Secrets every dog lover should know

Jon Katz is a true dog lover. In fact, a number of years ago, after acquiring a border collie in need of much love, attention and training, Katz took up sheepherding and ended up buying a farm – and his own flock of sheep – to provide a better life for his dogs and, in turn, himself.

Katz is lucky enough to have a profession that accommodates devoting your life to your dogs – his 2007 release, Dog Days, is part of a series of tales about the animals of Bedlam Farm. We spoke with Katz about his thoughts on training dogs, loving dogs and being a responsible dog owner. Here are eight things every dog lover should know.

1. Dogs love routine
"Dogs are creatures of habit," says Katz. "They tend to like what is familiar." Conversely, what is unfamiliar can upset them – keep this in mind when trying to analyze your dog's behaviour and train him. "Dogs are very adaptable," Katz notes. "Most dogs will settle in to a routine and really like it, if they're getting consistent training."

2. A dog is not an impulse purchase
"Acquiring a dog should be a thoughtful and careful process," says Katz, who is strongly opposed to purchasing a dog on a whim. He lists a number of questions you should ask yourself before getting a dog:

• Do you have time?
• Are you committed?
• Do you have the resources?
• How do people in your family feel about it?
• Are you going to have problems with the neighbours?
• And, most important – if the dog wants to go out at three o'clock in the morning in the middle of winter, how are you going to feel about that?

3. There's a dog for every family
"If they're well fed, exercised and treated well, dogs can be happy anywhere," says Katz. That being said, he emphasizes choosing the right dog for your family and living situation. For instance, if you have young children, find a dog that will coexist happily with them; if you have limited time to go for walks, don't choose a breed that needs several hours' exercise a day – unless you have a country-size yard.

Katz recommends three potential ways to get a dog, from people who'll be able to help you find the right one: first, through an experienced rescue group; second, by going to a shelter and having a thorough discussion about the kind of life you can give the dog; and third, by visiting a good breeder, and learning about the dog's history. "In all of those cases, people should ask you a lot of questions," Katz says. "I know some people find that obnoxious, being grilled by a rescue worker, but it means they care about the dog, and they care about you."

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