Taking care of a dog is a big responsibility. It’s similar to caring for a kid, except they bark instead of cry. Even though it’s a big responsibility, you can learn to do it well. Keep reading for terrific dog ownership advice.
When it’s time for dog training, you’ll want to do it inside your house or in your yard. It’s never good to try and train your pet when there are quite a few people around. They might feel distracted and not learn a thing.
When training your dog, use hand gestures along with the verbal commands. Using signals such as these, your dog may learn things more easily. Try each way to see what works well with your dog.
Be sure your house is dog-proofed. You need to look for hazards around your home that your dog might run into. Secure the trash can, stow way all medications and put away your regular cleaning supplies. Some houseplants are toxic and need to be kept out of your dog’s reach.
Always give your dog lots of praise and hugs when it does something right. He needs to understand that this is the right thing to do. Your dog will quickly understand that the praise is connected to a certain action.
Avoid the bargain brands of pet food. Less expensive brands of dog food often contain artificial coloring, additives, preservatives and so on that can be very bad for your dog. Contact an animal advocacy group about which foods are best for your dog. Your dog is going to be healthier if he eats better.
Rawhide Bones
Your dog needs to have an annual checkup, the same as you do. Since your dog cannot talk to you, it may be hard to determine when arthritis is setting in or a tooth begins hurting. A checkup every year can make sure that issues are caught before he is suffering too much.
Give your pooch rawhide bones instead of those from real meat. Real bones can chip and splinter, this can cause your dog to choke and wreak havoc on his digestive tract. Rawhide bones are tested and veterinary approved, and they can benefit your dog’s teeth and gums too. Treat your dog to one regularly.
Do not overlook your dog’s bad behavior. The longer you ignore it, the more difficult it will be to correct it later, and the consequences could be dire. Also, the dog may end up hurting someone, perhaps even you.
Brushing your dog on a daily basis has other benefits aside from the fact that he will shed less fur on your furniture clothing. Brushing every day will also help give them a gorgeous, glossy coat. The reason for this is that brushing helps distribute the skin’s oils throughout the coat to condition the fur and skin.
Make sure to keep prescription drugs out of the reach of your dogs. Consuming even a single pill can cause serious health problems or your dog. If your dog gets to your medication, you should call your veterinarian right away.
When obtaining a shelter dog, you need to set up an appointment with your local vet immediately. Shelter dogs have likely been exposed to all kinds of viruses, such as parvo and distemper, which are deadly. It is best to make sure your new puppy gets all the shots needed before you bring it home.
If your dog seems lonely because you’re not home all the time, get him a little friend. Because dogs typically run in packs, they typically love being around other canines. Match them on energy and temperament for the best selection.
Keep a close eye on a female dog when she’s in heat to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. A male dog is able to smell her from up to five miles away. There can be numerous problems, such as causing conflicts with neighbor’s dogs, and getting impregnated with puppies that you don’t know a lot about.
Don’t let your dog out of your property without wearing a leash, regardless of how well he behaves. A feral animal might catch their attention, causing them to pursue them, or an unplanned incitement might lead to a bad situation with other pet owners. You are the only one responsible for your dog’s safety and his actions.
Bring your dogs to their scheduled appointments. Vets can find problems such as kidney troubles, thyroid issues and diabetes well before symptoms appear to you. Giving your dog an annual physical can prevent unnecessary suffering to the animal and unnecessary expenses later on.
Dogs will commonly get cut when they’re walking because of the various debris on the ground. If your dog happens to get a cut, wash it thoroughly and put a bandage on it. If the cut is deep, contact a vet.
Dog ownership is not a decision that should be made on a whim. As you would with a child, it’s important you provide your canine with survival necessities. Though it is a big job to do, you should be able to do it. Just use these suggestions if you need some extra help, and keep caring for your pet.
Nip bad behavior in the bud. You should never ignore bad behaviors when they are puppies because this will make it a lot harder to correct down the road. If your dog is not under control, he could end up hurting you or someone else.
I hope you found our article interesting. If you own a dog and would like help making sense of his or her behaviour, we would recommend that you have a look at the following resource which features a lot of information about dog training:
