Many people have pets throughout their lives. If you are someone who now owns a dog or may be considering getting one, there are some things you should know. Read on to find some great tips from experts and owners alike.
Owning a dog is quite a large financial commitment. High quality dog food, medical care, toys and treats can easily run close to $1,000 in a year. Emergency vet care is very expensive, in some cases thousands of dollars, so you might want to consider purchasing pet health insurance.
Neuter or spay your dog. Research has shown this simple procedure can lessen cancer risks and can give your dog a longer lifespan. Besides, a neutered dog will be less likely to run away or to get in fights with other animals.
If you have medication for you or a family member, be certain your dog cannot reach it. Swallowing a couple pills could can serious health issues, even heart attacks and seizures. If, by chance, a dog does eat some of your pills, contact the vet right away.
Rawhide Bones
Give your pooch rawhide bones instead of those from real meat. Bones can lodge in the mouth or throat, causing devastating injuries. Rawhide bones are tested and veterinary approved, and they can benefit your dog’s teeth and gums too. Treat your dog to one regularly.
Do not overlook your dog’s bad behavior. The longer you ignore it, the more difficult it will be to correct it later, and the consequences could be dire. Neglecting your dog’s behavior can lead to injuries.
Your dog’s nails need to be trimmed regularly. It can be quite painful for your dog if his nails start curling under. You can buy clippers in a pet store and do them yourself. If you aren’t comfortable with this, invest a little money and take your dog to the groomers.
Make sure the hair located on your dog’s paws is trimmed in order to prevent matting. You ought to use a comb as a means to straighten it before trimming. If you have a hard time with this, enlist the services of a groomer.
Some breeds have inherent health issues you need to watch for. Take the time to read up on your breed so that you don’t get any surprises down the road. Also, seek advice from your vet.
Dog Owners
Be politically active when it comes to your dog. Legislation aimed at dog owners is proposed every now and then, and you need to know if this affects you. This is just motivated by some bad apples or a certain breed. Speak up for the rights of responsible dog owners everywhere by contacting local officials.
Carefully choose your dog’s food. Since there are so many, you should find one that is made for your particular dog. Though just giving your dog your own leftovers is cheaper, it is not good for their health.
Always think carefully before you bring dog into your home and life. It’s a great deal of responsibility, after all. Take the time to consider everything first so that you can be confident that you are capable of managing it all.
Rely on positive reinforcement when you train your dog. Offer the dog plenty of praise and treats when they do well, as they will learn much faster than if you were more stern with them. Treating your dog humanely provides better results and is better for your dog long term. Therefore, be kind during training; you are going to get better and quicker results.
It’s a good idea to keep an eye on what your dog is eating throughout its life. Young puppies need foods rich in calories to grow. When they reach adulthood, these same foods can lead to obesity and health problems.
Be patient with your dog and do not push the training too hard. When you’re getting a dog trained, it may not have a long attention span. Spend a few minutes a day training your dog what you want him to learn.
After taking in the above article, you should now have a lot of knowledge on how to properly care for a dog. So long as you use this information, your experience with dog ownership should be a positive one. If you’re still unsure of what to do next, just go over this article one more time.
Get a pet sitter to take care of your household pets. If you have a kitten or pet dog or other pets who requirea sitter, go through our website and discover the most suitable pet sitter for you.
