When you seek loyalty, love and affection, a dog is the perfect choice as a pet. In fact, everyone in your family can benefit from the presence of a pet. If you are interested in being a better pet owner, the advice in this article can help.
While it’s great to show your dog affection, you shouldn’t kiss them. Dog kissing may be adorable, but dogs have awfully dirty mouths. Dogs tend to dig through garbage cans, drink out of toilets and explore the hind quarters of other animals. There is an old wives’ tale that says that the mouth of a dog is cleaner than that of a human. This is absolutely a myth!
Do not fall prey to the temptation to feed table scraps to your dog. You will spoil him and his appetite and set up begging behavior. Giving your dog table scraps isn’t good for his health as it could result in weight gain and digestive problems. Resist the temptation and only give dog food to your pup.
When it’s time for dog training, you’ll want to do it inside your house or in your yard. You do not want to train your dog around a bunch of people. They may get distracted and it will be more difficult to teach them even the most basic commands.
If you aren’t sure of the amount of food your dog needs on a daily basis, talk to your vet. Many people look at the guidelines on the dog food bag; the problem with this is that some of the recommendations may be inaccurate and could cause your dog to gain weight. Speak with a vet about your dog’s needs and what they should have.
You don’t want to buy the bargain dog food. Less expensive brands of dog food often contain artificial coloring, additives, preservatives and so on that can be very bad for your dog. Contact an animal advocacy group about which foods are best for your dog. Your dog will benefit greatly from better food.
Don’t force anything into a dog. For instance, don’t force it to eat a treat that it appears to hate. Get to know your dog better to figure out how you can make it happy.
If you wish to get a dog, but don’t know if you can commit to it, try getting a foster dog. Shelters are full of abused and homeless dogs and they are hard pressed to give them all proper care. Become a foster parent to test the waters.
Make sure the hair located on your dog’s paws is trimmed in order to prevent matting. Straighten the hair with a comb slightly before you do any trimming. If this scares you, have a professional do it.
Make sure you heed the vet’s instructions when it comes to medications and special care requirements. The dog may not be fond of the treatment or medication, but it’s for its health. Any thing that your vet tells you to do should be done to ensure a healthy dog.
Even if you seek a pure bred animal, you should not overlook the pound. Many pet owners abandon their dogs at the pound when they no longer want to, or are able to, keep them. Just call your local pound to find out what breeds they have available. You can save the life of a dog this way.
If your female dog is in heat be cautious – she could very easily become pregnant. A male can pick up on her scent from as far as five miles away! This causes fights as well as sexual behavior.
Know that an animal doesn’t need too many people telling it what to do when it’s being trained. Everyone does things differently, and too many commanders may confuse your dog. Assign a person to do the training and then have others fortify what he learns by following the same guidelines and respecting the procedure.
Make sure your dog gets an annual health check-up. Your vet can identify health issues such as diabetes, kidney disease and thyroid abnormalities before the problem is apparent to you. An annual physical can save your dog’s life.
You dog should go to the vet on a regular basis. It’s important that the dog sees a vet every so often to make sure there aren’t any shots that they might need. With a puppy, you will need to visit your vet a little more often. If your dog appears to be ill or injured, you should make a trip to the vet immediately.
When you first start out training the dog see what kinds of rewards work best. Figure out what motivates your dog to perform well. If food is the motivator, use hot dog pieces as a reward. On the other hand, if your dog enjoys playing with toys, provide him with a new toy whenever he behaves. A lot of dogs love to be petted and loved on.
If you contain your dog outside, that does not mean you should give him less attention than an indoor dog. He may bark, dig or chew on his paws. He may start being aggressive, too. Therefore, ensure you provide your dog with a lot of attention to ensure his overall health and happiness.
Be very firm in your commands. When some people own dogs they give them extra treats and allow them to misbehave. Not even if he has those big puppy dog eyes! But, by staying firm on the rules, you can avoid issues. If your dog learns that it is not necessary to wait patiently for a few scraps and prefers jumping up to help himself, you may find that the dog takes whatever is in reach without waiting for your permission.
Caring for a dog takes a lot of work. It is not as easy as just feeding it or taking it for a walk. It’s important to know the correct way to take care of your dog. This can help you have many healthy and happy years together.
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