborators as well as provide links to industry reports, research and educational tool kits which have been developed to assist owners and veterinary practices.   Check out articles, surveys and other important info at the Global Pet Obesity Initiative's website + see the 2019 Pet Owner Survey - An opportunity to contribute! US Residents: would you like to participate in ongoing research into obesity? The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention is conducting the 12th Annual National Pet Obesity Awareness Day Survey
This survey was opened to US residents on October 9, 2019. To participate, sign up here.  Veterinary practice/clinic participation in this organization's 2020 pet weight data collection survey next October is sought as well.    

Dogs offer great emotional support and benefit to humans. In times of stress, urgency, and uncertainty - such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic - there is also an increased tendency for impulsive vs. well-considered decisions about many things, including the acquisition of dogs. The prospect of bringing a cute, fluffy puppy (or adult dog) home now may seem like a win-win situation for both the human and the dog alike. However,  we have already begun to see many troubling  consequences of the 'Pandemic Puppy' phenomenon.

A terrific free educational resource for dog owners produced by The Kennel Club... An essential guide full of vital information and practical advice to help you train your puppy, such as house training, teaching basic commands, nutrition, behavioural management and much more.

New Training app from the SKK Subject: Tools for today's dog owners -- phone app for training good dogs   SKK launches fitness app

November 25, 2016

SKK released app Good Dog! with training tips for all dog owners. The app is developed in cooperation with the Better Dog Academy and is available for both iPhone and Android.  

• http://www.skk.se/sv/nyheter/2016/11/SKK-lanserar-traningsapp/ (Swedish)

   

Check out the latest news - This free App Doglogbook is a terrific way to help owners manage their dog's behavior.   For more information see DogWellNet's article...   Doglogbook   OR - Click the DOGLOGBOOK logo on the right side of this page to go to the Doglogbook website.   The App is available from Google Play and Itunes.   This app was just recently featured in ABC’s Catalyst 2-part series “Making Dogs Happy”. Check out this clip from the broadcast!

      We at DogWellNet extend our thanks to the team of researchers from the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney (Australia) and to Paul McGreevy for their work in developing this app and sharing information on it with the DWN team. THANK YOU for making a positive difference in the lives of dogs!