If your dog needs to eat, it might start scratching at its food dish. When your dog feels the need to relieve himself, he might scratch your back door. If he needs love and attention, he might look at you with those ‘puppy dog’ eyes! A dog cannot easily communicate all of his needs, so you need to keep reading to find out more about them.
You will pay a lot to take care for your dog. Food, supplies and vet bills can add up to $1,000 or more per 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.
If you have medication is your home, even if it is just over-the-counter medication, place it where your dog cannot access it. Just a few of your pills can be disastrous for the dog, inducing a heart attack or seizure. If, by chance, a dog does eat some of your pills, contact the vet right away.
Don’t let a dog go off property without their leash, even if they’re well behaved. A dog might run after an animal and get into trouble, or it might get into a fight with another animal. It is your job to keep your dog safe, and to keep him from harming anyone else or causing anyone problems.
Don’t get your dog food based on how cheap it is. Many of the cheapest brands contain additives, preservatives and other things that can compromise the health of your dog. You can get a list of veterinarian-recommended foods from your vet or from animal advocacy groups or consumer awareness groups. Your dog will appreciate your research.
When a dog behaves badly, correct him immediately. Ignoring it for any length of time will only make it that much more difficult to contain later and you never know what could happen as a result of it now. Your dog might hurt someone else, or you, so take steps to control him early on.
Clip your dog’s nails. If they start to curl under then your dog may start to feel pain. Nails can easily be clipped. Your local pet store will have the tool you need. It is best to take your dog to the groomer if you do not want to do it yourself.
When it is time to buy dog food, avoid buying the cheapest brand. It is vital to give your dog the best quality food. Although you may have to spend more money, you will ensure your dog’s diet is as healthy as possible.
You need to make sure your dog can walk on a leash. Make him walk at your side, and do not let him pull far in front of you or stay far behind. Use the command “heel” to prompt him. Walking like this can keep them safe and help you enjoy walks too. Even if you still use the loose leash walk at times, helping your dog to understand this command is a good idea.
Remember the saying “The more people that work on something, the less likely they are to succeed” while you train your dog. People have different ways of doing things, and having multiple commanders can confuse your dog. Designate one person to be in charge of training and have others reinforce everything the dog learns by adhering to the same rules and respecting the process.
Always make an annual checkup appointment for your dog. This will give your dogs the best chance to avoid life-threatening diseases. 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.
You may think it’s okay to share your own snacks with your dog. This is okay with certain foods, but some things are very bad for a dog. Caffeine, grapes and chocolate should never be fed to dogs. These food items can seriously harm your dog.
You should not just use your dog’s cold, wet nose as a barometer of its health. There are a lot of reasons that dogs will have a wet or cold nose, even when they’re not sick. The overall amount of energy your dog has, its eating habits, and its general behavior are what you should watch. These are a truer indication if anything is amiss with your furry friend. Your dog’s temperature can be taken rectally.
Take special care during the summer. Pets tend to overheat, even before humans begin feeling the strain of the hot weather. Have a shaded, cool area they can go to in the summer. Clean water will also be extra important during these months. Use some doggie sunscreen, too, since sun rays affect dogs.
Dog’s facial expressions can be a good way to understand a dog’s emotions. This article has provided you with another form of understanding that isn’t just body language. Your dog will be happier now that you’ve learned so much!
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