The best for bowser

By Sean McCarthy

Man’s best friend should be treated as such.

For many dog owners, their pet is a valued member of the family, and in most cases caring for a canine includes investments in training, grooming, and regular checkups with their veterinarian.

If you think that owning a dog doesn’t require devotion and responsibility then you’re probably barking up the wrong tree.

“The breed of dog you’re looking for needs to fit your lifestyle,” says Eric Letendre, who has been training dogs for more than 25 years and owns Eric Letendre’s Dog Training in Westport. “If you’re an active family or individual who likes things such as hiking, you may want a Border Collie or German Shepherd. A laid-back person may be more interested in a dog that doesn’t require a lot of exercise such as a Labrador or a Doberman.”

Two of the primary elements to owning a dog are training and grooming.

“Training makes a lot of difference in the behavior in a dog,” says Paula Andrade, co-owner of Pawlissa’s Pet Care in Westport, with Melissa Sumner. “With a trained dog I won’t have to worry about anything – she’s lovely and stable because of her training. When someone gets a puppy the first six months are very important. If you just get a puppy and have it in your backyard and you don’t socialize it or train it then it’s not going to be able to handle certain situations. An adult dog that hasn’t been socialized could get into a grooming shop and they might freak out or get stressed or poop unless they know what to expect and they’re familiar with the situation.”

It’s really enjoyable when you can help somebody straighten out problems with their dog

Andrade recommends Eric Letendre’s Training School in Westport and says that training in the first six months can be pivotal to the development of a dog.

“Training makes a huge difference,” Andrade says. “Taking a puppy to places where dogs are allowed such as a busy parking lot on a leash or standing at the end of your driveway where there’s traffic, and giving them a treat, you can teach them to be street savvy. Teach them to respond well to strangers – you don’t want them to be jumping or being obnoxious around strangers.”

But Letendre claims that you can always teach an old dog new tricks.

“It’s really enjoyable when you can help somebody straighten out problems with their dog,” Letendre says. “A frustrated little pet that runs around the house chewing your shoes and pooping on the floor are able to be taught commands that they’ll have for the rest of their life.

They can come when they’re called, be able to stay when someone comes into their house as well as curbing behavior problems such as eating food off of the table.

“Training stays with a dog for life,” Letendre says. “Every dog owner needs to learn three things – Come when you call, walk on a leash, and stay when you tell them to. If you can master these three things then you’ve got a good dog. We can also teach them things such as rolling over, and staying on a bed until you tell them to come down. We can also teach them to drop things that they may pick up.”

“We train the owner, not the dog.”

Spa-niel days

David Palmer, 52, of Westport currently owns a German Shepherd, Eli, with his wife Judy. Eli is their fourth German Shepherd.

“German Shepherds accept you no matter what,” Palmer says. “There’s always that companionship, there’s a huge bond. I look forward to coming home and seeing my dog every day after work. He’s loyal to us and we’re loyal to him.”

The Palmers have no children but they feel that gap is filled by Eli.

“People have said to me, ‘You take better care of your dog then I do of my kids,’” Palmer says. “I spend more money on that dog than I do on myself. I don’t care how much it costs or what it takes, he gets the best treatment possible.”

Letendre says that a dog’s progress and development depends on their motivation.

“A Border Collie may be motivated by food or toys while some dogs such as a Chow may be more laid back and a little more introverted. The more motivated the easier they are to train. Some dogs are more motivated than others.” “

"I always put something silly around the neck of my dog,” Andrade says. “I’ve noticed that when I walk her off leash or with her collar people will say ‘Oh, she’s so cute!’ and they won’t be afraid of her."

Regular grooming also plays a part in the wellness of a dog.

“We see things that an owner may not,” Andrade says. “Once the dog is wet and being blow dried we can find lumps, bumps and tumors, ticks and warts. We can also make sure that their nails aren’t going into their pads. It’s not just a pretty haircut, we will also look at their teeth and brush them. We recommend that people groom their dogs every six to 10 weeks, at least with the change of season.

“A grooming will have your dog feeling like a million bucks. They’re going to feel noticeably better. We can also teach owners how to care for their dog in between visits that will benefit them.”

Andrade stresses the importance of dental care for your dog. “Dental care is very important. If you don’t care for their teeth it can become very expensive to have them cleaned,” she says. “You can clean them at home once a week. If you take care of their teeth as a puppy they won’t have problems as they age.”

Visiting a veterinarian on a regular basis is also considered important. A dog will need regular checkups, inoculations, and vaccinations.

“There are a lot of great veterinarians in this area,” Letendre says. “You shouldn’t have trouble finding one if you do the online research.”

A dog owner may also want to spay or neuter their dog to prevent them from producing unwanted puppies. But conversely, they may also want to breed their pet.

“If you’re interested in breeding your dog, then do the research,” Letendre recommends. “A really great breeding program is done by a professional who knows exactly what to look for. It’s really an art and a science. If you’re going to breed it’s to enhance the breed of the dog. It requires education, it’s not just about getting a couple of dogs together and having puppies.”

Sean McCarthy has been a freelance journalist for 27 years. He lives in New Bedford.