Handle your dog's ears, feet and mouth regularly. These areas are very private to a dog, the more you get them used to being handled; the easier it is for everyone.

Take your puppies to basic obedience or socialization classes as soon as they get a thumbs-up from your veterinarian. It's a fun way to get the whole family 'on the same page' and can help curb future behavioural issues-especially if there are children involved.

Brush your dog's teeth regularly. Some people have a misconception that a dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's mouth. Dogs can develop severe dental disease, just as humans can, if the teeth are not cared for.

If your dog is destructive with toys, be very careful what you give your dog to play with. Ingestion of foreign objects can be a very serious and costly condition.

Feeding table scraps to a begging dog can develop into bad habits such as not wanting to eat dog food, and stealing food from the table, to name a few.

Extendable leashes are great, but always be aware of your surroundings, other dogs, cars, etc. Accidents can happen in a split second.

Keep your kitchen waste and garbage out of reach of your dog. What we see as 'garbage' is often a delicacy for our canine companions.

Clean up after your dog everywhere you go. It not only helps to keep the area clean for others, but it also helps to decrease the spread of parasites transmitted through fecal material. Some parasites from cats and dogs are transmissible to humans.

Dogs love to hang their heads out of moving car windows. Be careful of flying debris such as stones, dirt, etc.

If you like to drive with the top down or windows down, ensure your dog is secured in the vehicle by a harness or seatbelt. Jumping from a moving vehicle does not often end safely.

If putting out ant traps in your house, ensure they are secure and safely out of your dog's reach. The ant traps are often baited with peanut butter, a favorite for many canines.