Are you having a hard time with training your dog? Does he destroy your valuable items without hesitation? You need to learn more about dogs and dog training. The following article gives wonderful training advice for pet owners.
It is expensive to own a dog. Food, supplies and vet bills can add up to $1,000 or more per year. Emergency care for animals can cost thousands of collars, so think carefully about getting pet health insurance.
Take the time to make sure your house is dog-proofed. Before you bring a new dog home, make sure the whole area is safe. Put all medication and cleaning supplies away, and keep your indoor trash can inside a cabinet. Some plants that are usually kept in the home are poisonous to pets, so move them where your dog cannot get to them, or put them out of your home completely.
Store your prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines in a safe place where your dog cannot get them. Your dog could be seriously injured or killed by ingesting a couple of small pills. Call your vet as soon as possible if your dog swallows any pills.
Look into the flea treatments. Lots of treatments contain things that can be harmful to kids. Talk to your veterinarian about the safest options, and don’t let your kids near the dog while you’re doing a treatment.
When training a dog, practice in the yard or your home. This prevents some of the problems that are associated with training around a lot of other people. It is very difficult to teach a dog that is distracted by people and disturbances.
Speak with your vet about the amount of food you should be feeding your dog each day. While there are those that feed their dog whatever it says on the package, this may not be good for your dog and can make it overweight. The vet will know what is best for your pet.
Rawhide bones are the best options for your dog. Rawhide limits the danger when your dog is chewing. Rawhide is a healthy alternative and will help keep your dog’s teeth clean as he satisfies his need to chew.
To prevent the hair around a dog’s paws from matting, you should keep it trimmed. Straighten hair with a comb a bit before you trim it. If you are not comfortable with this process, it would be a good idea for you to go and get it done by a professional groomer.
Local Pound
If you’re thinking about getting a dog that is pure bred, keep the local pound in mind. Unfortunately there are many people out there who simply cannot care for their dogs anymore and they end up at the local pound. Visit your local animal shelter to see the dogs they have on offer and ask about breed-specific rescues. This can help save the life of a beautiful dog.
If you’ve got just one dog and he doesn’t seem all that happy or is left alone a lot, think about getting him a friend. Because dogs typically run in packs, they typically love being around other canines. Match them up carefully by temperament and energy levels and your dog should be in canine heaven!
If you do not want your female dog to become pregnant, be careful with her when she goes into heat. Males can smell a female’s scent from a full five miles away. Your dog could cause some fights and you will be responsible for finding new homes for the puppies if your dog gets pregnant.
Always go to your dog’s yearly check-up. 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.
Dogs tend to get cuts and scrapes on their paws from things they step on. If you find a small cut on your dog, wash it with antiseptic fluid and bandage that area. Deep or serious wounds must be seen by a vet.
Whenever your dog has a house-training accident, be careful to clean it very thoroughly. Utilize professional grade cleaners and odor removers as well. If you still smell poop, your dog will too and might strike again.
Be careful when you select food for your dog. Find a type suited for your dog’s breed, age and condition and be sure to consider other factors such as potential allergens. When you give your dog leftovers to save money, you have to make sure your dog is getting the right nutrients and vitamins.
When you are enjoying a snack, you might be tempted to share a little with your dog. This is okay with certain foods, but some things are very bad for a dog. Dogs are not able to tolerate grapes, chocolate and anything with caffeine, for instance. These kinds of foods may have detrimental effects on the animal’s health.
It is very important for you to monitor all of the food your dog eats. When they’re a puppy, you can give them calorie-dense foods since they need them for growth. On the other hand, adult dogs need less food and foods that are lower in calories to keep their weight in check.
Ask your vet what you should feed your dog. Depending on your pet’s age, and his or her medical condition, he may require a specialized meal plan. You want to ensure that whatever you feed your dog will not damage his health further. Therefore, seek a vet’s advice as to what would work best for your dog.
Leave those days of the bad dog behind. You won’t have to witness your dog chewing on your favorite shoes or barking at every single person that he sees. The answer to your dog’s issues rest with you, the owner. Remember the tips that you read here and teach your dog good behavior.