By Mary Jane Anderson

There is no magical formula to produce a well-behaved dog in today’s society. Many dogs are bought for companionship and love but, unfortunately, the needed personal time and effort to produce a well-balanced – TOTAL DOG – is too often forgotten. Moreover, the old belief that dogs only need food, water, and allowed to run free for exercise will prove fatal for the dogs in the future.

There are five essential needs for the welfare of a Total Dog. The first need is concerned with health. Good health has a lot to do with good behavior of a dog. Health is divided into four parts: nutrition, exercise, medical attention, and grooming.

Nutrition affects a dog’s behavior. An improper diet can result in deficiencies which can lead to lethargy, hyperactivity, aggression and shyness. Frequently, changing dog foods can lead to digestive problems for your dog. With so many dog foods on the market, it is difficult to know which dog food is best for your dog. All dogs need a well-balanced diet to provide good growth, strong teeth, bones and a shiny coat. In the recent years, veterinarians have found some dogs are allergic to the chemicals or additions in certain dog foods. The dog food should state that it is “complete and balanced.” It is always advisable to consult with your veterinarian to provide the best diet for your dog.

All dogs need exercise and fresh air daily for physical and mental health. Regular walks provide good exercise for your dog but in addition, sniffing and exploring enable your dog to use his natural instincts to investigate his environment. The sunlight and fresh air provides needed vitamins which the body absorbs through the skin. Exercise also affects your dog’s behavior. A well-exercised dog is easier to control. A dog builds up energy each day and if he is not exercised, you will have difficulty controlling him.

Good grooming monitors a dog’s health as you routinely go over your dog. Grooming is required for all dogs to keep them in good condition. No matter what kind of coat your dog has, regular brushing with occasional baths are necessary. Brushing removes the dead hair and stimulates the natural oil in the skin for a healthy shiny coat.

The nails must be trimmed. Do you hear your dog coming? If you do, then the nails are too long.  If the dog’s nails are too long, walking will be uncomfortable. Weekly ear cleaning is very important for a dog’s health, too. Ear infections are not uncommon and are painful for the dog. Signs of an ear problem are the dog constantly shaking its head or an unusual odor. If this occurs, you should consult your veterinarian.

The fifth consideration for the well being of a dog is training. Training for good manners can be done either at home or at a local obedience class. The five basic rules for control are sit, down, stay, come, and controlling walking. This does not mean that your dog will do it when he feels like it but that your dog always does in on your command, any time or any place. A well-behaved dog is a pleasure to own as well as a good citizen in the neighborhood and in the community.

The Total Dog is the only dog that will survive in our human society in the future. We might think that a dog has human qualities – a sense of duty, gratitude or conscience. However, the only traits a dog possesses are animal instincts – activities he would do if left to his own. Dogs are animals and must be taught how to behave to be accepted.  The large number of dogs in the dog pounds and the large number of dogs destroyed each year, testify that their owners wanted love and companionship but did not provide the personal time and effort needed to produce a well-balanced, Total Dog.