It’s never going to be easy all of the time when you own a dog. Just like children, dogs need to be groomed, fed a nutritious diet, have plenty of exercise, and visit the doctor regularly. Sometimes it can be hard to meet the challenges that come along with owning a pet. Read on to find out.
You will pay a lot to take care for your dog. Every dog is going to need supplies, good food, and will also need medical care. After all is said and done this could cost about $800 or more. It can cost a lot of money to take your dog to the vet in an emergency, so you will want to investigate health insurance for your pet.
It’s very important to make sure that your home is safe for a dog. It should be perfectly safe before you bring a dog in. Secure the trash can, stow way all medications and put away your regular cleaning supplies. Certain common house plants are toxic, so remove them or keep them out of reach.
While it’s great to show your dog affection, you shouldn’t kiss them. Your dog’s mouth is fairly dirty at any given time. He probably doesn’t mind eating dirt, enjoys drinking water from the toilet if he can get at it, and tries in vain to clean himself with his tongue. It is an old wives’ tale that dogs have cleaner months than humans. It certainly isn’t the truth.
Don’t ever give your dog bones. Real bones chip apart and can become dangerously lodged in the oral cavity or digestive track. It has been proven that rawhide is healthy for your dogs teeth, therefore avoid giving your dog natural meat bones.
When you first notice behavior problems in your dog, take proper steps to correct the behavior. When you ignore this behavior, your dog thinks that it is okay. This could lead to huge problems down the road.
If you decide to adopt a dog from a shelter, you should schedule an appointment with a veterinarian right away. They may be carrying some sort of illness that they picked up at the shelter. You should also get your dog all of his shots before bringing him into your home.
Train your pet on how to behave correctly when leashed. To properly walk your dog, he must remain directly at your side instead of behind or in front of you. Walking in this manner keeps your dog safe, and you are bound to enjoy walks more as well. This command will be very useful if you walk your dog while keeping the leash very loose.
If your dog seems lonely or seems to have separation anxiety, leave the radio or a CD on when you leave the house. Your dog will appreciate the company of the sound, and he will feel more secure. It can help his anxiety as he waits for your return.
Dogs often get cuts from stepping on glass and other debris. If your dog suffers from a little cut, it should be washed with some form of antiseptic and the bandaged. If the cut seems deep, visit your vet.
When selecting a new dog to come and live with an existing dog, take your current dog to meet him if at all possible. Most dogs enjoy another dog’s company, but some dogs do not get along. If you find that your dogs are compatible, a lot of anguish and trouble can be saved.
Positive reinforcement is the best tool for dog training. Giving your dog praise and rewarding them will teach them better and quicker than force or violence. Treating your dog humanely when training is what is most effective and what is best for him. If you treat your dog well during training, you’ll see excellent results.
Find a good training course for your new puppy. You will have a better life, and so will your dog, if you train it well and teach it to obey the commands you give it. It is easier to start training with a puppy, but even an older dog can be trained successfully.
Begin young when setting rule for your dog. Something that is cute as a puppy won’t be as cute when he or she gets bigger. It’s important to nip habits like these in the bud. When the puppy is observed doing such things, you need to take corrective action immediately. This will help you to train your dog effectively.
Create rules for your dog and make sure you enforce them. Perhaps you have your partner going somewhere for a few nights and you don’t see a problem with letting the dog have their spot. Your pet will have no idea why he gets in trouble for jumping up on the bed the next night. Exceptions to the rules can put your training progress back a few steps.
If your dog whines, do not comfort him. While it is tempting to stroke your dog and soothe it, by doing these things you are communicating to your dog that it does actually have cause for concern. Play a fun game your dog loves or give it a toy to create a distraction.
Try to keep your young puppy from frustrating you. You need to realize that your dog needs to feel comfortable in your home first. If your pup is having anxiety, he make show bad behavior, such as problems with house training and chewing. Make sure you have some patience and care for your dog like it’s a part of the family.
You should not overfeed your dog. Dogs only need need so many calories every day. If they get too much, they can become overweight. Heavy dogs are more prone to health issues. Speak with your vet about which food and how much food is best for your pooch.
Now that you know what to do, you can use these ideas every day as you care for and play with your dog. Starting with these techniques, you can keep learning more and become an experienced dog owner. Using these suggestions, treat your dog right!
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