Are you a past or present dog owner? If you are, then you’re already aware of how great dog ownership can be. However, those rewards are increased through knowledge and responsibility. This article provides excellent information on caring for a dog.
You should take your dog to the vet at least once a year. It can be difficult to know what could be causing your dog pain since they cant talk to you. Annual checkups can catch issues before they develop into something serious.
Be sure to have your pet spayed or neutered. Research has shown that by doing this you can be sure your pet can have a longer life and not be at risk for things like cancer. Also, dogs that are fixed do not want to run away as much.
Make sure to keep prescription drugs out of the reach of your dogs. If the dog gets near the pills, then just a few of them could do serious harm and result in a trip to emergency room. If your pet does manage to ingest some medicine, contact the vet right away.
When you are training your dog, you should practice in your home or in your yard. Don’t train in a park. People will only distract your dog, making it more difficult to train him.
Try hand signals in conjunction with verbal commands when training your dog. Using hand gestures can help your dog to recognize commands quicker. Try these things to find out what is the best for your pet.
If your dog behaves properly, be sure it is praised and given affection. You need the dog to realize that he or she has done something you like. This will teach the dog that when they do what you wish, they’ll get praised.
Dog Foods
Try not to base your dog food choices on the price of the food. The cheaper dog foods have tons of additives and preservatives which aren’t the best for your dog. Find a list of recommended dog foods from the vet or an advocate for animals. Your dog will appreciate your research.
Do not force your dog to do anything. If you’ve purchased your dog treats that it doesn’t want to eat, set them aside. Learn what he likes and what he doesn’t.
Be sure to schedule a check up for your new friend with a trusted veterinarian. Make a vet appointment right after the dog comes home. Your vet will provide a full check up and establish vaccination dates. In addition, consult your vet about spaying or neutering your dog. The shelters are already overcrowded, so you do not want to make that problem worse.
Your dog must learn to walk on a leash correctly. He needs to know to heel next to you, not behind you or in front of you. If your pet is leash trained, it’ll be safer, and you’ll enjoy walks more as well. Even if you’re using loose leashes for walking here and there, make sure the dog understands this command.
Get your dog spayed, and if you have a female in heat, take extra care that she does not become pregnant. A male dog is able to smell her from up to five miles away. This can cause dogs to fight over her, and she may get pregnant by a dog you are unfamiliar with.
Ensure that your dog will come back after being lost by having some type of identification tag. It’s a good idea to fit your dog with a sturdy collar equipped with ID tags. This tag needs to contain all of your relevant contact details and the name of your dog. You may also want to install a micro-chip into your dog.
There are many positives associated with owning a dog. When you know all you can about dogs, the rewards are even greater! Now that you’ve read this information, you should understand dogs pretty well. Enjoy every moment with your dog by putting them to use today!
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