8 Habits of Highly Effective Dog Owners

Make life easier with these successful strategies.
-By Maureen Kochan

            We’ve all been there.  You’re walking with your dog through the neighborhood, and you bump into the one dog who always seems more obedient, confident, fit—whatever—than yours.

            But before you entertain a real-life pet version of the TV show “Wife Swap,” take a cue from some of the winning habits of successful dog owners from around the country—because sometimes it really does pay to keep up with the Joneses.

1. I Pick the Right Breed For My Lifestyle.

Christine Sharma, of San Jose, Calif., met her first Australian Shepherd while visiting Colorado on a hiking trip—and promptly fell in love.

“I got back home, did my research to make sure the breed would suit me, and found a breeder through referrals,” recalls the avid hiker and runner.

Sharma says 9-month-old Aussie Jimmy fits perfectly into her active lifestyle.  Jimmy just aced his intermediate obedience class and will tackle agility next.  “I know an Aussie needs a job,” she says.

2. I Crate Train My Dogs.

For some owners, crate training is the ultimate housetraining tool.  For others, like Molly McNamara, it’s the ultimate tool—period.  “There’s no other way I’d be able to contain them at dog shows, trials, during emergencies, or when guests come over who are scared of dogs,” says the San Jose, Calif., resident, who travels almost every weekend with her Bearded Collies Max and Stanley to attend dog shows, and agility, herding, and rally events.

McNamara says helping Max and Stanley feel comfortable in crates in the car and in hotel rooms allowed her and her husband to take the dogs on a memorable cross-country car trip to Massachusetts.  “They did fantastic,” she says.

3. I Make Sure My Dogs Get Exercise Every Day.

Stephanie Sorensen, of Norcross, Ga., says a walk a day helps keep a dog’s bad habits at bay.

“It makes a world of difference between mellow dogs and hyper dogs,” says Sorenson, who often gets asked about the secret behind her two well-behaved dogs, American Pit Bull Terrier mix Scarlet and Labrador Retriever Lucy.

Sorenson gets around her region’s fickle climate by timing the hour-long walks according to the seasons.  In hot weather, she takes her dogs for a walk around dawn.  During cooler months, she takes them after work.  But Sorenson is quick to admit there are days when she doesn’t feel much like walking.  “But I always take them to the dog park on those days, so they at least get something.”

4. I Socialize My Dog to Different Sights, Sounds, and Places.

Sharma takes Jimmy, her Aussie puppy, everywhere.  “We live near a mall that has restaurants with outside seating,” Sharma says.  “Jimmy has been exposed to thousands of people of every sort,” including people in hats, crying babies, darting toddlers, people in wheelchairs, fawning teenagers—even a jazz band.  “Our job is to expose our dogs to as many situations and circumstances as possible,” says Sharma, who also takes the pup to doggie daycare.

Jimmy’s gradual exposure to life’s diverse—and downright noisy—situations has already paid off in a confident, secure puppy, she says.  “During fireworks last July, he didn’t even flinch.”

5. I Take My Dog to the Veterinarian Every Year.

Sarah Osborne’s dogs visit the veterinarian every year for a general exam that includes heartworm tests and blood work.  After age 6, Osborne’s dogs receive an ultrasound or X-ray in alternating years.

It’s a good thing the Richmond, Va., resident believes in such preventive care.  Last year, a routine ultrasound revealed a large growth on the spleen of 9-year-old Boxer Joe, her foster dog at the time.  “The mass turned out to be benign, thankfully, but they can still grow and rupture,” says Osborne, who owns Boxers Mary Jane and Trinity, as well as Tyler, a German Shepherd Dog mix.  And how will Trinity celebrate her sixth birthday this year?  “She will get her first ultrasound,” Osborne says.

6. I Understand That Everything My Dog Does, He Does For a Reason.

When Terri Montgomery returned home from work one day to find one of her dogs’ food bowls missing, the St. Louis, Mo., resident admits she was puzzled.  Montgomery solved the mystery when she went outside and found the bowl buried beneath newly transplanted sod.  “My dog obviously wanted to bury the food for later but was unable to transport the kibble,” says Montgomery, who owns two rescues, Border Collie Rex and Belgian Malinois Ursa.  “So he buried the dish.”

Montgomery says that unlike people, dogs usually have a simple reason for doing what they do.  If your dog begins to urinate more often—or soils in the house after years of reliable potty habits—it could be a sign of a bladder infection or some other health issue, for example.  “If you don’t know why they did something, you just haven’t figured it out yet,” she says.

7. I Set My Dog Up For Success.

When Jennifer Bristol adopted Bird at 5 months of age, the terrier-Australian Cattle Dog mix was shy and insecure, but active.  “I realized she was a working dog at heart,” Bristol says.

The New York City resident immediately sought out obedience classes to help channel the dog’s energy and boost her fragile confidence.  Since then, “Bird has flourished,” Bristol says.

Adding agility training helped satisfy Bird’s finely tuned work ethic, which, if left unchecked, could have resulted in problem behaviors.  “Our relationship is amazing,” Bristol says.  “We are a team and so in sync in agility and just out on the streets of New York.”

8. I Train My Dogs to Potty on Command When on a Leash.

McNamara says her family’s frequent car travel requires Max and Stanley to eliminate on command when on a leash, something dogs may hesitate to do unless taught at an early age.  “Stanley’s first road trip was when he was 8 weeks old,” McNamara says, “so he learned very quickly.”

McNamara uses the commands “Go potty” or “Hurry up” (“Less embarrassing in public,” she says).  Now when the family hits the road, McNamara doesn’t have to waste time waiting for her dogs to eliminate.  And like all the tips McNamara has picked up during a lifetime of living with and loving dogs, “It’s enormously helpful.”

So take it from these successful dog owners: There are no perfect dogs, only owners who strive to help their dogs succeed—no “Pet Swap” needed.