Are you wondering what you can do to be sure that you’re taking care of your dog properly? A lot of people feel like the food offered in grocery stores isn’t nutritious enough for their dog. This is why many of them do things themselves. With a little sound advice, (like the tips you’ll find below) treating your dog well is a real breeze.
Spay or neuter your dog. Research has shown that by doing this you can be sure your pet can have a longer life and not be at risk for things like cancer. Also, dogs that are fixed lose their desire to stray from the home, lessening the chance of them getting lost or hurt.
If you take your dog with you on vacation, keep a photo of him on your phone. This will help in the rare situation that you get separated from your dog. You will have a current picture of your dog to show to people.
It can be quite costly to own a dog. Expect to spend from $700 to as high as $1000 in a year to pay for medical attention, food and other items needed. A sick dog could cost you tens of thousands! Look into doggie health insurance!
Make sure you are using the right flea treatments on your pet dog. A large number of them contain high doses of carcinogens and other hazardous ingredients. Discuss any concerns with your veterinarian, and see if he has more holistic treatment options that might help to keep your pet free from fleas and your family safe.
Keep your dog on leash any time he leaves your fenced yard, regardless of his gentle nature and good behavior. A wild animal may get his attention and cause him to run off, or he may have a bad situation with others and their dogs. You’re responsible for everything your dog does, and for his safety. as well.
Make use of hand signals when training your dog versus relying only on verbal commands. These signals will help you keep your dog under control in a noisy environment. Try both ways of giving commands to see what works best.
You need to have a physical every year, and so does your dog. Since your dog does not speak the human language, he simply cannot tell you if his tooth aches or his arthritis is making it difficult for him to walk. Getting your dog checked up on annually will allow you to know if there are any problems.
Choose a dog in that can easily and happily blend into your lifestyle. A good example would be if you are a runner. A dog that can keep up with you while you run would be a good choice. On the other hand, if you are the type of person to sit at home, you need a smaller breed that will enjoy lounging around with you. You should find a dog that fits well with your personality.
When the dog does something right, be sure to lavish praise on him or her. After all, your goal is for your dog to know when it is doing something good. It teaches your pup that he will be rewarded for good behavior.
Don’t force anything into a dog. If you got them a treat and they aren’t interested in it, don’t make them eat it. Get to know your dog better to figure out how you can make it happy.
Make sure that your dog gets neutered. Research shows that doing this can make your animal live longer and reduce their cancer risks. Also, dogs that get fixed won’t feel the need to wander away so that may mean that they won’t get into accidents like getting hit by a vehicle.
Nip bad behavior in the bud. Turning a blind eye to it just makes it harder to fix down the road. You need to make sure your dog is happy to keep them in control and so he does not hurt anyone.
Your dog’s nails should be trimmed regularly. When they start curling under, the dog runs the risk of experiencing pain. You can purchase clippers and do this at home. If you aren’t confident enough to do it yourself, take the dog to a local pet groomer.
Exercise your dog frequently. Dogs need routine activity and play in order to stay happy and healthy. Whether you take a dog on an extended walk or toss a ball around, your dog and you will both benefit. Exercise is a great way to bond with your pet.
If your dog comes with you on vacations, you need to have an up-to-date picture of it on hand and in your phone. That way, if he happens to get separated from the family, you have an up-to-date picture of him that is easily accessible for showing people or can be downloaded for printing up “lost” flyers.
If separation anxiety plagues your dog, or you want your dog to feel less lonely, play some music while you are at work. The noise can help him feel more secure. This could be the perfect fix to keep him calm until you return.
Never miss one of your pet’s annual check-ups. This allows the vet to catch any diseases in the early stages before they can cause enough damage for you to even notice. Giving your dog an annual physical can prevent unnecessary suffering to the animal and unnecessary expenses later on.
YOur dog does not have to just be satisfied with what you can get at any store. There’s plenty of food options for dogs beyond the grocery store. Keep this information in mind for ideas to improve your relationship with your own dog.
Use flea treatments with caution. Many have ingredients that may put kids at risk for various cancers over 1000 times what the EPA may consider to be safe. Talk to your veterinarian about safer alternatives.
We really hope you appreciated our article. If you have a puppy and want advice making sense of his or her character, we would strongly recommend that you look into the resource below which provides a lot of information about puppy training:
