You have been nagging you parents for a long time to get a puppy or a dog. At last they said 'YES!!!" and now you are on your way back from the shelter and you have picked the dog that you know is just right for you. You love him already....

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You cannot wait to get home and start playing with him. He will be your best friend and you know that you will have a lot of fun together.

But your parents said the dog is now your responsibility. That means you have to take care of him. Lets look at a few things you need to do.

You have to make sure that your dog has fresh water every day - even if there are still water left in his bowl, empty it and add fresh, clean water. Do not give your dog anything else to drink like cold drink or fruit juice. It has too much sugar in it which is not good for your dog.

We all know that dogs like to eat what you eat, but you cannot stuff your dog full of sweets, cake and chocolate. This is very bad for them and they can even die.

If you give your dog scraps from the table, make sure there are no small bones inside, this can get stuck in his throat and he will choke.

It is very important that even when you give him a treat now and then, you also need to make sure he gets a balanced diet. There is special dog food available and you can give him some 'wet food' from a tin and also pellets. You can also buy special 'chew sticks' that will help clean his teeth. Have a look on the bag where it says if the pellets are for big or small dogs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQtjNNEH5-I

Make sure that your dog has a special toy to play with and if he chews on it, pick up the small pieces that it does not lay around and he swallows it.

If your dog has long hair you would want to brush him every day so that he gets rid of the extra hair that will fall out. This is called 'grooming'. Some breeds of dogs will have to be taken to a parlor every now and then to have their hair and nails cut.

Having a dog can be a lot of fun, but you also need to clean up after him. It is your dog and you cannot expect to make this your parent's responsibility.

Take your dog on a walk, but always put him on a leash so that he cannot run away or run into the road where a car can run him over.

If you leave your yard without your dog, make sure that the gate is closed and he cannot get out.

Dogs can also get sick from time to time and if you are worried about him or you do not know what is wrong with him or he got hurt in any way you have to take him to the vet, so that he gets proper care and medication.

Looking after a dog or any pet can be hard work, but it is all worth while, because on the days you are feeling sad or stressed, your best friend will be there to make you feel better, if you are happy about something or want to play around he will be there and at night he will be the one that cuddles with you and keep you safe.

Loving animals is a beautiful thing, they give so much more back than what we give to them. Love him and feed him and you will be happy and loved for years to come.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNfIbv7iD9w

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