POINTS TO REMEMBER FOR THOSE HUMANS WISHING TO BECOME PETS OF OUR WONDERFUL BREED.
DO's 
Always feed GOOD QUALITY FOOD to us. You would not
like to eat
things that are 'off' or second grade. Don't expect us to either.
Select our partners carefully. We do not like incest either!
Take us to obedience training at an early age. We like to learn our manners.
Be kind and gentle with us, teaching us to be kind and gentle too.
Be sure to take us to the vet regularly for our shots and a checkup.
Play with me every day as I will get bored easily. I like to garden and
help you to get the washing off the line (just
to be helpful of course.) Sometimes you get upset
but you tend to be a moody lot anyway.
Touch me all over my body every day, from the tips of my toes to my
ears. It helps me get accustomed to being touched
(and I love the cuddles anyway.)
Teach people around me to treat me with respect. I resent strangers
trying to assert their authority, and may be
forced to establish my status (which I don't like
doing...and they sure won't either!)
Remember to give me special toys to chew on. As a baby I am teething
and if you neglect to give me toys, I will have
to use your shoes as a relief from the pain.
Allow me to socialise with other dogs, adults, children and small animals.
We need to be exposed to these things, and also
outside noises and experiences, but only after
we are fully vaccinated.
Take me to obedience classes. I am very easy to train, as long as you
are firm with me. (Besides, I love to get out
and socialise.)
Teach me to 'GIVE' my toys or bones. It is ESSENTIAL that I am not
allowed to be possessive with my things. Sit
in my bed occassionally, just to teach me to share.
Walk through doorways before me so I do not become dominant.
Do have dinner before you feed me.
Make me earn my pat or treat, even something simple like making me sit.
DON'Ts
Tease or torment us. We become agressive easily if
provoked.
Breed indiscriminately with other breeds. We like to keep ourselves pure and true to type.
Sell our puppies to just anyone. Please be sure to check any prospective new owner thoroughly for knowledge and personality. We live a long time and would like to be happy in our new home.
Let children (or adults) pull on my tail. I don't like it and if it
breaks, it won't curl anymore. Some humans just
can't resist that lovely curl, but if you don't tell
them to leave it alone, I certainly will and
they might not like that.
NEVER let me play alone with children, no matter how well
you think you know me, for it could get messy
if something goes wrong or I am having a 'bad
hair day.'
Let me jump up on you. It is cute when I'm a baby but when
I am a 60kg dog, with my paws in your face, you
won't be as impressed I am sure.
Let me bite you, even in play. As a baby, I have sharp little
teeth and as I get bigger, so do they! I can
do a lot of damage, especially to children if allowed
to develop this bad habit, even if I think it
is a game.
Thanks to Foxy Granny for the beautiful award!
