Dogs provide joy to many lives when they get proper care. If you want your dog to be healthy and happy, then you must learn to help them with what they need. Read on for information that will help you take care of your dog over his lifetime.
Make your home dog-proof. Before you bring a dog into your home, you should be sure that the area you’re bringing it to is safe. Make sure all of the medicine is put away and the cleaning supplies are up and safe. Some plants in your house may be toxic to your dog, so they should be kept where your dog cannot reach them.
A physical is good for you, and a yearly vet trip is good for your dog. Your dog will not be able to express its concerns, so make sure that you get it a checkup periodically. Annual checkups can catch issues before they develop into something serious.
Make sure you are informed of what flea treatments you are using for your dog. Quite a few of them use ingredients that are very unsafe for kids, including an ingredient that has been linked to cancer. Talk to your veterinarian about the safest options, and don’t let your kids near the dog while you’re doing a treatment.
Table Scraps
Keep table scraps to a minimum. Feeding a dog from the table only reinforces begging. The dog will also be less likely to eat its normal food. A dog fed on table scraps will be prone to unhealthy weight gain, disruptive digestive problems, and other health issues. Keep the dog away from your table when you eat to avoid any temptation on both parts.
When training a dog, practice in the yard or your home. Don’t train in a park. It will be very distracting for your pup.
Choose a dog in that can easily and happily blend into your lifestyle. If you jog a lot, buy a dog that likes to run, and not something like a toy poodle. If you spend more time in the home, a more sedate, indoor dog will fit your lifestyle best. Don’t get a dog that you don’t fit in with if you can avoid that.
Buy or build a home for the dog if they need to stay outside when it’s cold. If your dog happens to get his feet wet for a long period of time in cold temperatures, it can cause health complications. Keep your dog safe from precipitation and winds by providing him with a place that is spacious, with a dry floor.
Do not force your dog to eat things. For instance, don’t force it to eat a treat that it appears to hate. Learn about your dog’s various likes and dislikes when you first bring it home.
Ensure that your dog gets enough exercise. Exercise keeps your dog healthy, both physically and mentally. Throw a ball around the park with your dog and play fetch. In addition to providing much needed exercise, you will develop a lifelong bond with your pup.
Trim the hair around your dog’s paws to prevent it from getting matted up. A comb is a good tool to straighten the dog’s fur before trimming. If this scares you, have a professional do it.
If you’re thinking about getting a dog that is pure bred, keep the local pound in mind. A lot of dog owners leave their dogs in the city pound when they can’t look after their dog anymore. Contact the pound in your area to see what kinds of breeds they have at the time. You can save the life of an abandoned dog this way.
If you have a dog that has problems with separation anxiety, or to be nice, you should leave music on when you’re going out of the house. The sounds of the music will provide a sense of security and company for your dog. That might work to appease his anxiety during the time you aren’t home.
Stay on top of canine politics for your friend. Watch for local legislation that may be passing through the system, restricting and regulating dog owner’s behavior and rights. These sort of things typically happen because of a few dogs acting out, or popular opinions about a certain breed. Stand up for your rights!
Keep vet appointments for your dog. This will give your dogs the best chance to avoid life-threatening diseases. Annual physicals save dog owners money and saves your pet a lot of undue suffering.
If you’re adding a second dog to your home, try to let your first dog meet the second before bringing it home. While dogs are social instinctively, certain breeds and temperaments get along better with others. If you manage to find two dogs who are instant best friends, it will make your job of training them to get along that much easier.
Positive Reinforcement
Your training techniques should only use positive reinforcement. Praise and rewards will help the dog learn faster than dominance and violence. Positive reinforcement is more efficient and will allow you to connect with your pet. Being nice to your dog and treating him well during training will yield the best possible results.
You need to provide your dog with shade and water during the summer. Dogs have a coat of fur and can get hot very quick. Find a shaded and cool area for them to hang out in during the summer. Keep some cool (and clean) water around. Also, dogs can suffer from the effects of the sun, so see if the vet recommends sunscreen.
Washing your dog’s bowls should be done regularly. Just like you, your dog doesn’t want to use food and water bowls that are dirty. Each day, clean out your dog’s dishes before filling them up with fresh water and food.
Dogs have the potential to bring unrivaled joy to anyone’s life. It is, however, important to have sufficient knowledge of what makes and keeps dogs happy and energetic. Hopefully, this article has offered some useful guidance on caring for dogs.