Jagger’s Words of Wisdom
Welcome to Jagger’s page!
He’s very happy you’re here and is excited to share all sorts of things he believes is important for you to know.
Dog Safety Tips
Dogs are very cute and most of us are very friendly and love people, especially children! There’s a good reason we are often referred to as man’s best friend!
Did you know we have feelings, moods, and even strong opinions about things?
Just like people, each dog has a unique personality with different temperaments, likes, and dislikes.
It’s important to keep this in mind, especially when you meet a new dog. Please read my tips below on how to be safe and have good manners when you meet a new dog and potential new friend!
With love,
Jagger
It Can Be Dangerous to Pet a Dog You Don’t Know.
DO
Do ask permission from the owner before telling the dog hello.
Do ask permission from the owner before petting the dog.
If the owner says it’s OK to talk to or to pet their dog:
Do approach the dog slowly, calmly, and quietly.
Do use your inside voice.
Do be very gentle when petting the dog.
If the owner says it’s NOT OK to talk to or pet their dog:
A no means no. Please give the dog and its owner space right away and find something else that’s fun for you to do.
Please don’t argue with the owner if they say no.
They are not saying no to be mean to you. Their dog may not be friendly. It could also be having a bad day, feeling anxious, tired, or grouchy. And who knows, the owner could be tired or having a bad day, too.
Please don’t stare at the dog.
Not only is this impolite in the human world, but it is also a sign of aggression in the doggy world and can make the dog feel uncomfortable or scared.
DON’T
Don’t touch a dog you don’t know without the owner’s permission.
The dog may not be friendly. It could also be afraid of strangers or having a bad day.
Please don’t run up to a dog you don’t know.
This could scare the dog and cause a bad reaction.
Please don’t shout, whistle, clap, snap or point your fingers, or wave at a dog to get its attention.
How would you feel if a stranger did these things to you?
Please don’t feed a dog without the owner’s permission.
Like people, some dogs have food allergies. Feeding a dog something without the owner’s permission could make the dog sick or even worse.
These behaviors can scare a dog, make them nervous, or be dangerous for them and for you!
Did you know that some dogs have jobs?
Some dogs have very important jobs. Sometimes dogs with jobs wear a vest to show they are working. Other times a working dog doesn’t wear a vest even when they are working. This can make it difficult to know if a dog is working, which is another reason it’s important to ask an owner for permission before saying hello to a dog.
There are special rules when it comes to working dogs. I will share information on different kinds of jobs that dogs can have in our blog, but for my Wisdoms page, I want to share important information about service dogs because they are the kind of dog with a job you are most likely to encounter.
I am so excited to share information on this very interesting topic with you!
Sincerely,
Jagger
Special Rules with Service Animals:
When you see a dog that is working:
Please give the dog and its handler space.
This can help the dog stay focused and do its very important job.
Please Do Not Ask to pet it or try to get the dog’s attention.
That could distract the dog from its very important job.
Sometimes, a handler will say it’s okay to pet their service dog. This decision is up to the handler. The handler will base his or her decision on what kinds of tasks the service animal is responsible for and what kind day the handler is having. In all honesty, it’s still best not to ask. It can be very hard for a handler to say it’s not okay to pet their service animal even though they may need to tell you no for their safety!
Remember, a person with a service animal is not going to tell you it’s not okay to pet their service dog to be mean to you. The dog is doing a very important job and arguing with its handler or petting the dog may distract it from its job. This could cause a very unsafe situation or medical emergency for its handler.
Currently in the United States, service animals are not required to wear vests or carry identification. If a handler tells you not to pet their dog because it is a service animal and is working, but the dog isn’t wearing a vest, please don’t argue with the handler.
Please Do Not Ask the dog’s handler what his or her health problems are.
This is a private matter. Just like a lot of people without a service animal, many people with a service animal want to be able to go about their day without being stopped and asked personal questions.
A lot of people are naturally curious about service animals, what kind of work they do to help their humans, and what kind of disabilities their humans have. Please remember that someone with a disability probably has a more difficult time getting daily tasks done and that being stopped and asked questions about their service animal or their disability can make it harder for them to go about their business.
It’s okay to be curious. Sometimes having good manners means being able to feel curious and respect someone’s privacy at the same time.
In case you are curious and want to know more about service animals, I will share some examples of what kinds of tasks and disabilities service animals help humans with in our blog. I have also provided a website link to a great resource on service dogs at the end of this section!
Please Do Not Tell the dog’s handler that they don’t look sick or that they look too healthy to need a service animal.
You can’t always tell if someone has a disability by looking at them because some serious medical conditions are invisible. If the dog is well-behaved, please don’t doubt the handler.
Please don’t assume that a dog wearing a vest is an emotional support dog because the handler “looks” healthy.
Again, some disabilities are invisible. Emotional support dogs often wear vests like service dogs do, but emotional support animals are not service animals.
Service dogs are subject to different rules and are allowed in many places that emotional support dogs aren’t. Service animals also undergo years of training to help their human. Emotional support animals should also be well-behaved, but they are not required to have any training.
Inside establishments like stores, restaurants, and hotels, it’s okay for the people who work inside these places to ask the dog handler if the dog is a service animal that’s required because of a disability and what work or tasks has the dog been trained to perform.
All of this is not to say never approach a person with a service animal. It’s okay to tell the handler hello and ask how their day is going. It’s important to treat a service animal handler just like you would treat anyone else. If you see a person with a service animal struggling to reach an elevator button, open a door, or perform some task that is easy for most people and you want to help, tell your parent what you see and ask how you can help. They will probably appreciate your thoughtfulness very much and it could just make their day.
What to do if you see a service animal in a vest without its owner:
If you ever see a service animal in a vest without its owner or if you ever see a service animal in a vest who is alone and approaches you or another person without its handler, there is a very good chance its owner needs urgent help. The dog will be able to take you to its owner and you may need to call 911 or have an adult call for you.
This is very important and could be lifesaving!
Did you know it’s adults that sometimes need more lessons on dog manners and safety than kids?
Sharing with your adult family members what you’ve learned about dog safety and manners can help the adults you know learn considerate ways to interact with dogs that keep everyone, including the dog, safe and happy.
If you’re curious and would like to learn more about service animals, we’d like to recommend the website below. It’s a great resource, and who knows, you may learn that you or someone you love could benefit from having a service animal to help with a medical condition!
https://www.guidedogsofamerica.org/best-practices-when-around-a-service-dog
Human Foods That Are Dangerous For Dogs
Things to Consider Before Getting a Puppy or Dog 
Puppies and dogs have lots of love to give. We’re essentially born with an endless supply of love that stays with us throughout our entire lives! Nothing makes us happier than having humans we can share our love with.
To keep us at our best, we require a lot of care. In my opinion, we are totally worth it!
Before getting a puppy or a dog, please consider the following:
Having a dog is a commitment for the lifetime of your dog. Puppies are especially cute and cuddly. Sometimes people get excited at the idea of having a puppy and forget that a puppy is a lot of work, requires lots of attention, patience, and consistency. Sometimes people even forget that we will grow up, and that we require a lifetime of loving care. It hurts our feelings when someone adopts us as puppies without considering our needs and then gives us away because they decide we are too much work or when we grow up, they lose interest because they don’t think we’re as cute or cuddly as we were as puppies. We are very loyal animals and deserve to have very loyal humans.
Adopting older dogs or rescue dogs sometimes means they may require expensive medical care or extra patience because their previous owners hurt them or their feelings. As a puppy ages into its senior years, it may also require additional medical care and patience. A potential benefit of adopting an older dog is that it may come home potty-trained, and it may have less destructive puppy energy.
A well-socialized and trained dog makes it safer for the dog, its family, friends, strangers, and other dogs to interact. Will you put in the time required to properly socialize and train us?
We need daily walks and play time. How much interest, energy, and time will you commit to walking and playing with us every day?
It’s worth noting the personality and the breed of a dog plays a role in the amount of exercise and play time it needs. Please do your research to find what personality and breed will best fit your family’s lifestyle.
Just like people, we require dental care, sometimes get sick, and sometimes need surgery or require medical care for chronic health conditions that could require being on special diets, supplements, and medications for the rest of our lives. We also need regular checkups, vaccines for things like rabies and kennel cough, as well as medications for heartworm, flea, and tick prevention. This can be expensive. Have your family look at the cost of owning a dog and see if there is room in your budget to cover its expenses.
Grooming! Some breeds require more grooming than others. Of course, no matter the breed, we all need regular nail trims and baths, or as Bode and our friends call them, DREADED BAFFS! We all also need regular toothbrushing. It’s not our favorite thing in the world to do, but it needs to be done and can extend our life. Breeds that shed and those with longer hair also require regular brushing. Long-haired breeds also benefit from regular haircuts. This can be done at home or with a groomer. Grooming is an added expense worth considering when deciding what type of dog you would like to have. It’s also VERY IMPORTANT that you find a groomer you feel comfortable leaving your dog alone with. Some are much kinder to dogs and more careful with them than others.
If you do decide to get a dog, the best way to find a competent and trustworthy veterinarian to take care of your new fur baby is through word of mouth. Ask your extended family and friends who already have dogs if they are happy with the care their family vet provides and if they’d recommend them.
Socialization and Training Tips
(coming 2025)