Are you a good zookeeper for your pet?
Imagine you are the head keeper at the We Love Animals Zoo. Wear a nifty uniform and hat if ya wanna be extra imaginative. You are given the job of creating the exhibit for a new animal, a speckled-horned-long eared-hippo. What to do?
You scurry about preparing the exhibit to keep Otto, the speckled-horned-long eared hippo, safe. Otto needs the right food fed the right way. He needs to be protected from his curious nature that gets him into trouble when he eats anything not nailed down. Otto can't understand why galloping out the gate is a bad idea so you need to prepare the exits.
You are diligent about understanding the basic nature of Otto. The exhibit is arranged around him, not humans. Since you are the more intelligent one in this pair you choose how the exhibit is created with smart, effective and kind ideas manifested in his safe environment.
Now, let's make Otto your doodle, dachshund or dalmatian. Is your home/exhibit as carefully prepared as Otto's?
When your pup comes home to a poorly prepared environment he suffers. He is expected to live like a human (he can't) understand why eating socks is bad for him (he can't) and to ignore the cookies you left on the counter to cool (he can't) In short, you fail as a zookeeper and PETA protestors shall march outside your home shouting and waving badly printed placards.
Here are some of the most common failures we make as keepers of our pets.
Decorative rocks. Yes, those small rocks look nifty in your yard. How do they look on an X -ray? Ditch the rocks, fence them off, create a space in the yard that is rock free or get a gecko, not a puppy. Do not expect a dog to magically understand that eating rocks will kill him; he can't.
Decorative pillows. The number of hours owners spend fighting with a happy, bouncy pup about the pillows on the couch defies understanding. Can't live without that splash of orange in the formal living room? Your pup can't live with it. Put the pillows away until the dog is older. You are a good keeper if you live without decorative pillows.
Counter Surfing. Your animal is a scavenger. Thus, as a smart keeper of a scavenging animal, you do not leave food on the counter and expect the dog to ignore it. He can't. It is the nature of this animal, in this exhibit, to scavenge and you will lose your job if you arrange the environment to allow scavenging. If a human leaves stuff on the counter and your dog eats it punish the human who left it out.
Socks and underwear. For the love of dog is there not a hamper/container in the house? Your animal, that you are preparing the exhibit for, loves soft cloth. Soft stuff goes down the hatch faster than you can grab it. Any human who insists that they can leave their socks and underwear where your animal can snatch it deserves to go without.
Fringe on the area rug. Dogs are supposed to notice the fringe, grab it and play tug-o-war. You will be fired from your zoo job if you keep a fringed rug where your animal can get it. Roll the rug up and put it away until the pup is older. Turn the fringe over and tape it to the underside of the rug. Cut it off. You are the keeper and maker of your pet's environment and it is up to you, only you, to make it safe.
Go through your pet's exhibit/home/environment today. Take your loving, trusting pup with you and tell him "I am going to be the keeper you dream of and can brag about in Miss Sue's School for Exceptional Dogs."
Yours in keeping dogs safe
Sue Myles Ph D