The BaSIX

So you want to get a dog! Be a Dog Hooman and whatnot. Well, step right up because we’ve got the scoop, the lowdown, the inside info just for you.

Of course there is a LOT of good info and even more opinions, advice, styles and whatnot; some even contradictory.

Picture this: we’ve turned into detective hounds, sniffing around the web, consulting our pack of experts, and using our pawsitively vast dogsperience to distil the 6 basics (or should we say BASIX) you need to follow to make life with your furbud as special as a belly rub that makes his leg helicopter.

1. CHOOSE your breed carefully, buddy

Before you head out to that Pet Store, Breeder or adoption home, let’s have a heart-to-heart, shall we?

So you like the way that furry little Apso looks, or the macho image that comes with that Doberman. Oh come on, admit it, we all have a little soft spot for those cute faces and swagger, don’t we? But let’s not go judging a book by its cover or, in this case, a dog by its fluff. Here’s why:

We KNOW each dog is unique but selectively bred breeds also come with their own genetic propensities to be friendly or protective or easier to train for specific tasks. Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty:

– That German Shepherd or Doberman comes with protective instincts that show up in almost all behaviours in daily life. Strength, patience and mental bandwidth are needed to train that German or Belgian Shepherd to be socially safe and convenient. Or you are going to end up with an overprotective and anti-social beastie.

– Retrievers are the most common breed of dogs because of their easy going nature but they need more physical and mental engagement. A LOT of attention and exercise or they get fat, depressed, anxious or more.

– The little ego boost a Rottweiler or Pit Bull walking beside you brings is very real and quite fun, but you probably don’t need that kind of personal protection. Training AGAINST natural instinct is difficult.

– You love that fluffy little Pekinese or Terrier but they’re intelligent hunters that need to be engaged beyond basic play and cuddles.

– And of course Indies/Desi dogs are a completely different animal as compared to selectively bred dogs and have to be kept and trained on a very different paradigm.

On average, Big Breeds have shorter lifespans and different breeds have different requirements in terms of nutrition, climate etc.

Not to mention all these breeds come with their own specific health issues too that you absolutely will have to be prepared physically, emotionally and yeah financially as well.

So where do we start? By being self-aware first. What’s your living and space situation? What is your lifestyle like? How lazy are you, lol? Do you have the time and the inclination for that breed’s needs?

So yeah, when you hit that button, don’t do it on the basis of the ”personality quiz” on some website that tells you what breed you are most like. It’s fun but about as useful as a quiz from Cosmopolitan Magazine!

2 . Start TRAINING as soon as your furry soul mate sets paws in your home

So you’ve done it, you’ve taken the plunge! Now, your new best friend has strut into your life, wagging their tail and sniffing everything.

Where do you go from here? Puppy sniffs around and unloads on your nice new doormat or even your shoes and makes it his new spot. House Breaking, right? We have to teach the little one to take it outside and eventually as to go outside to do it. They’re going to mark with pee and then pee where they smell pee. And pee more times in a day than I have said pee in the last paragraph.

There are many accepted ways to train your pup to do this but all will involve habituation control to move to do it outdoors.

1. You could use reusable pee pads or even just newspaper to slowly direct them to move it outside the door and eventually outdoors.
   
   
2. 2. We also recommend dry powder to eliminate smells from places you don’t want the little thing marking as his/her own lol.

And when we say ”training”, think of it less as training and more as fine tuning and habituating your dog to your lifestyle and habits. It’s a two-way street, you know! You learn about them, they learn about you, and voila! Friendship blossoms! It’s not a drill sergeant situation!

Eg: if you are the life of the party social butterfly with a lot of friends and people coming and going from your home, socialize your pup early to be calm and appropriately reactive to those situations. Yeah, not everyone’s a fan of a slobbery greeting at the door, shocking, we know!

Teach the pup to look to you for approval or command to react a particular way to any situation. How? Chill, we’ll talk about that in point 5!

3. Learn the art of GROOMING

Habituate your dog early to be bathed/brushed/cleaned/clipped. To sit still and have ears, eyes, paws cleaned. Reward them after. You can always send him/her to the groomer but grooming strengthens the bond with your dog as much or more than play or any other form of engagement. Establishing these habits early will make literally everything else in your dogsperience better.

Adapt your grooming routine to the weather, your own habits and the dog’s, as well as breed and coat. Indian Environments are highly variable. Delhi for example, can be intensely hot during summer and freezing during the winter. Mumbai is hot most of the time and humid/wet the rest of the year. And you would deal with a Husky differently from a Dachshund in each of these places.

Use coat and issue specific shampoos and less of it too. Use less and rub more because it’s all about the massage. Those gloves with the little bristles do wonders with just a little shampoo. And if you don’t rinse it out properly you will probably wonder why Tommy is scratching a day after his bath.

Take the opportunity to teach them the hair dryer is not going to eat them. You won’t regret that!

And sure we know some dogs and some situations will NEED a professional grooming. These habits will make it easier for the groomer to take care of your buddy as well

Grooming creates deep emotional bonds that says, ”You and I” We’re in this together, fur-ever!

4. The Culinary Voyage of Learning to FEED Your Dog

Seems obvious? Well yeah, but there is a little more to it than just not over or under feeding your pup.

We’ve all heard the whole 7 years of ours to one of theirs. Well things both good and bad happen faster for them than us. Overfeeding your pup will make them fat fast and the ill effects will occur faster than they do with us. Bad weight management, especially, affects dogs much faster and more negatively than it affects humans. Ask your vet the appropriate volume or quantity for your dog and stick to it.

Habituate (there is that word again) your pup to some food discipline. The same place and time every day and different from your own eating times.

And yes the treats you give other than meals and (Dog forbid) the lil bits n scraps you think no one saw you give the puppy. Account honestly for all that.

Some of them will be finicky about what they will eat. Have some variety in their diet but keep the window of food time small (like 15-20mins) and consistently at the same times daily.

And oh, those puppy eyes? They will learn shockingly fast to try and play you like a fiddle, but you gotta stay strong!

5 . ATTENTION is Currency in Doggie World!

Guess what, attention equals affection in the doggie dictionary! But here’s the deal, you gotta channel that attention wisely.

Do NOT reinforce undesirable behaviour with attention. Eg Loud corrections to aggression or ”doorbell anxiety” are as bad as affectionate reassurances. Do NOT ”reassure” your dog or give affection/attention for fear/anxiety reactions.

Better to correct by gently saying the dog’s name and drawing eye contact (and attention) and then a firm but still gentle command to sit and wait as you deal with whoever is outside.

And then there is Diwali. While some of us may take to activism against it (and you are free to, lol), we think it is actually easier and more effective to just teach the puppy to deal with it. No exaggeration at all.

The reflex to reassure and cuddle our baby while covering their ears and quietly (hopefully) ranting against the inconsiderate public is definitely counterproductive. They hear your heart rate, feel your emotions and conclude that this is a founded and justified fear. You made the ”Boom Monster” real!

So what do you do? Nothing. Seriously! Do nothing. Go about your business like there is nothing worth your attention let alone to fear. And have patience. It takes repetition.

Of course, whatever you do, don’t yell at them. Positive reinforcement is everything. Remember, you’re their rock, their constant in this crazy, noisy world.

6 . Step Up and Learn to LEAD Your Dog

Alright, Captain! It’s time to step up and lead your furry crew with love and authority. Dogs thrive on loving leadership and NEED you to be a pack leader. Eg a dog constantly pulling on the leash does not see you as the leader. Early leash training, walking at your heel and establishing primary engagement with you is important. Of course, we see ourselves as ”Dog parents” considering we love them as much as children, or more. But the lil doggo has no concept of the term. To them we are their Pack. And understanding that as hoomans will make life better for both, I promise you.

But the MOST important command for your puppy to learn is Recall. The ”Come” or ”Here” after the dog’s name MUST always make them leave anything and everything and step to you. Repeat this regularly. Do it 50 times a day for the first few weeks. Immediately reward with positive engagement/ reinforcement. Make it reflex. As far as your buddy’s safety is concerned, this is the ONE command we would push everyone to train.

Consistency is key here, so put on your captain’s hat and lead with love and firmness!

And voila, you’re all set to embark on a wonderful, wag-tastic journey with your fur buddy! It’s all about building a happy, healthy, and harmonious bond with your pooch. So gear up, embrace The BaSIX, and step into the beautiful world of dog parenting with confidence and joy. Remember, in the grand scheme of dog hoomanhood, ”It’s all good!”

About the author: The author of this article is ‘The Good Paws’. We’re here to make the bad good, and the good, even better! from dirty toe beans to yummy treats, whatever the problem, or whatever the need, it’s all good!