There is little out there that’s like getting a dog when you want loyalty and love. Dogs are terrific family pets, but can also be great for anyone living alone. If you want to take better care of your dog, make good use of the following tips.
Dog-proof your home. Your entire home should be safe prior to bringing the dog inside. Medicine and cleaners should be stored, and indoor trash should be placed in 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.
A physical is good for you, and a yearly vet trip is good for your dog. Obviously, dogs don’t speak, so it can be hard to figure out when they’re having problems with their bones or teeth. A checkup every year can make sure that issues are caught before he is suffering too much.
You should have your dog spayed or neutered. This helps reduce the probability of cancer and extends the life of your dog. Spayed and neutered dogs wander less often as well, so this reduces likelihood of your dog getting hit on the road or lost.
Verbal Cues
Obviously, dogs are unable to sleep. Therefore, you have to pay attention to your canine’s non-verbal cues. If they seem hesitant upon meeting up with other dogs or people, don’t force interaction. One of the animals could become aggressive. Look for your dog’s non verbal cues and react accordingly.
Choose the correct flea medicine for your dog. A lot of them have chemicals that might be bad for kids! Bring up the subject of alternative and family-friendly treatments the next time you see your vet, and always be sure to apply these treatments when no children are present.
Bad Behavior
Be sure to address your dog’s bad behavior when you first notice it. Turning a blind eye to it just makes it harder to fix down the road. Not only will it be difficult to curb the bad behavior, he can pose physical harm to you or someone you love.
You need to make sure your dog can walk on a leash. Your dog should learn to walk by the side of you, teach them to ‘heel’. Your dog will be safer in this position, and you’ll both enjoy your walks more this way. Even if your dog is sometimes walked on a loose leash, it should still know the command anyway.
Trim all hair surrounding the dog’s paws so that it does not become matted. Before you trim it, use a brush to get it as straight as possible. If this process is something with which you are uncomfortable, have a professional groomer do the job.
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. That helps the dog feel like someone is around. That might work to appease his anxiety during the time you aren’t home.
A dog needs both mental and physical exercise. Teach them to do things around the home to help or get a newspaper. This will help your dog to feel like he is helping you out.
You need to ensure your dog will come back if he runs away; that is why you need to have a collar with his information on it. A common way to find a lost dog is to ensure it has a collar with an ID tag. The tag should include your name and contact information as well as the name of your dog. You can also opt to have a micro-chip inserted into your dog.
Annual vet check-ups are important. If your dog is regularly checked out by its veterinarian, they’ll be able to catch things like diabetes or kidney problems before they grow into a major issue. Annual physicals save dog owners money and saves your pet a lot of undue suffering.
You might be tempted to share your food with your dog. You can give him some things, but not others. Dogs should never be given things such as grapes, chocolate and caffeine. They can cause illnesses and, in some cases, even death, and your dog will not benefit by receiving them.
You need to think everything through before you bring a dog home. While a puppy’s face is adorable, you must consider everything as far as providing care. Consider all options so that you know you have taken care of everything.
You need to regular clean your canine’s water and food dishes. Dogs require a clean environment to drink from just like humans. Wash bowls daily and put in fresh water and food afterwards.
If you have very high expectations of your dog, lower them slightly when you begin training. When training your dog, he will not have an attention span as long as yours. Train him a little at a time at first to avoid frustration.
Just like a human, any dog needs consistent cleaning. You should bathe and brush your dog on a weekly basis. This prevents skin issues and helps your home stay clean.
A new puppy should be socialized as early in life as possible. A good way to teach your pup to be social is to take him to be groomed or to the dog park.
Taking care of a dog requires a lot of knowledge. It’s harder than just walking him or feeding him. It’s important to know the correct way to take care of your dog. For many years of companionship and joy, follow the great advice in the article above.
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