Adopting a Bouvier des Flanders is a lot of fun, but it is also a big responsibility. When you become a Bouvier des Flanders owner, it is up to you to make sure that your pet’s needs are met including, the proper care, environment and companionship. If this sounds like a big commitment – it is! But rest assured, the rewards of pet ownership far outweigh the work you have to put into it.

One of the most important things you can do to make sure your Bouvier des Flanders is safe is to insure that he is properly trained. Believe it or not, many people do not see to this important task and then wonder why their dog jumps up on visitors or won’t listen to their commands. Many a dog has been considered a “bad” pet when all he really needed was the owner to take the time out to train him properly.

Proper training isn’t just about performing cool tricks, although that is one side benefit. A properly trained dog will be safer than one who is not trained. If your dog is properly trained, then you will be able to call him back to you should he be heading towards a dangerous situation. A well trained Bouvier des Flanders will not be a nuisance to guests and training your dog is also a bonding experience and will enforce the fact that you are the “master”. You can train a dog on your own, or you can join an obedience training class and get instruction from professionals.

The Bouvier des Flanders is a large but gentle dog. Having a tendancy to dominate this dog should be trained with a firm hand – you must let it know that you are master but never be unkind in training. The Bouvier des Flanders will learn quickly and consistent training will help him to remember the commands.

You want to make sure your pet is as healthy as can be and part of Bouvier des Flanders ownership is to take your dog the vet every year and as needed in between. A yearly physical exam should be performed and any vaccinations updated. Also make sure you put him on the right heartworm and flea and tick medications. Also, if you notice anything different in your Bouvier des Flanders behavior schedule a vet appointment right away. Even a subtle change could be a sign of trouble and it’s better to be safe than sorry. Have your Bouvier des Flanders neutered or spayed – they WILL be much happier.

Providing a safe environment for your Bouvier des Flanders is up to you as the pet owner. Make sure there are no sharp things or broken glass, nails, pins etc… that your pup could hurt himself on. Make sure your guests and family knows that the dog should not be let out unattended. Refrain from feeding your Bouvier des Flanders food from the table as some of it can be harmful.

Grooming your Bouvier des Flanders can help your pet look and feel his best. Brushing his coat, trimming his nails, cleaning his ears and around the eyes are all part of good dog health. Proper dental care is the most important grooming task you can do for your Bouvier des Flanders. Bad dental care for dogs can have much more serious affects than just bad breath. Bacteria can build up inside his mouth, aside from the pain of rotting teeth, the bacteria can migrate throughout the dogs system and cause some serious health problems. Brushing every other day is recommended!

Finally, you must be sure to include your dog’s welfare in any household emergency plans. If there is a fire, floor or other type of emergency, your dog probably can’t get himself out of the house so a member of your family must take that responsibility. It’s not a bad idea to have a designated person that can mind your dog on short notice if you get called out of town on an emergency.

Bringing a Bouvier des Flanders into your home, it is a lifetime commitment to provide everything he needs. Some Bouvier des Flanders can live for 15 or more years and the rewards of having one will be much more than the work you have to put into it.

For more information about Bouvier des Fladers be sure to visit Pet-Chat.com. Our website is dedicated to help you with your pet’s care and needs. Pet Chat is also a place to chat about your pets and find other people who are as interested in their pets as you are.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/the-bouvier-des-flanders-1274128.html

There are over 71 million dogs in the US with 63% of American households owning at least one.  Half of these households have more than one dog and 45% of these dogs are 40 lbs or larger.  By every indication, the trend in increased pet ownership will continue and by offering a pet friendly community to potential residents you appeal to a broader demographic thereby increasing your competitiveness in the housing market.  However, all of these dogs can add up to a lot of disgusting waste, detracting from the beauty of your community, increasing resident complaints and causing a headache for landscapers, building maintenance and community management.  In addition to being disgusting, if pet waste is not cleaned up on a regular basis, it can breed flies, kill grass and transmit disease. 

In an effort to minimize the issue of pet waste, many communities implement breed restrictions, weight limits or both.  Some communities simply prohibit pets. Those communities that allow dogs usually have rules requiring owners to pick up after their pets but while most dog owners are conscientious it only takes an irresponsible few to “soil” the reputation of all dogs and their owners.  The reality that many community managers soon face is that enforcement of pet policies is difficult at best, ineffective at worst, always expensive, and usually strains relationships within the community. 

Many community management professionals find that the most effective approach to the pet waste problem is implementation of a 3 part program.  This program consists of; 1) policy enforcement and education, 2) pet waste station installation and 3) regular cleaning of high use and neglected areas. 

This comprehensive approach encourages residents by providing them with the tools they need to conveniently clean up after their pets and discourages “re-soiling” by regularly cleaning high use and neglected areas (those favorite spots where owners either fail to clean up after their pet, won’t clean up after their pet or are frequented by stray and unleashed dogs).  As a last resort, the program provides Management with the means to enforce community regulations. 

The cornerstone of any comprehensive pet waste program is the implementation, education and enforcement of a reasonable pet policy.  But since studies show that a significant number of pet owners (over 40%) will not pick up after their dogs, even with the threat of fine or complaints by neighbors, a second and third layer of effort are required to help control pet waste. 

The second part of a comprehensive community pet waste program is the Pet Waste Station.  Pet Waste Stations are a convenient and attractive way to provide your residents with the tools they need to hygienically pickup after their pet and dispose of the waste.  Pet Waste Stations are available in a wide variety of models and price ranges but normally consist of a waste bag dispenser, stocked with biodegradable bags, mounted with a disposal bin. 

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A pet waste cleanup professional can assist you in determining what type of station would be most appropriate for your facility and can advise you on placement and complete the installation.  More importantly, a pet waste cleanup professional can regularly service your pet waste stations, on a schedule customized to suit your particular needs, replenishing bags and cleaning the bin, to ensure your pet waste station remains an effective and attractive tool in your community maintenance program.  The cost of installing and servicing pet waste stations, as well as your entire pet waste control program, can easily be recovered from pet deposits and fees.

Finally, the third part of a comprehensive pet waste management program is ensuring that high use and neglected areas are regularly and thoroughly cleaned.  Heavily soiled areas of any community will repeatedly attract stray and loose dogs.  These areas should be routinely cleaned of all pet waste, disinfected if needed and have an organic odor eliminator applied to reduce the attraction to dogs.  Here again, a pet waste cleanup professional can assist you by providing regularly scheduled cleaning, disinfecting and odor elimination. 

So to attract the most desirable residents to your community by maintaining a healthy, attractive facility free of pet waste, without the headaches, complaints and strained relations that are usually associated with the “enforcement only” approach to dogs and their owners, consider implementing a comprehensive pet waste cleanup program consisting of Pet Waste Stations, routine cleanup and if absolutely necessary, enforcement of regulations.  A Pet Waste Cleanup professional can assist you in solving your dog waste problems for far less than you may think.

If you do choose to hire a professional pet waste cleanup service as part of your comprehensive program ensure they use all natural products that are safe around children and animals, that the waste bags used are biodegradable, that they disinfect their tools and shoes prior to servicing your facility, and that they are fully bonded and insured.

Niki Tudge is the owner and founder of The DogSmith, America’s Dog Training, Dog Walking and Pet Care Franchise. To learn more about joining the DogSmith visit http://www.888dogsmith.com/franchise.html

Niki achieved her Canine Behaviorist Diploma in England and Dog Obedience Training Diploma in the US. Niki is an Endorsed member of the National Association of Dog Obedience Trainers and a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and The Association of Animal Behavior Professionals. Niki is also certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. You can reach Niki via email at NTudge@888dogsmith.com or www.888DogSmith.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-keep-your-community-free-of-pet-waste-1273670.html