I understand how fun it can be to own a dog, I get it. But being a canine owner also comes with its share of responsibilities.

As a dog writer, I take it as my duty to disclose some of the practices you carry out that can put your dog in danger.

#1. Unsafe Car Rides

Have you been working up your courage to try at least one trip with your new furry friend?

I’ll be honest with you, I think it’s the dream of every dog owner to hit the road with their pooch.

Whether it’s a cross-country adventure or a simple ride, for many dogs, a car ride is one of life’s happy experiences. I’d say as happy as when they are when they receive frozen treats during scorching summer seasons.

And, their delight is often visualized when their ears flap in the wind with their noses lifted high, inhaling a symphony of smells.

But, this similar car ride might represent a nerve-wracking ordeal for other dogs. Your destination might be the vet’s office or shopping mall, but it doesn’t make any difference for your dog, who might not find a car ride as exciting as you might think it will.

Now, even if your dog loves taking road trips with you, the bad news is that you might be gambling with your dog’s precious life.

So, what do you do?

Here are some safety tips:

• Use the right equipment to secure your dog, such as a crate, seat belt or harness.
• Never leave your pet alone in the car, especially during a hot summer’s day when the interior of your vehicle can shot up to unsafe levels.
• Take breaks on the pet-friendly route.
• If you don’t want your pooch to be dog sick, don’t feed it before you hit the road.
• Don’t go unprepared and make sure you bring along with you all the essentials, including your dog’s car safety equipment.

#2. Walking Without a Leash

Ok, I get it. Your pooch is great and well-trained. You have been through an extensive training with him and now he knows all the verbal commands that could ever exist. He might have been a service animal or is the best-behaved dog that you’ve ever had. Ok, I get all of that.

But, truth is, I don’t really care how amazing your dog is. My concern is how you are 100 % convinced that your dog will never get into danger.

Buddy, I know you consider Rufus or Tommy as a close family member, but the truth is he is an animal and the assumption that your dog won’t do anything spontaneous is so wrong.

You might’ve trained your dog for months, but when you are indirectly giving him this level of freedom, you cannot expect it not to come with inherent risks.

#3. Giving Them Too Much People Food

Sure, that sounds cool feeding human foods to your dog. But, are you aware that you are actually putting your dog in jeopardy?

I know it’s hard to resist giving your pooch a small part from your dinner plate, especially when it’s looking at you with those adorable begging eyes. But, the question here is, why shouldn’t you feed him with table food?

Here why:

• Human food is too rich and fatty which can cause digestive problems in dogs such as vomiting, diarrhea and even more serious health problems like pancreatitis.
• Table scraps can make them gain too much weight.
• Each time you are tossing table food to your dog, you are encouraging its begging behavior.

Here is a list of food that you should never leave when your pooch is around:

• Chocolate and caffeine
• Alcoholic beverages
• Raisins and grapes
• Avocado
• Milk and other dairy products
• Chives, garlic and onions

Do you find yourself committing such practices often? To be fair, let me confess, I was once like you. However, I hope now that you are confronted with that harsh reality, you’ll put a stop and start caring more for your dog.