The loyalty of a dog is what it makes it such a wonderful pet. Still, not every pet is perfect from the very beginning. You must teach them to behave correctly and you must learn how to care for them. This short guide can help you learn some things about dogs. Read on!
It can be quite costly to own a dog. Expect to spend from $700 to as high as $1000 in a year to pay for medical attention, food and other items needed. Emergency vet care is very expensive, in some cases thousands of dollars, so you might want to consider purchasing pet health insurance.
While hugging your dog will make both of you feel great, refrain from kissing him. It is unsanitary to be licked by a dog. Dogs are always getting into garbage, drink from places like the toilet, and they clean their bodies with their tongues. It is folk wisdom that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a humans. It simply is not true.
Be sure to have your dog spayed or neutered. Research shows that doing this can make your animal live longer and reduce their cancer risks. Also, dogs that have been neutered or spayed stick closer to home, limiting their exposure to dangerous traffic and other hazards.
Be sure your dog is physically active. Regular exercise is a necessity, as is playtime in order to keep him physically and mentally happy. Even the smallest amount of exercise, such as throwing a ball, will be good for your pup and you. This will create a great bond with your dog when performing these activities.
If you buy a new dog, set up a vet appointment as soon as possible. This should be one of the first things that you attend to when you’re bringing home a new pet. Your dog will get a vaccination schedule and a checkup. Also, be sure to speak to the veterinarian about neutering or spaying your dog. There are plenty of dogs already in the shelter, and you don’t want to increase that problem.
Trim the hair around your dog’s paws to prevent it from getting matted up. You should use a comb to straighten out the hair a bit before trying to trim it. If this scares you, have a professional do it.
If your pup seems lonely by itself, consider getting another dog. Dog’s love the companionship of others and enjoy another partner to play with. Choose a friend for your dog that has the same energy level and temperament and you will make your dog very happy.
Make sure that your dog gets plenty of exercise- both physical and mental. You can even teach your dog useful tricks such as fetching the newspaper for you. He’ll feel helpful and like he is a member of the family. At the same time, the training is good for his mental and thinking skills.
Take care with a female dog in heat, unless you want a lot of puppies. A male can pick up on her scent from as far as five miles away! As well as possibly causing a fight amongst male dogs in the area, she might actually get pregnant.
Be politically active on behalf of your pooch! Keep track of local laws which affect dog owners. Many times new, overly-restrictive ordinances have incredibly broad impacts when they’re only intended to affect a tiny minority of pet owners. Be sure you speak up and let your voice be heard by getting in touch with your local officials. Don’t allow bad apples to interfere with your rights.
If your dog has to listen to many people, he may end up confused. Many people do it differently than just having a few commands to give your dog. One person should be the master while the others reinforce what the dog is learning.
Make sure that you are keeping up with your dog’s vet appointments. Vets can find problems such as kidney troubles, thyroid issues and diabetes well before symptoms appear to you. It’s best to take your dog for annual physical, since that is the best way to ensure that there aren’t an problems that have gone undiagnosed for a long time. In the end, you will save money.
Since reading the article above, you can see that taking care of your dog is easy. It may seem slightly hard, but the tips and advice from above will help you move towards the proper way to care for your dog. Take all of the things you learned here and put them to good use.
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