Dogs make for truly great pets. They provide joy and unconditional love to their owner. To benefit both of you, you should learn all that you can about dogs. This article gives you a glimpse of what owning a dog is all about.
It takes quite a bit of money to take good care of a dog. Expect to spend from $700 to as high as $1000 in a year to pay for medical attention, food and other items needed. You should also look into purchasing a good pet health insurance policy to avoid high medical bills.
When you take your dog on vacation with you, get a snapshot of them for your phone. This will help in the rare situation that you get separated from your dog. You will have a current picture of your dog to show to people.
When you have to train a dog, your home and/or yard is the right place to do it. Avoid training your dog where many people are present. They are going to become distracted, and the easiest commands can be tough.
You need to ask your vet to make sure the food you are feeding them is good. Puppies may lack the development needed to tolerate certain kinds of food without getting sick. Be careful when it comes to what you feed your pet.
Talk to your vet about your dog’s food portions. Sometimes the guidelines on pet food labels aren’t correct, and following them could lead to obesity. Your vet will know how much to feed your particular dog.
Get your new pet a veterinary exam. As soon as your dog is brought to your home you should get an appointment scheduled with the vet. Your vet will provide a full check up and establish vaccination dates. Also see about getting your dog fixed because there are tons of animals in shelters and adding to that problem isn’t good.
Always make sure your dog understands how to walk correctly on a leash. The dog needs to stay beside you, not behind or in front of you. It also needs to know the command “heel”. Walking in this manner keeps your dog safe, and you are bound to enjoy walks more as well. Even if you practice a loose leash walk, it’s still important for your pet to know this command.
Give your dog plenty of love. Like many things in life, many owners pay much more attention to bad behavior than good behavior. This can cause problems later on. You should mostly focus on praising and petting your dog when you notice a good behavior. This increases the chance that your dog will repeat the good behavior rather than the bad.
Keep dogs mentally active by giving them many opportunities for physical exercise. Teach your dog to retrieve the newspaper or perform chores in your home. This kind of play will make your dog feel like a contributing member of the family and keep his mental functioning at a high level.
Having too many people trying to train one dog can cause problems. Everyone does things differently, and too many commanders may confuse your dog. Therefore, ensure that only one person is doing the training. The other people should only reinforce the person’s rules and stick by them.
Set a regular schedule for doggie check-ups at your vet. An annual check-up should include blood tests and any needed booster shots. If your dog is young, he will need to go to the vet more frequently. You will also need to see a vet right away if your dog starts showing signs of illness or injury.
If you already have a dog and want to get another one, allow your existing dog to meet the new one before you make your final decision. Dogs are quite social, but sometimes two particular dogs just are not compatible with each other. Finding a compatible dog will save you anguish and trouble.
Before you add a dog into your lifestyle, consider both the pros and cons of this decision. While those cute puppy faces can be hard to resist, it is important to remember that adopting a dog is a serious commitment. Carefully consider the expense, the commitment of time and all the other important aspects of dog care before taking the plunge.
In summary, dogs are good for the soul. In order to be a responsible and trustworthy master to your dog, you should make the effort to educate yourself in the field. Reading this article was a great first step, giving you tons of tips. Utilize this advice, and continue to research on new advice to ensure you are the best possible dog owner.
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