Your Dogs Are Dependents (Just Not on Your Tax Form)

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Steve Ries - Top Gun Kennels and Native Dog Food

Tax season is one no one but a CPA enjoys. If you're like me, an extra dependent (or two) or a whole kennel full of them would improve your tax season from a financial perspective at least.

Regardless of their tax status, your dogs are your “dependents”. In fact, the average pet owner will spend around $800 per year on food, vet care and other care provided to keep their canine dependents happy and healthy. As the primary caregivers for our canine dependents, it's important to remember the role we play in maintaining their welfare.

A Dog's Eye View

We're responsible for doing more than just appreciating the joy they bring us. In our kennel, we've found we do a better job of caring for our dogs when we try to look at the world through their eyes. While this may sound odd, it helps us understand if we're making their lives as rewarding as we intend. Here are a few examples of what our dogs might communicate to us if we could understand them.

Treat Them Like The Athletes They Are

It's important to keep in mind that our dogs are covering 8-10 times as much ground as we are in the field and usually at a much faster pace. Far too often, we recognize the joy we take in hunting with our dogs but don't recognize the physical demands it places on them. As living creatures under our care, it is our responsibility to provide for them in a fitting manner based on the demands we place on them. There is no substitute for treating your canine companion like your very own child and providing them a safe comfortable shelter, regular medical care, a healthy diet and proper conditioning. This is our responsibility and will result in a more rewarding time for both us and our dogs when we take to the field.

To learn more about Steve Ries and his training methods, visit www.topgungsps.com