Many people have lived with pets their entire lives. If you are a dog owner or looking to become one, there are several things you should know. This piece will provide lots of food advice for raising dogs well.
Avoid kisses and stick with hugs. Dog kissing may be adorable, but dogs have awfully 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’s an old wives’ tale that a dog has a very clean mouth. This is simply false.
Your dog needs an annual physical exam from the vet, just as you need one from your doctor. Because your dog can’t speak with you, you may have trouble knowing when your dog is feeling pain like if it has arthritis. Annual checkups can catch issues before they develop into something serious.
Be sure to have your pet spayed or neutered. Research shows that doing this can make your animal live longer and reduce their cancer risks. Also, dogs that are fixed do not want to run away as much.
When you begin training your pup, start in your yard or home. It’s never good to try and train your pet when there are quite a few people around. Distractions occur, making it difficult to get your dog to focus on basic commands.
Try using hand signals when training a dog instead of just using verbal commands. When provided with signals of this type, dogs tend to pick things up faster. Test out both methods to see which works for you.
You should talk to your vet about the foods you give your dog. Some puppies take longer to develop, and some types of food may be too rich, leading to an upset belly or vomiting. Be cautious of what you feed your dog.
Do not buy the cheapest dog food. Cheap dog food contains lots of preservatives and additives that your dog doesn’t need. Check out professional recommendations from groups online. Your dog will be much healthier if you feed it some healthy food.
Don’t ever give your dog bones. Rawhide limits the danger when your dog is chewing. It has been proven that rawhide is healthy for your dogs teeth, therefore avoid giving your dog natural meat bones.
Trim your dog’s nails regularly. If they start to curl under then your dog may start to feel pain. You can use store bought clippers to trim them yourself. If you lack the confidence to do this job on your own, a pet groomer will usually do it at a low cost.
If you want to get a pet from a shelter, find a vet who can examine your new dog. Dogs that live in shelters may be sick or may have been around other sick dogs. It’s crucial that your pet has all necessary shots before it’s brought into your house.
Exercise your dog frequently. Regular play and exercise is essential to keep your dog happy, both physically and mentally. No matter what, whether throwing their ball or taking a long walk, you’ll both benefit from it. Not only does it give them the exercise they need, but it also improves your relationship with your dog.
Certain dogs are prone to medical conditions and make yourself aware of this before selecting a dog. If you don’t know the type of dog he is, research it so you will know the type of problems your dog could have. You should inquire with your vet about how you can take care of your dog the right way.
If you are looking for dog of a particular breed, don’t discount your local pound. Dogs are abandoned daily at such facilities, and they are in need of new homes. Simply call your pound and see what they have. This might save your dog’s life.
If your dog seems unhappy and is alone a lot, consider getting a second dog. Dogs love to be social and hate to be alone. Get dogs of similar energy levels and temperaments for the best results.
To prevent your female dog from getting pregnant, be on the lookout for the times she becomes in heat. A female’s scent can travel a very long distance. This can lead to aggression among other males, and you certainly don’t want to be left with an unexpected litter of pups.
Be sure your dog sees the vet once a year. Your dog should see a vet for check-ups, blood tests and to ensure they’re up to date with vaccinations. Your puppy will have to go to the vet more when they are young. Never hesitate to take your dog to the vet if something seems off; remember that your dog can not tell you something is wrong.
Choosing a dog food needs to be done with great consideration. There are plenty of options, and you should find what best matches your dog’s age, weight and other characteristics. While feeding your dog leftover food saves you money, it doesn’t make for a healthy diet.
Now that you’ve come to the end of this article, you know what it takes to take care of your dog. Use these different tips and do more research on the things you need to know about to properly take care of your dog. Read carefully and talk to your vet should you have some questions.
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