Caring for dogs is a huge amount of work. In a way, it’s almost as if you have a child, but your dog barks vs crying. While this is a serious responsibility, you can care for them with knowledge and patience. Keep reading for some great advice.
If there are prescription and other medications within your home, keep them away from your dog. Swallowing just a few pills could lead to catastrophic health issues for your dog, including a seizure or heart attack. If you find that your dog has eaten any medication, you should call a vet as soon as possible.
When training a dog, practice in the yard or your home. It’s never good to try and train your pet when there are quite a few people around. Being around others can cause distractions, meaning it is more difficult for your dog to master basic commands.
Be sure to keep all medications out of the reach of children and pets. If your dog ingests your medications, it could be fatal. If you notice that your dog has consumed any of your medication, you need to immediately contact your vet.
Allow your lifestyle to dictate the type of dog you adopt or purchase. For instance, if you jog, a toy poodle may not be as great a choice as a dog that is able to run with you. However, if you’re someone who stays mainly at home then seek out a small dog that loves to be adorned with lots of love while lounging around the house. You should find a dog that fits well with your personality.
Check with your vet to determine the amount of food to feed your dog daily. Some people feed the dog based on their food package recommendations, but these can be wrong and cause them to be overweight. Speak with a vet about your dog’s needs and what they should have.
You don’t want to buy the bargain dog food. Cheaper brands usually contain lots of additives and preservatives that can harm your dog’s health. Try using animal advocacy groups or consumer awareness to get a list of great dog foods that have high professional recommendations. Your dog will be in better health when he has high quality food.
Do not feed your dog from the table. This will make him beg more often, and he may gain a preference for human food. Table scraps are also not nutritionally sound for a dog, and this might mean digestive problems, obesity, and other ailments. Keep the dog away from your table when you eat to avoid any temptation on both parts.
Giving your dog a good brush every day will definitely do more than lower their amount of shedding. Brushing every day will also help give them a gorgeous, glossy coat. The reason for this is that brushing distributes a dog’s oils from its skin so it looks soft and shiny.
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. A full check-up, a clean bill of health, and a full complement of the necessary shots is the best way to start off your relationship with your dog.
If you’re thinking about getting a dog, but aren’t sure you want to make the commitment, try serving as a foster home. Many homeless and abused animals are waiting in shelters for someone to adopt them and with over-crowding, resources are slim. Fostering will help you become adapted to the life of a pet owner, and you will be making a difference in the life of a dog at the same time!
Rather than purchasing an actual meat bone for your dog, go with rawhide instead. Bones can chip and get lodged in the digestive tract or mouth. In contrast, rawhide has health benefits for your pet.
Get your dog’s hair trimmed around its paws so that hair doesn’t get matted up. Use a comb and a small pair of scissors for this task. If this process is something with which you are uncomfortable, have a professional groomer do the job.
Stay involved politically for your dog. Be on the lookout for any new laws that may be passed which could restrict your rights as a dog owner. This is often caused by a few bad dogs, or a particular breed. Speak up for the rights of responsible dog owners everywhere by contacting local officials.
Dog care is not something that should be taken lightly. The dog is similar to a child, in that you have to provide it with everything. It’s a hefty task, but you are more than qualified to do it. This piece is a great resource for helping you care properly for any dog.
If you have an outdoor pet, build a shelter for him or buy one that is ready to use. Your dog could get sick if he is left outside in the cold or if the ground is wet. Make sure that your dog has a spacious home that they can go into to get out of the weather.
We hope you appreciated our article. If you have a dog and need advice making sense of his or her behavior, we would highly recommend that you have a look at the following resource which includes a lot of information about dog training:
