Top Dog
Introduction
Police dogs work hard and need to be well looked after by their handler. They must be in peak physical condition in order to do their work effectively. In the Top Dog activity, you'll find out about how to look after a police dog. You will think about what you need to do to meet a dog's needs and be a responsible animal carer.
Looking after a dog
When you look after an animal such as a dog, you need to think about meeting all its needs. You will need to provide your dog with the following things;
- Food: Your dog will need fresh food everyday. You can give your dog a mixture of fresh and dried dog food. This is made from meat, vegetables and cereal.
- Water: Your dog will need fresh water every day. All living things need water to live.
- Baths: Dogs need to be kept clean so that they stay fit and healthy.
- Exercise: All dogs like to go for walks. Police dogs work hard, but to keep them fit and healthy they need plenty of exercise too!
- Play: Police dogs work hard and like humans they enjoy playing and relaxing too. Throwing a ball or stick around a local park with your dog is also good exercise for you!
- Sleep: Dogs need to have a comfortable place to sleep at the end of a hard day. Their bedding needs to be cleaned regularly just like your own bed!
- Toilet: Just like people, dogs need to go to the toilet. You should always remember to pick up your dog's mess when you're out walking or in your garden because nobody likes to tread in it!
- Vet: Dogs, just like people, sometimes get sick. Taking your dog to a vet regularly for a check up will help your dog stay fit and healthy.
Top Dog
You can see that you have lots of responsibilities when you own a dog. Can you think of any benefits to owning a dog? Why not imagine that you have your own dog? What jobs do you think you would be doing during the day to keep your dog happy and healthy?
Can you think of any games you might play with your dog? Why not take turns acting out being a dog owner with your friends? You could even take turns pretending to be the dog! We've listed a few ideas below.
Fetch!
Maybe you and your friends could play this game together, taking turns to be the dog! You have to throw a ball to your dog. As your dog runs to retrieve the ball and bring it back, you start to count. How high can you count before your dog brings the ball back to you?
Walkies
Think about your local area. Where would you like to take your dog for a walk? Are there any local parks or pathways you could explore? What do you think you might see along the way. Draw a map of the route you would take?
Be a Vet
Your dog needs looking after. Imagine you are a vet examining a dog. What would you look for? What advice would you give to the dog owners who come to visit your vet practice?
Key Questions
Finally, think about the following questions:
- If your dog started to smell, what would you do?
- If your dog was looking sleepy all the time and had lost the shine from its coat, what would you do?
- What are the benefits for a family with young children or an elderly person of owning a dog?
- How much money might owning a dog cost you each week? Think about food and care, and don't forget to plan for unexpected vet's bills!
Where would you like to go next?