Dog ownership is not a responsibility to take lightly. If you decide to become a dog owner, be prepared to spending a lot of time training your dog and playing with it. If you take the time to educate yourself and apply some patience, you can easily become a responsible dog owner. Continue reading to learn some tips on how to care for your dog.
Choose the correct flea medicine for your dog. A large number of them contain high doses of carcinogens and other hazardous ingredients. Talk to the vet to determine if there are other options for your dog.
Table Scraps
Be sure to keep all medications out of the reach of children and pets. Swallowing even one pill can end very badly, with a sick or dying dog. Call your vet as soon as possible if your dog swallows any pills.
Don’t give your dog leftovers from your own plate. Not only will table scraps turn your dog off on their regular food, but it will also teach them to constantly beg. Feeding table scraps to your dog could lead to digestive problems or obesity. While you and your family dine, keep your dog in another room so that table-feeding isn’t an option.
It is important to use your lifestyle as a guide to what breed of furry friend you should get. For instance, if you love to run, get a dog that loves to run too, and leave the miniature breed for someone who is less active. If you are a homebody, a small dog that lounges around a lot is a good fit. Avoid a mismatch if you want both of you to be happy.
Talk to your vet about appropriate nutrition for your canine. Dog food packages provide guidelines, but they can be wrong for your particular pet and lead to obesity. Talk to your vet about what is acceptable and what your dog’s particular needs are.
Check with your vet to determine the amount of food to feed your dog daily. Simply reading the label on your dog food package may not be enough; your dog may have special needs. Speak with your vet and work out an appropriate eating plan for your dog.
Do not buy your dog a particular brand of food just because it is cheap. The brands that are cheaper have preservatives, additives, as well as other things that aren’t good for your dog. Professional associations and dog advocacy groups may offer lists of the highest quality foods available. Your dog will be in better health when he has high quality food.
Rawhide treats are better for your dog than real meat bones. Pieces can break off of the real bone, which may cause your dog to choke. Rawhide is healthy for their teeth and gums, so don’t share your bones, even if the dog wants it!
Should you visit a shelter to adopt a dog, take the animal to the vet as soon as possible. Shelter dogs could be sick or exposed to different viruses. 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.
Take your time to teach your dog what kind of behavior is right or wrong as soon as it occurs. You should never ignore bad behaviors when they are puppies because this will make it a lot harder to correct down the road. You don’t want to be the owner of a dog who hurts someone, so get a handle on it now.
If you’re considering becoming a dog owner, but are unsure if you’re ready to take the step, you can foster one. Shelters are full of animals who need a loving home, and there’s not room to hold all of them. Fostering a dog will both help the cause and allow you to test drive the responsibility involved with pet ownership.
Dogs paws can be damaged by walking through areas that are rife with debris and broken glass. If you find a small cut on your dog, wash it with antiseptic fluid and bandage that area. If you believe your dog has a deep cut, you need to visit your vet.
Dogs need regular check-ups, too. Dogs must see their vet for full exams, vaccinations and routine testing. If your dog is young, he will need to go to the vet more frequently. If your dog becomes ill or is injured, don’t delay in getting him to the vet.
Bring your shelter dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible after you adopt him. Illness is common in shelters, and your new pet could be at risk or already nursing an ailment. Therefore, you should ensure your new dog receives its vaccinations as soon as you obtain it.
Taking care of your dog is a serious job. Do the best you can to keep your dog happy and in good shape. It’s a big challenge, but you’re definitely up to the task. Just use these suggestions if you need some extra help, and keep caring for your pet.
We really hope you enjoyed our article. If you own a dog and need help learning about his or her behaviour, we would highly recommend that you have a look at the resource below which provides a lot of relevant information about dog training courses:
