When seeking a new dog, you are sure to want a gentle companion who will keep your feet warm at night. However, sometimes this is not the result. That said, you have to train it to be what you want. Read on to learn what else you need to know:
Make sure your home is dog-proof. Check your whole home to be sure it is safe prior to bringing a dog home. All cleaning supplies and medications should be moved out of reach of your dog. You should also find a way of securing your trash somewhere that your dog cannot get to, such as in a cabinet. Certain plants are toxic, and it’s best to move them, too.
Be sure to have your pet spayed or neutered. Research has proven that this can reduce your dog’s risk of cancer and make them healthier in general. Besides, a neutered dog will be less likely to run away or to get in fights with other animals.
Make sure you are using the right flea treatments on your pet dog. A lot of these medications have ingredients that can be harmful to children and can cause cancer. Talk to your vet about safer options, especially when there are kids around.
Practice training your dog around your home, where you and your pup can be alone. This allows you to control how many people are there while the training takes place. The more people there are, the more difficult training will be. Your dog may have trouble paying attention, and even the simplest commands could go right over their head.
No matter how nicely your dog behaves, never take it off your property unless it is on a leash. He could easily get spooked by something and run off into harm’s way. You’re responsible for everything your dog does, and for his safety. as well.
Talk to your vet about which foods you should be feeding your dog. If your puppy is very young, it might not be ready to consume specific brands, and feeding them to your pup can result in sickness. Be safe when taking care of your dog.
If you get your dog from the pound, make sure you have a vet check him out right away. Dogs from shelters might have been exposed to viruses or might already be sick. A full check-up, a clean bill of health, and a full complement of the necessary shots is the best way to start off your relationship with your dog.
Schedule a visit for your new dog with your local veterinarian. Directly after getting your dog, be sure to make a check up appointment with a trusted vet. In addition to giving your dog a check up, the vet will schedule vaccinations. Set up an appointment to have your dog fixed, too.
Providing foster care for a homeless dog can be a great way to see if you are suited to care for a dog. Shelters are full of animals who need a loving home, and there’s not room to hold all of them. Besides helping you figure out if full-time ownership is right for you, fostering will also do a great deal for the cause of abandoned animals as a whole.
Avoid matting on your dog’s paws by keeping the hair on them trimmed. Clean and comb the hair before you trim it. If you’re uncomfortable trimming hair, you should probably have your dog groomed by a professional.
Make sure that you show your dog affection at all times. Many owners inadvertently spend more time focusing on their pet’s negative behaviors than on all the good things they do. That could be real trouble with the dog. Try to ensure that you praise or give affection to your pet at least five times for every instance of reprimand or scolding. This will make them very happy when around you.
Get politically active for your dog! Local legislation that could restrict or regulate the rights of dogs and their owners might be on the table. That legislations is often motivated by certain breeds or certain dogs that have behaved badly. Get in touch with administrators and legislators to exercise your rights as a responsible citizen and reliable dog owner.
Annual Check
Make sure to keep all of your dog’s annual check-up appointments. Your vet can identify health issues such as diabetes, kidney disease and thyroid abnormalities before the problem is apparent to you. In the long run, annual check-ups save the owner a lot of money and prevent the dog from a lot of unneeded suffering.
It is not uncommon for dogs to get cuts on their paws from stepping on pieces of glass and debris. Clean any small cuts on your dog with antiseptic, and bandage the area. If the cut seems deep, visit your vet.
Get to your vet on a regular basis. He should visit once a year for tests, weighing and vaccinations. A puppy will have to visit the vet more frequently. If your dog appears to be ill or injured, you should make a trip to the vet immediately.
There’s an abundance of advice in this article, and you should take full advantage of it. Take it all in and soon enough you will see how much more fun it is to be the owner of a happy dog. A dog that is happy will love you unconditionally.
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