Every family and dog is different. It can be tough to decide what you really want and how to get it. Continue reading to learn more about proper dog care.
Make your home doggie-proof. It is important that you try to foresee any problems your dog might run into prior to bringing him home. Hide cleaning supplies and medicines and hide trashcans in a cabinet. Some plants in your house may be toxic to your dog, so they should be kept where your dog cannot reach them.
Whenever you bring your dog along on vacations, take a quick snapshot of him and keep it on your phone. In the event that he gets separated from you, you have easy access to a current photo to put on flyers that will help identify him.
Yearly physicals help you and yearly vet checks help your dog. Your dog can’t speak to you, which means it isn’t easy to tell if they’re having a tooth ache or issues with arthritis. Getting your dog checked up on annually will allow you to know if there are any problems.
Table Scraps
Don’t give table scraps to your dog. Doing so teaches it to beg and ruins its appetite for its regular food. Table scraps can negatively affect the dog’s health and cause digestive issues or obesity. Resist the temptation and only give dog food to your pup.
Speak with your vet about how much food should your dog be eating each day. Even though many people stick to the label on the can or package of the dog’s food, sometimes these guidelines might not work for the type of dog that you have. This could lead to your dog becoming obese. Speak with a vet about your dog’s needs and what they should have.
Since your dog cannot talk to you, you have to learn how to listen to your dog’s non-verbal language. If you notice that your dog is timid around strangers or other dogs, you shouldn’t attempt to force its interaction with them. This can lead to a bad ending for your dog, the other pooch or the other person. Watch your dog and be aware of his actions.
You don’t want to buy the bargain dog food. The cheaper brands actually contain a lot of preservatives, additives and other ingredients that can compromise your dog’s health. You should contact an animal advocacy group or a consumer awareness program to get some recommendations for quality dog foods. Food that is healthy will benefit your dog.
A daily brush will do much more than prevent your dog from constant shedding. It’ll also give them a very beautiful and shiny coat. Brushing distributes the natural oils of the skin throughout the hair coat for added sheen and softness.
Schedule a visit to the vet when you get a new pet. When you bring them home, schedule a vet appointment. Your dog will get a vaccination schedule and a checkup. Remember that there is a tremendous dog overpopulation problem, so you should have your dog spayed/neutered.
Store your prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines in a safe place where your dog cannot get them. If your dog has access to these pills, there can be fatal consequences. Call your vet as soon as possible if your dog swallows any pills.
Some breeds have inherent health issues you need to watch for. Take the time to read up on your breed so that you don’t get any surprises down the road. Also, see what advice the vet has in terms of helping your dog overcome breed liabilities.
If you’re thinking about getting a dog that is pure bred, keep the local pound in mind. Dogs are abandoned daily at such facilities, and they are in need of new homes. Contact your pound and ask them what breeds are currently there. This might save your dog’s life.
Stepping on sharp objects or glass is a common hazard for dogs waling outside. If you notice a small cut on your dog, use antiseptic to wash it, and then put a bandage around it. If the cut is deep, check with your vet.
Try hand signals in conjunction with verbal commands when training your dog. When provided with signals of this type, dogs tend to pick things up faster. Test out both methods to see which works for you.
Conduct tick and flea inspection on your dog during the warm seasons of the year. Use a flea comb on your dog’s fur. There are a lot of available products that can control fleas and ticks on your dog. Speak with your veterinarian about various flea and tick remedies.
Carefully pick the foods you feed your dog. A variety of foods are available, but that doesn’t mean they’re all perfect for your pet. Serving table scraps to your dog may be cost effective, but it does not provide a balanced and healthy diet for your dog.
If you are starting to train, start by rewarding them in different ways. What does your dog like best? If your dog enjoys food, use small hot dog pieces. If your dog has a favorite toy, reward the desired behavior with playtime with his toy. Some dogs are even driven by being rubbed and petted.
Rawhide is a great alternative to the meat bones that most people feed dogs. Real animal bones can chip and pose a danger to your dog’s digestive tract and mouth. Rawhide is much safer and also cleans teeth.
When it is hot outside, do everything necessary to keep your dog safe. It is easy for a dog to become overheated, and this can cause health problems. Find a shaded and cool area for them to hang out in during the summer. Clean water will also be extra important during these months. Also, your dog might not like the sun’s rays, so ask the vet if you can get some sunscreen for your dog.
Clean your dog’s water and food bowls regularly. Your dog deserves clean bowls as much as you do. Wash them every day, and keep the food and water fresh.
Do not expect your dog to do too much. Your dog’s attentions span is not going to be long when training it. Spend a few minutes a day training your dog what you want him to learn.
Clip your dog’s nails. If they begin to curl under, you dog could experience quite a bit of pain. It is easy to keep nails trimmed with simple implements available at pet stores. If you lack the confidence to do this job on your own, a pet groomer will usually do it at a low cost.
If you do not have someone always watching your puppy, try crate training. Doing this can prevent your items from being damaged and keep the dog from using the bathroom inside the home.
Stay alert for news on pet food and product recalls. Contaminated pet food shows up on store shelves with alarming frequency. There are some great online resources that give updated product information about any pet food that has been recalled. They share info at a rate that’s faster than many news sites.
Hopefully you feel more confident in how to care for your dog. You’ve got all sorts of new information at your fingertips now. Implement these tips into your daily lifestyle to help ensure your family pet is always taken care of.
When it comes to buying food for your dog, don’t skimp by buying the cheap stuff. After a while it’s good for the dog if it has been eating nutritious and high quality food. It costs more, but you’ll save money on vet bills for health issues down the road.
We hope you enjoyed our article. If you have a puppy and want help making sense of his or her behavior, we would strongly recommend that you check out the following resource which provides a lot of relevant information about puppy training:
