An integral part of the care of your family dog is regular veterinary visits. During puppyhood, the visits will be quite frequent as all the necessary in-noculations must be taken promptly. Distemper, lep-tospirosis and hepatitis can now be practically prevented by the proper administration of vaccines and pet meds. Although they are not 100 per cent effective, the incidence of these dread diseases has been significantly reduced. Your dog veterinarian will work out a schedule of innoculations for your new puppy and will advise you about yearly booster shots. Since there is now a triple booster covering these diseases, one booster injection is all that is necessary. The innoculation for rabies should also be given during the first year and then repeated yearly. Many communities make this yearly rabies vaccination mandatory.

It is good preventative medicine to have the vet check your dog at least once a year when you go in for boosters. Ask him to check your dog's teeth and gums and to remove tartar accumulations. If you have the slightest suspicion that your dog may have worms, then have the vet examine a stool specimen.

There are many things which should be done at home as part of your routine health care program:
(1) Maintain a clean environment: wash the dog's bedding frequently, wash the eating utensils scrupu lously after each meal, provide fresh water daily.
(2) Protect your pet from unnecessary dangers:
train him to stay off the street, keep your garbage
cans covered, remove him when insecticides and
other poisons are being used.
(3) Be perceptive: take note of changes in your
dog's appetite, digestion, and personality.
(4) Examine your dog at every grooming: observe any skin lesions and treat accordingly; check eyes, ears and feet. Run your hands over the body checking for tumors. Should your dog be ill and require treatment, be sure you follow the vet's directions carefully and administer medication only as directed. Provide as quiet and restful an environment for your sick pet as possible. Your care and love will help to speed his recovery.

Care of the Female Dog
The ownership of an unspayed female presents certain responsibilities. When your dog goes into heat, this information is announced to all eligible males in the vicinity at large by a telltale odor emitted by her urine. Usually before you are even suspicious of this event, the appearance of males at your doorstep will herald its arrival. All too often these ever-anxious suitors will camp themselves around your premises creating a nuisance for you and most probably for your neighbors as well. Action is required before you alienate your entire neighborhood. Either have your dog put into a kennel until the end of her cycle or use special measures such as taking her far from the house to urinate and using a no-odor medication. If you keep your bitch at home, take extreme precautions to protect her from any indiscriminate alliance. Cleanliness is also vital at this time. If she is unable to keep the vulvar area clean, then you must wash this area with warm water.

Care of the Male Dog
The male presents other considerations to his master. Instinctively, most males like to roam either in search of a female or a companion or just for fun. Those dog owners who live in an area where this is permissible and does not annoy others, are most fortunate. Most dog owners though cannot allow their pets a free reign either because of the danger to the dog himself, or because of the nuisance such freedom causes to the community as reflected in local legal ordinances. A dog running loose is in danger of being hit by a car, of ingesting something poisonous, and even of becoming lost or stolen. All people hate having a neighbor's dog wander onto their property, making deposits which burn their grass, bushes, and soiling and ripping up chunks of their lawn. Thus, out of consideration for others no dog should be allowed to roam. Unfortunately many dog owners are far from considerate which has resulted in "leash laws" being enacted in many communities around the country. These laws prohibit the dog's uninhibited wanderings and enforce this regulation with fines levied against the owner.

The male dog can also become a sex offender by masturbating on furniture and people's legs. So far, there seems to be no real cure for stopping such offensive behavior. Firm correction of this misbehavior seems to be the only remedy although it is far from effective.

Dog Mental Health
Believe it or not, dogs too can have mental health problems. Thus, the best thing to do is try and raise a normal healthy puppy into a well-adjusted dog. This can best be accomplished by providing a happy, relaxed, home environment. The effects of early experiences should not be underestimated. Frightening experiences can do permanent damage to a dog's mode of behavior and personality development. For example, allowing a pup to be mistreated by a child can have the unfortunate consequence of creating a dog who is fearful of children. Fear biters are a menace and are usually too dangerous to keep. A puppy should never be harshly or cruelly handled. A calm tension-free environment is best for raising dogs that are not high strung and nervous. Only with love and patience can you expect to create an adult dog that is affectionate and well-tempered.

There are instances when even with the best of environment and care a dog develops unacceptable behavior patterns which do not yield to any form of correction or training. Should you encounter such a difficult animal one that bites, or attacks and menaces, or one that barks uncontrollably and you have exhausted all your methods, then by all means seek the services of a professional trainer for remedy. If in spite of professional attention, these traits cannot be eliminated, then seriously consider disposing of the dog. Don't hang on to a potentially hazardous animal until damage has occurred. However, only if the animal is dangerous should it be destroyed. If it has behavior that is unacceptable in your area, remember, it may be tolerated elsewhere. Be honest when disposing of it so that an unfortunate situation isn't perpetuated.

The nature-nurture controversy exists in dogdom just as in humans. One may well question how much a dog's personality is affected by nature (its genetic make-up) and by nurture (its upbringing). Presently, scientists are studying this dilemma. Studies indicate that both aspects play a significant part. Breeding for good temperament is essential and possible. Repeatedly, studies show that nervous, high-strung bitches have a high percentage of nervous, high-strung pups. Well-tempered, calm bitches have a high percentage of pups with these traits. It, therefore, behooves the breeder to be mindful of their bitches' and studs' personality and not to breed those dogs that display personality problems.