Well, you have made the decision to share your life with a dog. Great idea! The love and loyalty you will get in return for your hard work will amaze you!

One very important thing to remember is, a dog of today is a decendant of  "pack animals". And they have retained their desire to be in a pack to this day. Your dog will consider you and your family "his pack". And spending time with you will be the most important activity he/she can have. You have a full and busy life, in and out of your home....your dog has you. Many times we see the cherished family pet, as a puppy, in the house enjoying life with the family. The new wears off, the daily walks become less frequent, those "accidents" on the floor happen more frequently as the attention diminishes, the playful behavior has become annoying now that "pup" chewed the corner of the new couch. That training class has never happened, and now the pup is getting big, and knocking people over with puppy exuberance. This pup is getting annoying! The kids have lost interest, Mom and Dad are at their wits end. The final straw comes when the carpet gets clawed up, or some equally expensive event occurs. The only recourse many people see, is to put this misbehaving pup out of the house. A dog house in the backyard, and feed/water everyday. What a lonely life! To have to sit and watch the people you cherish coming and going, without a kind word or a pat on the head. And this exact thing happens to thousands of puppies and dogs each year.  Please take the time to train/socialize and love your dog-it will pay off by gaining a cherished companion to add to your lives.

For an overveiw of a great training tool, please check out this link.

http://www.inch.com/~dogs/cratetraining.html

Deciding to include a dog into your family takes commitment, both timewise and monetarily. Your dog can live for many years, and the long term cost of taking good care of a pet is often overlooked when impulse strikes, and you see that cute puppy you "can't live without". The cost of a puppy in its first year can be upwards of $1,000.00 by the time the vaccinations, parasite control, spay/neuter, food, training classes and all the necessary collars, bowls and other goodies are bought. Not a commitment to take lightly! And on average, your annual costs can run $500.00 or more for the remaining years of your pets life. All of this sounds overwhelming-but we feel it is important for people to know that just love alone, wont keep your pet happy. Quality care and quality time will increase your enjoyment and allow you and your pet to develop a fullfilling relationship.

Although there is no way to gaurentee your dog will never bite, by responsible ownership you can decrease the chance of this happening by following these steps.

Socialize your dog 

Expose your dog to many different situations. This decreases the chance of the dogs nervousness and stress in new situations. If you see your dog becoming excessively agitated, remove them from the situation, and try again later. Remember your dog depends on you to provide a safe enviornment for him and those around him.

Spay and neuter 

This is one of the most important things you can do to assure the safety of your dog. By neutering, you decrease the dogs desire to roam and increase their desire to be a companion animal. The chances of a dog biting go down dramatically when a dog is neutered.

Training  

A training class is one of the best socialization activities a dog can have. You are providing your dog skills that are necessary to become good companions, and also giving yourself and family members time to get to know the dog.

Always remember, you are the dogs guide through life. The behavior your dog exhibits is behavior you allow. Never allow a behavior in a pup that will not be allowed in adulthood. Always present a toy to your dog in play, never allow a pup to mouth or bite.

****Coming this year!****

The Iowa Alliance of Responsible Dog Owners will be holding educational seminars within the community. These seminars will include the basics of dog ownership, training tips, hands on activities for children and question and answer forum. Our focus with these seminars will be on community safety, owner responsibility and child education on dogs.

Contact us at (319) 465-4459 for details!

The American Kennel Club has a wealth of knowledge, about all aspects of dogs and ownership. With their permission, I have added a link to their education site, and know you will benefit from their years of experience.

http://www.akc.org/public_education/index.cfm

A website with information on all aspects of responsible dog ownership, The Dog Owners Guide, well worth spending some quality time here!

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/index.html

A website custom made for responsible children/dog relationships!

How to Love Your Dog

http://www.kidsanddogs.bravepages.com/index.html 

Please become educated as to your town and county ordinances dealing with pets, responsible owners comply with local ordinances!

Monticello has ordinances regulating dogs and cats. From Ordinance 574 Article 3, Animal Protection and Control. Any further questions, may be directed to

Sally Hinrichsen-City Clerk at (319) 465-3577.

Ordinance no. 574, Article 3 states the following:

DOGS AND CATS AT LARGE.

A.  Dogs and Cats properly identified as required by law shall be deemed under restraint if:

1. The dog and/or cat is on the premises of the owner with the owner or a person given charge of the animal by its owner, and

a. Accompanied by and obedient to the commands of the owner or the person

given such charge, or

b. Confined on those premises by an adequate protective fence or by leash, cord

or chain that does not allow the dog to go beyond the owner’s real property line;

2. The dog and/or cat is off the premises of the owner, and is either;

a. On a leash, cord or chain not more than six feet in length, and under the

control of a person competent to restrain and control the dog, or

b. Confined within a motor vehicle;

Also the following:

ANNUAL LICENSE REQUIRED.

When License Required.  All dogs and cats over six (6) months of age kept, harbored, or maintained by their owner in the city shall be licensed by the owner. “Owner” means, in addition to its ordinary meaning, any person who keeps or harbors an animal.  In addition, the term Owner applies to the parent or guardian of a minor claiming ownership.  The provisions of this section shall not be intended to apply to dogs and cats whose owners are non-residents temporarily within the city, kennel dogs or cats, or show dogs or cats brought into the city for the purpose of participating in any dog or cat show, provided such dogs and cats are kept restrained by the owner at all times.

Application for License.  The owner shall, on or before January 1 each year, and within thirty (30) days after obtaining a dog, or within ninety (90) days after obtaining a dog if the dog is less than three (3) months old, apply to the Clerk for a license.  The application shall be in writing on a form supplied by the Clerk, shall be signed by the owner and shall state the breed, sex, age, color, markings and name, if any, of the dog, and the address of the owner.  The application shall further state the date of the most recent rabies vaccination, the date the dog shall be revaccinated and shall include a certificate issued by a veterinarian specifying the date of the more recent vaccination.  All licenses shall expire on January 1 of the year following the date of issuance of the license.  Failure to purchase a license by February 1st of any given year shall result in an additional fee being charged for late license purchase. The late fee shall be set by City Council resolution.

License fees.   Annual license fees for dogs and cats shall be set by City Council

resolution. Upon the filing of an affidavit that the license tag has been lost or destroyed, the owner may obtain another tag upon the payment of a fee to the City as set by City Council resolution.  A spayed female shall be deemed a male when a certified statement by a veterinarian is presented with the application.  The fee shall be paid with the application.

Tags.  Upon receipt of the application and fee, and approval of same by the Clerk, the Clerk shall deliver or mail to the owner listed in the application a license which shall be in the form of a metal tag stamped with the year issued, name of the City, and the serial number as shown by the Clerk’s records.  Such license shall be issued and recorded by the City and affixed to each animal by its owner to a substantial collar and, during the term of the license, shall be at all times kept on the animal for which the license is issued.

IMMUNIZATION. All dogs and cats six (6) months or older, and all dogs and cats who are between the ages of four (4) and six (6) months at the time they are licensed, shall be vaccinated against rabies. Before issuance of a license the owner shall furnish a veterinarian's certificate showing that the dog or cat for which the license is sought has been vaccinated, and that the vaccination does not expire within six months from the

effective date of the license. It shall be a violation of this article for any dog or cat to not be vaccinated against rabies. A tag showing evidence or proper vaccination shall be worn by every dog and cat meeting the criteria established in this section.

RUNNING AT LARGE. No owner of any licensed or unlicensed dog, or any cat shall permit such dog or cat to run at large in the city at any time