Top 19+ Things Responsible Dog Owners Always Do

5) Prioritize Physical Exercise

5) Prioritize Physical Exercise, 7) Monitor and Maintain Oral Health, 8) Establish a Grooming Routine, 9) Train Your Dog for Health Examinations, 10) Socialize Your Dog, 11) Greet Them Neutrally—Not With Excitement, 12) Create Rules For Your Dog, and Stick to Them, 13) Positively Reinforce Your Dog’s Good Behavior, 14) Enact Training Sessions Throughout the Day, 15) Familiarize Yourself With Dog Stress Signs, 17) Ensure Their Collar Tags Are Current, 18) Keep Them Up to Date on Their Meds, 19) Stay Educated on Dog Care

Physical exercise is just as fundamental as mental stimulation. “Ensure your dog gets enough physical activity through walks, playtime, and exercises that match their breed and energy level,” Crampton says. “Regular exercise keeps them fit, helps with weight management, and prevents behavioral problems.”

The timing of their exercise matters, too. “Try going for a long walk first thing in the morning with your dog to help get their energy out,” Milan says. “Dogs need exercise, discipline, and attention—in that order.”

7) Monitor and Maintain Oral Health

5) Prioritize Physical Exercise, 7) Monitor and Maintain Oral Health, 8) Establish a Grooming Routine, 9) Train Your Dog for Health Examinations, 10) Socialize Your Dog, 11) Greet Them Neutrally—Not With Excitement, 12) Create Rules For Your Dog, and Stick to Them, 13) Positively Reinforce Your Dog’s Good Behavior, 14) Enact Training Sessions Throughout the Day, 15) Familiarize Yourself With Dog Stress Signs, 17) Ensure Their Collar Tags Are Current, 18) Keep Them Up to Date on Their Meds, 19) Stay Educated on Dog Care

Brushing your dog's teeth daily might feel like overkill, but Ellis and Crampton agree that regular oral health is paramount. “Dog dental disease can shorten your dog's life, leading to issues like heart conditions—start taking care of your dog's teeth from a young age to really help them live a long life,” Ellis says.

Specifically, Crampton says to regularly check your pup’s teeth and gums for signs of plaque and tartar. If they don’t tolerate regular brushing, giving them a daily dental chew can help maintain optimal oral health.

8) Establish a Grooming Routine

5) Prioritize Physical Exercise, 7) Monitor and Maintain Oral Health, 8) Establish a Grooming Routine, 9) Train Your Dog for Health Examinations, 10) Socialize Your Dog, 11) Greet Them Neutrally—Not With Excitement, 12) Create Rules For Your Dog, and Stick to Them, 13) Positively Reinforce Your Dog’s Good Behavior, 14) Enact Training Sessions Throughout the Day, 15) Familiarize Yourself With Dog Stress Signs, 17) Ensure Their Collar Tags Are Current, 18) Keep Them Up to Date on Their Meds, 19) Stay Educated on Dog Care

A regular grooming routine will keep your dog looking and feeling their best. “Regularly groom your dog by brushing their coat, trimming their nails, and checking their ears for dirt or infections,” Crampton says. “This keeps them clean, reduces shedding, and helps you detect any skin issues early.”

An easy way to prepare your pup for grooming is to take them on a walk or for a game of fetch beforehand. Milan says doing so will help them naturally want to relax.

9) Train Your Dog for Health Examinations

5) Prioritize Physical Exercise, 7) Monitor and Maintain Oral Health, 8) Establish a Grooming Routine, 9) Train Your Dog for Health Examinations, 10) Socialize Your Dog, 11) Greet Them Neutrally—Not With Excitement, 12) Create Rules For Your Dog, and Stick to Them, 13) Positively Reinforce Your Dog’s Good Behavior, 14) Enact Training Sessions Throughout the Day, 15) Familiarize Yourself With Dog Stress Signs, 17) Ensure Their Collar Tags Are Current, 18) Keep Them Up to Date on Their Meds, 19) Stay Educated on Dog Care

As helpful as well-timed exercise can be, Milan says it’s essential to train your dog to be handled. “Touching your dog’s paws regularly builds trust,” he explains. “Touch them multiple times before you examine or groom them. It requires loving, caring, and trusting energy.” The same goes for getting them comfortable with having their teeth, ears, and eyes touched.

All in all, the more comfortable your pups are with getting handled, the more productive their vet visits will be and the less stressful your life will be overall, Ellis says.

10) Socialize Your Dog

5) Prioritize Physical Exercise, 7) Monitor and Maintain Oral Health, 8) Establish a Grooming Routine, 9) Train Your Dog for Health Examinations, 10) Socialize Your Dog, 11) Greet Them Neutrally—Not With Excitement, 12) Create Rules For Your Dog, and Stick to Them, 13) Positively Reinforce Your Dog’s Good Behavior, 14) Enact Training Sessions Throughout the Day, 15) Familiarize Yourself With Dog Stress Signs, 17) Ensure Their Collar Tags Are Current, 18) Keep Them Up to Date on Their Meds, 19) Stay Educated on Dog Care

If you want your dog to behave well around others, it’s important to socialize them with their surroundings as early as possible. “Expose your dog to different environments, people, and other dogs from a young age,” Crampton says. “Socialization helps prevent fear-based behaviors and ensures your dog is well-adjusted in various situations.”

The key to socialization is a thoughtful approach. “Socialization is exposing dogs in a calm, positive manner to a variety of sights, sounds, smells, and dogs, allowing them to become acclimated to all types of sights/sounds,” Ellis says.

11) Greet Them Neutrally—Not With Excitement

5) Prioritize Physical Exercise, 7) Monitor and Maintain Oral Health, 8) Establish a Grooming Routine, 9) Train Your Dog for Health Examinations, 10) Socialize Your Dog, 11) Greet Them Neutrally—Not With Excitement, 12) Create Rules For Your Dog, and Stick to Them, 13) Positively Reinforce Your Dog’s Good Behavior, 14) Enact Training Sessions Throughout the Day, 15) Familiarize Yourself With Dog Stress Signs, 17) Ensure Their Collar Tags Are Current, 18) Keep Them Up to Date on Their Meds, 19) Stay Educated on Dog Care

Look, we love getting home to our dogs as much as the next person, but according to dog experts, it’s best to keep that excitement concealed. “Greeting a dog with excitement puts the dog in an excited state,” Milan says. “The best way to react to an excited dog is to ignore them. Use no touch, no talk, no eye contact.” This will help mitigate jumping, licking, and overly eager behavior fresh out of the crate.

12) Create Rules For Your Dog, and Stick to Them

5) Prioritize Physical Exercise, 7) Monitor and Maintain Oral Health, 8) Establish a Grooming Routine, 9) Train Your Dog for Health Examinations, 10) Socialize Your Dog, 11) Greet Them Neutrally—Not With Excitement, 12) Create Rules For Your Dog, and Stick to Them, 13) Positively Reinforce Your Dog’s Good Behavior, 14) Enact Training Sessions Throughout the Day, 15) Familiarize Yourself With Dog Stress Signs, 17) Ensure Their Collar Tags Are Current, 18) Keep Them Up to Date on Their Meds, 19) Stay Educated on Dog Care

Dogs will only learn and maintain good behavior if such parameters are clearly outlined. “You are a better dog owner if you provide rules, boundaries, and limitations for your dog,” Milan says. “Dogs want to follow their pack leader.”

13) Positively Reinforce Your Dog’s Good Behavior

5) Prioritize Physical Exercise, 7) Monitor and Maintain Oral Health, 8) Establish a Grooming Routine, 9) Train Your Dog for Health Examinations, 10) Socialize Your Dog, 11) Greet Them Neutrally—Not With Excitement, 12) Create Rules For Your Dog, and Stick to Them, 13) Positively Reinforce Your Dog’s Good Behavior, 14) Enact Training Sessions Throughout the Day, 15) Familiarize Yourself With Dog Stress Signs, 17) Ensure Their Collar Tags Are Current, 18) Keep Them Up to Date on Their Meds, 19) Stay Educated on Dog Care

When your dog exhibits good behavior, mark it immediately with a treat, toy, or affection, depending on which they’re motivated most by. “Set your dog up for success—instead of getting frustrated they did something wrong, think what you would rather they do, and next time, ask for that first and start to reward the behavior you want, like sitting at the front door vs. jumping,” Ellis says.

14) Enact Training Sessions Throughout the Day

5) Prioritize Physical Exercise, 7) Monitor and Maintain Oral Health, 8) Establish a Grooming Routine, 9) Train Your Dog for Health Examinations, 10) Socialize Your Dog, 11) Greet Them Neutrally—Not With Excitement, 12) Create Rules For Your Dog, and Stick to Them, 13) Positively Reinforce Your Dog’s Good Behavior, 14) Enact Training Sessions Throughout the Day, 15) Familiarize Yourself With Dog Stress Signs, 17) Ensure Their Collar Tags Are Current, 18) Keep Them Up to Date on Their Meds, 19) Stay Educated on Dog Care

So often, dog owners say they don’t have enough time to train their dogs, assuming it takes dedicated hours each day. In reality, even just a few minutes of training multiple times a day can pay off over time. “A few minutes of training can go a long way—your sessions don’t need to be long; five to 10 minutes can make a big difference,” she says.

15) Familiarize Yourself With Dog Stress Signs

5) Prioritize Physical Exercise, 7) Monitor and Maintain Oral Health, 8) Establish a Grooming Routine, 9) Train Your Dog for Health Examinations, 10) Socialize Your Dog, 11) Greet Them Neutrally—Not With Excitement, 12) Create Rules For Your Dog, and Stick to Them, 13) Positively Reinforce Your Dog’s Good Behavior, 14) Enact Training Sessions Throughout the Day, 15) Familiarize Yourself With Dog Stress Signs, 17) Ensure Their Collar Tags Are Current, 18) Keep Them Up to Date on Their Meds, 19) Stay Educated on Dog Care

Do you know when your dog is stressed? Many people miss some of the most common signs. “Learn how to recognize dog stress signs, such as yawning, lip licking, and whale eyeing, so [you] can tell when your dog is in a situation they really aren’t comfortable with,” Ellis says. By witnessing their stress signs, you’ll be better equipped to keep them out of situations that disturb their peace.

17) Ensure Their Collar Tags Are Current

5) Prioritize Physical Exercise, 7) Monitor and Maintain Oral Health, 8) Establish a Grooming Routine, 9) Train Your Dog for Health Examinations, 10) Socialize Your Dog, 11) Greet Them Neutrally—Not With Excitement, 12) Create Rules For Your Dog, and Stick to Them, 13) Positively Reinforce Your Dog’s Good Behavior, 14) Enact Training Sessions Throughout the Day, 15) Familiarize Yourself With Dog Stress Signs, 17) Ensure Their Collar Tags Are Current, 18) Keep Them Up to Date on Their Meds, 19) Stay Educated on Dog Care

If your dog doesn’t come when called or if, god forbid, it gets lost while out on an adventure, current tags will ensure whoever finds it can contact you to return it safely home. Another idea? Add an AirTag to their collar so you can track them if need be.

18) Keep Them Up to Date on Their Meds

5) Prioritize Physical Exercise, 7) Monitor and Maintain Oral Health, 8) Establish a Grooming Routine, 9) Train Your Dog for Health Examinations, 10) Socialize Your Dog, 11) Greet Them Neutrally—Not With Excitement, 12) Create Rules For Your Dog, and Stick to Them, 13) Positively Reinforce Your Dog’s Good Behavior, 14) Enact Training Sessions Throughout the Day, 15) Familiarize Yourself With Dog Stress Signs, 17) Ensure Their Collar Tags Are Current, 18) Keep Them Up to Date on Their Meds, 19) Stay Educated on Dog Care

Fleas, ticks, and heartworms are the three biggest threats to pups. That’s why flea and tick medicine and heartworm medicine exist. Talk with your vet about which options are best for your pup, then mark your calendar to ensure strict adherence.

19) Stay Educated on Dog Care

5) Prioritize Physical Exercise, 7) Monitor and Maintain Oral Health, 8) Establish a Grooming Routine, 9) Train Your Dog for Health Examinations, 10) Socialize Your Dog, 11) Greet Them Neutrally—Not With Excitement, 12) Create Rules For Your Dog, and Stick to Them, 13) Positively Reinforce Your Dog’s Good Behavior, 14) Enact Training Sessions Throughout the Day, 15) Familiarize Yourself With Dog Stress Signs, 17) Ensure Their Collar Tags Are Current, 18) Keep Them Up to Date on Their Meds, 19) Stay Educated on Dog Care

Like human medicine and behavioral analytics, dog care is always evolving. “Continuously learn about dog behavior, health, and care,” Crampton says. “Attend workshops, read books, and stay updated on best practices to ensure you provide the best care possible for your dog.”

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