Dog ownership is not a responsibility to take lightly. It’s similar to caring for a small child that barks. While this is a serious responsibility, you can care for them with knowledge and patience. Continue reading to find out some great tips for caring for your dog.
It can cost a lot to take care of a dog. Good quality dog food and medical care can cost between $700-1000 a year. Getting into a vet if you have an emergency can cost quite a bit of money, sometimes in the thousands, so you may need pet health insurance too.
Avoid kisses and stick with hugs. Kisses seem nice, but dogs have very dirty mouths. Dogs root around in garbage pails, drink enthusiastically from the toilet bowl and love to lick and smell certain body parts of other dogs. It is folk wisdom that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a humans. This is absolutely a myth!
When it’s time for dog training, you’ll want to do it inside your house or in your yard. Avoid training your dog in heavily occupied areas. They can get distracted, which can make it harder to train them even basic commands.
Carefully consider what your home is like when deciding on a breed of dog. If you like to go out running in the evenings, select a dog that also enjoys vigorous exercise. If you are more of a homebody, a smaller, less active dog who enjoying being pampered is the better choice. When you find the perfect match, you’ll both be happier!
Talk to your vet about your dog’s food portions. The amounts on the label might not apply in your dog’s situation. Speak with your veterinarian about what your dog’s needs are and what amounts are proper.
Take the time to correct bad behavior in your dog at the first sign of it. The longer you ignore it, the more difficult it will be to correct it later, and the consequences could be dire. If you don’t get his behavior under control, your dog could end up biting someone.
Make sure that your dog’s nails are trimmed weekly. If they get so long that they start curling under, your dog will probably hurt a lot. It is easy to keep nails trimmed with simple implements available at pet stores. If this idea makes you uneasy, a groomer can easily attend to them for you.
If you buy a new dog, set up a vet appointment as soon as possible. Immediately after bringing home the new dog, schedule a checkup with your veterinarian. The vet is going to check over your dog to see if everything is okay, as well as set it up to get vaccinations it may need. You should also have your dog neutered or spayed to cut down on pet overpopulation.
If you are considering a dog but aren’t sure, why not trying providing a good foster home for a dog? Shelters for abused or homeless dogs are often looking for temporary homes, called foster homes, where dogs can live until they are adopted out to a permanent home. Fostering dogs will give them a wonderful home – who knows, maybe you will decide to be a fulltime dog owner!
If your veterinarian prescribes medication or special care for your pet, make sure you follow their instructions to the letter. There’s a reason dogs have to endure uncomfortable situations like a cone-collar! Your vet makes recommendations that will help your dog be happy and healthy, so you should follow your vet’s advice.
Health Issues
Certain dog breeds are prone to particular health issues, so find out what is typical for the type of dog you have. You should do some research on the dog breeds you are interested in to learn more about the health issues they are likely to develop. Also, see what advice the vet has in terms of helping your dog overcome breed liabilities.
Let your dog know that you care. Many owners inadvertently spend more time focusing on their pet’s negative behaviors than on all the good things they do. If that persists, your dog may begin to act inappropriately to get your attention. Give your dog positive reinforcement every time they do something right. This will reinforce that positive behavior brings due rewards, and thus lead to a better behaved pet.
Make sure you are providing your dog with the opportunity for plenty of physical exercise as well as staying mentally active. Train him to fetch the newspaper and help with other household chore. Your dog will feel useful and like a contributing piece of the family, during the process of sharpening his mental capacity.
Taking care of your dog is a serious job. In much the same way a child requires care, it is important to have the proper skills, knowledge and tools to care for your canine family member. It can seem difficult, but you’ll be able to do it. This article should have given you a good understanding of what your pup needs, so it’s time to get started.
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