Owning a dog can be fun when raised properly

Sometimes I hate mornings. You see, I have dogs. There is a right way to breed and train pets and a wrong way. Go the wrong way and believe me, you will pay for it. I’ll give you a typical day in my life and help you find ways to avoid unnecessary puppy mess. Training your pets and spending time with them is extremely important to you and your pet.

TJ, my evil, fierce and spiteful miniature poodle (yes a poodle can be fierce, you’d be mad too if you were a boy and everyone thought you should wear pink sweaters and a bow) relieves himself on my leg and leaves mounds of his contempt for me on the ground. I call him the “Miracle Dumper” because he walks and becomes number two at the same time. There’s nothing like a smart bomb to ruin your nice clean shoes first thing in the morning.

But is that normal?

From time to time he has an “accident” in the house. Maybe I should call him on purpose because I think he does it to spite me. It’s not my fault it’s so cute that people want to stuff it into a pink fleece. I think he has some deficiency issues and miracle dumping is his therapy. But that can be fixed with due attention. In my case, as soon as I see him start to duck, I run to a plastic bag, throwing myself into a prostrate position trying to catch his disgusting projectiles like a catcher with a baseball glove hooking a stray knuckleball. The problem is that it doesn’t sit still long enough to stop the process. Not a great way to start the day.

So there I sit, face down, sprawled on the floor at 4am with an empty bag in hand and my face just inches from the beautiful gift he left me. Maybe I’ll make her wear a pink sweater from now on.

Geez… it’s not dawn yet, let me have a cup of coffee at least. Why can’t you be like Buddy, my good dog? For God’s sake, it’s raining outside too, now what do I do? The designated dog walking area is across the street, that’s where everyone is supposed to go, but for today, since there’s no one around and it’s raining, Fugheddaboudit!

The good thing is that my apartment is on the ground floor with a large grassy area in front. Hell, I’m not going out there in my nightgown, with an umbrella with a flashlight and a poop scooper in hand. You could be arrested, even in New York. It’s bad enough that I have to follow the little bugger around the house with a bag like a deranged baseball catcher chasing a bunt. He would be soaking wet while he waited, and my shoes would get soaked. Who will know, anyway? There’s my neighbor, Fred, who has a habit of walking across the lawn on his way to his car. But he’s a well-mannered guy. I’m going to take my chances.

I can’t help but love my dogs. Maybe that’s the problem, maybe I love them too much. The general rule is that you have to take responsibility for your pet and her mischievous behavior, including the stray piles she leaves behind. “Having a responsible dog means more than just loving your dog. It’s a serious lifelong commitment that takes time and a lot of attention. Don’t forget: when Fido misbehaves, you’re the one who has to take the blame.”

The first step in properly training your dog or any pet is to take responsibility for him or her. Although we adore them, we must teach them and maintain discipline so that they do what they are supposed to do. It doesn’t mean they won’t love you. In fact, it means exactly the opposite. A dog or pet that respects you and your discipline will probably love you. And he won’t be leaving you early birthday presents in smelly piles on the floor.

My pets are not so bad. I love them very much, but the life and behavior of any pet can be improved. Sometimes I call TJ Slippery Louie because he’s so fast. He is insecure, and occasionally shows aggressive behavior to both me and Buddy, my beloved Cocker Spaniel, even though TJ has been neutered. It is important to spay and neuter animals if you are not going to breed them. Not only does it help control animal populations, it’s good for your pet. The last thing anyone needs is a super playful pet that will storm the knees of their visitors every chance they get.

TJ is usually very friendly, he will lick the skin off your face, but he can be quite unpredictable so I treat him with kid gloves. While Buddy is discreet and calm, TJ is hyperactive. He is eight years old. Hyper is common for poodles, soft is common for cocker spaniels. Although TJ Loves Buddy, he also bullies him. He is a bully. If Buddy gets close to him while he’s eating, he’ll bite him, so I always keep them apart at mealtimes. Again, it is important to set limits with his animals. It’s instinctive for a dog to guard his food, so I take the precaution of keeping them apart at meal times. That’s another key part of animal husbandry, spending time with your pets. This is how you learn about them so you can train them properly. Ignoring your pet or not spending time with him is a bad habit. If you are always traveling or on the go, then you shouldn’t have a pet.

My dogs are inseparable. I call them my bookends. TJ sleeps on one side of the couch while Buddy sleeps on the other side. Buddy and TJ bring joy to my life. Dogs are smart and have their own personalities. If I tell TJ that he’s going to take a bath, the little shrimp starts howling like he’s torturing him. Instead, Buddy dances the San Vito dance, shaking like a break dancer with a bad case of Poison Ivy. For all of us who have pets, whether they are dogs, cats or any other type of pet, they are tremendously valuable to our lives. You are also valuable to their lives and you must remember this. Pets give us an inner sense of joy and happiness. Pets make their owners laugh, which not only loosens the muscles in your face, but also helps lower your blood pressure. This contributes to a longer and healthier existence for both of you. So I appreciate TJ’s annoying interruptions even when I’m writing.

Simply put, pets can help you live longer, so you need to take care of them. You have to give them exercise, but exercise is also good for you. Walking them, taking them swimming, even taking them for a walk is amazing exercise. Of course, proper training can fix bathroom surprises much more efficiently.

“Every time you take your pet out, say ‘go potty’ over and over again. Take him out and ’empty’ him often so he can’t get in the house.”

The most important way to train your pet and keep him happy and healthy is to spend time with him. Believe it or not, dogs suffer from separation anxiety. They may have panic attacks, and this leads to bad behavior, both when you’re away and after you get home. Pets will act to make you pay for leaving them alone. They are smart that way. Not only will they leave you with sports piles to clean, but they will destroy your house, tearing up books and papers, scratching doors and damaging furniture.

Ultimately, you’ll find that your beloved pets will reward you more than you can imagine, not just with a small pile of poop in the middle of the living room! You have to get to know their personalities, adjust to their needs, and convince them to also conform to acceptable behavior. This process is not bad. It doesn’t mean you won’t be standing outside your house at 4am in the rain letting your dog relieve himself, it means you’ll be happy not having to mop the floor later and have moments and memories that will last a lifetime. Moments that a pet owner would not change for anything. Even a little poodle can carve out a big place for itself in your heart. We should all give them the time and attention their love and care deserves.