Domestic Dogs

The guide covers three main topics related to responsible dog ownership:

• What to Feed Your Dog: The best food is dog food, but dogs can also eat what people eat, such as maize meal, vegetables, and meat. Puppies, especially those with their mothers, should get as much food as possible. Dogs must always have clean, easily accessible water. While dogs enjoy chewing bones, small bones are dangerous for them.
• Where to Keep Your Dog: A fence around the house is one way to keep a dog safe. Dogs need a lot of freedom to move around. If there is no fence, the dog could be kept on a long chain, which allows a large area to run around and reach food and water bowls. The chain should never be short, and a dog should not be tied to a pole. Dogs should be able to rest under the shade in summer and in the sun in winter. A happy dog has a doghouse, which can be built by the owner, and should be placed under the shade to prevent it from getting too hot.
• Health and Behavior:
  • Collars and Leads: A collar makes it easy to control and handle a dog. A lead should be attached to the collar when taking the dog to the animal clinic or other places. The best collars are made of nylon, fabric, or leather, and should be loose enough to easily place two fingers underneath.
  • Breeding and Puppies: Puppies need lots of good food and should eat 3-4 meals a day. Injections/vaccinations are necessary for puppies to grow into healthy, strong dogs and to fight diseases. Worms can make a puppy very sick, and medicine, called deworming medicine, should be obtained from an animal clinic to kill them. If a female dog has puppies often, an animal doctor can perform an operation to stop this from happening. After the operation, the dog needs special care, including food, water, and a warm resting place.
  • Ticks and Fleas: Ticks and fleas can live on a dog’s skin and make it sick. Special medicine to kill them can be obtained from an animal clinic. Only tick and flea body wash should be used when bathing the dog. Fleas can be difficult to control because they live in the doghouse’s bed.
  • Dog Bites and Training: Dogs might bite if they are teased and punished, as they may stop trusting people. If a dog looks like it wants to bite, it is best to walk away, as fighting with the dog will make it angrier. If a dog bites someone, that person needs to see a clinic doctor to be checked for rabies or other diseases. Teaching a dog good habits should be done by rewarding it with a bone or food when it listens.
  • Safety: Dogs should be kept under control in areas with farm animals and wild animals, as chasing wild animals is dangerous for both the dog and the owner.
• Conclusion: The comic concludes by emphasizing that dogs are useful, like to make friends, and will look after their owners if they are treated like a best friend. It suggests that a community with happy dogs will also be a happy community.