When seeking a new dog, you are sure to want a gentle companion who will keep your feet warm at night. What you actually get could be very different. Regardless, you are now tasked with caring for your dog, and this article will teach you the ropes.
It takes quite a bit of money to take good care of a dog. You will have to spend between $700 and $1000 a year to cover food and medical expenses. Emergency vet care is very expensive, in some cases thousands of dollars, so you might want to consider purchasing pet health insurance.
If you have prescription or over-the-counter medication in the house, make sure that your dog does not have access to it. Your dog could have a heart attack or a seizure if it swallows some pills. If, by chance, a dog does eat some of your pills, contact the vet right away.
Table Scraps
Resist the urge to give your dog table scraps. That encourages him to beg and makes him not want his own food. You might be wrecking your dog’s health by giving him table scraps. If you spend the time to train your dog to spend mealtimes well removed from the table, there won’t be any scrap-feeding temptations to worry about.
Talk with a vet about which foods are good for dogs and which ought to be avoided. Puppies may lack the development needed to tolerate certain kinds of food without getting sick. Always exercise caution when it comes to your animal’s food.
Let your lifestyle determine what breed of dog you should bring into your home. If you love to run, seek out a pooch that will love to run alongside you. Likewise if you are quiet home-body, look for a smaller dog that enjoys pampering and living it up on your sofa. Don’t get a dog that you don’t fit in with if you can avoid that.
Make sure that your dog receives plenty of exercise. Dogs need consistent physical activity to ensure they are physically and mentally fit. Your dog will get the exercise it needs (and you’ll be a little more active yourself!) from virtually any kind of outdoor activity you share with it. Besides just getting some exercise, you’ll be creating a bond between you and your dog.
Make sure you heed the vet’s instructions when it comes to medications and special care requirements. They might not be fond of having a cone attached to their head, but your vet recommended it. You will leave your dog open to serious health problems down the line if you do not follow the advice from your vet for the health of your dog.
If you only have one dog and they aren’t happy or can’t handle being alone a lot, consider getting them a companion. Dogs are pack animals by their very nature and usually prefer the company of their own kind. You need to match like-tempered dogs together.
Take your pet to the veterinarian regularly. Your dog should see a vet for check-ups, blood tests and to ensure they’re up to date with vaccinations. When your dog is still a puppy, it’ll need to go to the vet more often. At the first sign of illness or if your dog is injured, don’t hesitate to take him to the vet.
If your dog happens to have an accident in the house, make sure you remove all traces of it. Use a product specifically designed to clean and remove pet odors. If you still smell dog waste, the dog could be emptied to return to the scene of the crime and repeat the actions.
When you’re picking out another dog to live with the one you already have, your current dog should meet the new one first. While dogs are naturally social, some find it easier to get along with newcomers than 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.
If you’re eating a snack, you sometimes will feel like it’s a good idea to share with your dog. While some foods are fine for sharing with your dog, there are some that must be avoided. Caffeine, grapes and chocolate should never be fed to dogs. Foods like these can cause huge medical problems.
This article presents a lot of techniques that can help you care for your dog. Use it every day and your dog will soon be your dream dog. Dogs that are happy really show it no matter what, so work hard and you’ll see the rewards!
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