Your Best Friend Find a special place for your dog to call his own. It can be under the table, in a corner of the room or in his crate. Make it fun. Put all his toys in his SPOT. When he’s tired, encourage him to go to his SPOT. Let him rest for a while. Do not disturb him. He will let you know when it’s time to play again! And never, never wake a sleeping dog - call his name first, to let him know you are there. How to care for your dog You will need a brush, a toothbrush, washcloth and lots of patience! Brush your dog every day. Brush his fur gently down the length of his back. Be careful around his head, ears and eyes. It will take a little time for him to realize that this feels real good. Have your Mom or Dad help you. Brush his teeth. A few strokes are enough to start. If your dog starts to bite the toothbrush, take it away for another day. Very gently wash his face with plain water every day. Make sure your dog always has fresh water. Remember to feed him every day…and don’t forget to PLAY, PLAY, PLAY! Dogs LOVE to play. Throw a ball, a Frisbee or a toy. Dogs need to play every day. Teach your dog a trick! Do you remember when you were little and played a guessing game called “Handy Spandy”? You can teach your dog this game. It will not be long before your dog is guessing which hand the reward is in. Grownups will be so surprised to see how smart your dog is! Another good game is called “Find It”. Take one of your dog’s favorite toys and hide the toy. Make it easy at first. Put the toy on a chair. Let your dog watch what you are doing. Then tell your dog to ‘find it!’ As he gets better at ‘finding it’, you can make it a little harder by putting the toy in another room, under the bed, or in a paper bag! Dogs just love this trick! “Go Fetch”. Come on, do we really have to tell you how to play “Go Fetch”? Have a ball! Just a few minutes a day, and your dog will become your best friend. And remember, if you ever need someone to talk to, talk to your dog. He won’t laugh, he won’t tell your secrets, he will be your best friend forever!
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