How to Be a Good Dog-Owner in San Francisco

Need a best friend? Maybe you need a dog.

Already have a dog? Maybe you need a few tips on how to be a better dog-owner in San Francisco.

To do this Instructable you will need:

-a dog, of course
-a leash
-dog poop bags

This is an item on the Neighbors Project Check List.

Check out more stuff by me, Casey, at my website: www.telephoneandsoup.com

Step 1 CHOOSING YOUR DOG

When choosing your dog, it's important to keep in mind what kind of space you live in. For example, if you have a one room studio where your bed also serves as your dining room table and you do your dishes in the bathtub, a Great Dane would not be your best option. If you have a roommate that's allergic to them or live in a building that doesn't allow pets, then (surprise!) don't get one at all. Birds, reptiles, and rodents are often acceptable pet alternatives to both situations. If you're really desperate for some dog love, volunteer at your local animal shelter.

Also keep in mind your available time. Remember when you were little and you begged your parents for that dog and promised you would feed it and walk it all the time and then once it got to be older than a puppy and you got more homework and more friends your parents had to start taking care of it? Well, unless you still live with them, there's not going to be anyone else to take responsibility. And it will be your--and only your--room covered in dog poop. So, be realistic about how much time you can devote to training and entertaining your new fuzzy friend.

Comments

[p0g068]

 my pooches and I thank you for your instructable! your writing is very entertaining 

[=SMART=]

This is my dog

[Marina Coblentz]

He is beautiful. The cap fits very well, but the sunglasses don't (a bit too wide).

[Sunny124613]

Raelly nice dog! he(or she) looks like some sort of bloodhound?

[=SMART=]

Thanks :P its a she, she's called maple and she's a Hungarian Visla its a sort of gun dog, very athletic

[Sunny124613]

Oh wow is she rare?

[ksoutherland]

This is our Vizsla who follows the known trait of being very attached to her people. She is extremely intelligent...maybe too much so! The first pic is at 7 weeks when she came home with us. The second was taken to remind us how small she was (3 months)and the last at 5 months.

[=SMART=]

Awww, yea my dog is attached to us too, they are a very intelligent breed ! Say hello to her for me !

[Sunny124613]

oooh! shes a cutee! my dog is a jack russell!her name is skippy

[=SMART=]

she was a very expensive puppy yea lol, worth it though she's a fantastic dog and arguably my best friend however sad that is lol

[Sunny124613]

I do not think that is sad, I think it is unusual
but my dog is my best BEST friend!

[=SMART=]

i have normal best friends but i like the fact she cant talk and she appreciates everything you do for her

[Sunny124613]

Yeah my dog appreciates me by slobbering my face up and then peeing on my bed. And I have friends too

[=SMART=]

Haha my dog licks my face too

[Sunny124613]

funny

[Sunny124613]

Also I think that she is really pretty!

[idogis1]

My dog really isn't that violent, but my dad is cheap and never had a fence installed a fence. So when I let her out to poo she wanders. She never caused any problems, just kinda wanders around. There are also a lot of aggressive dogs in my neighborhood that people let out all day, no leash no fence. So I have two questions. How do I train my dog not to wander out of the yard and how do I handle the aggressive dogs, some of which will come up and bite my dog?

[get to da parakeet]

this is my dog testing out his new bowl

[Sunny124613]

I also have a dog called Skippy(or Skipster and DJ Skip) heehee

[jdege]

Use some caution when getting info from HSUS - they are primarily a fund-raising scam, trading on people who confuse them with ASPCA and the myriad local Humane Societies that are running shelters all over the country. HSUS runs no shelters, and provides funding for no shelters.

[ilovedobermans]

Hi, reposting my comment from a few pages ago, I didn't realize it was only on the ONE area! Jun 7, 2008. 10:45 PMilovedobermanssays: Adding in my $5, (hey, inflation, y'know!) on being a good dog owner, think about having your dog in your home at night. Crate train, or a doggy bed. Usually dogs don't need to go out at night, and will be quiet. Well, I never heard anyone complain, and I know LOTS of dog owners. Now you don't have to worry about your dog barking at night! PS If you dog does make noise, check it out. There may even be a reason! Voice of experience. Usually with my dobies I ask "What is it?" Open the door, ask out "Hello?" Then thank my dog like "Oh, good boy, Buddy! Thank you!" And they are very happy, having done their duty, and content that you checked it out. PPS If you think your dog is there for "protection", the dog won't guard what isn't his, ie the backyard is his property, and what good does it do you if a) you ignore his concerns and yell "shut up!" and b) the burglar gets in the house and the dog can't? Thank you for reading this, I hope I made sense! "Whoever says money can't buy love has never cuddled up to their own loving snuggly dobie!"

[ilovedobermans]

The HSUS loads of information, and one I like is about the use of a Head Halter.hsus.org
Try this!

[ilovedobermans]

Adding in my $5, (hey, inflation, y'know!) on being a good dog owner, think about having your dog in your home at night. Crate train, or a doggy bed. Usually dogs don't need to go out at night, and will be quiet. Well, I never heard anyone complain, and I know LOTS of dog owners. Now you don't have to worry about your dog barking at night! PS If you dog does make noise, check it out. There may even be a reason! Voice of experience. Usually with my dobies I ask "What is it?" Open the door, ask out "Hello?" Then thank my dog like "Oh, good boy, Buddy! Thank you!" And they are very happy, having done their duty, and content that you checked it out. PPS If you think your dog is there for "protection", the dog won't guard what isn't his, ie the backyard is his property, and what good does it do you if a) you ignore his concerns and yell "shut up!" and b) the burglar gets in the house and the dog can't? Thank you for reading this, I hope I made sense! "Whoever says money can't buy love has never cuddled up to their own loving snuggly dobie!"

[incorrigible packrat]

Wow! A responsible dog owner? There's a rare breed, indeed. Although, I suppose, evidence of those less responsible dog owners is much more visible, audible, and olfactorily challenging... That tends to overshadow the efforts of the responsible ones, at least it does, to my perspective.

[joejoerowley]

Cool! Great Instructable! Very Nice Guide! Thanks Joe