There is more to having a dog than simply providing it with food and the occasional petting. It needs constant attention throughout the day. But how do you know what it takes to properly care for your pooch? The following article contains helpful advice you can use when owning a dog.
Neuter or spay your dog. Research has shown this simple procedure can lessen cancer risks and can give your dog a longer lifespan. Furthermore, altered dogs do not have the tendency to wander off, so they will stay safer.
If you are on any kind of medication, you should ensure your dog never gains access to it. Even if the dog were to eat a couple of pills, it could have very life threatening effects. If this does happen, call your vet immediately.
Resist the urge to give your dog table scraps. Your dog will constantly beg for food when you are eating and will not be hungry when the time to feed it comes. Overfeeding him will lead to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, too. Insist that your dog wait away from the table during family meals to avoid temptation on his part – and yours.
Which breed you need to buy depends on 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. Likewise if you are quiet home-body, look for a smaller dog that enjoys pampering and living it up on your sofa. Keeping a mismatch out of play makes both of you happy.
Rawhide is a great alternative to the meat bones that most people feed dogs. Real bones can chip and become lodged in harmful place such as the digestive tract. Also, rawhide is better for the health of your dog’s teeth.
Do not overlook your dog’s bad behavior. Ignoring it can help your dog to establish lifelong bad habits. The longer you wait to address the problem, the worse the problem will become. Neglecting your dog’s behavior can lead to injuries.
If your dog behaves properly, be sure it is praised and given affection. You want to let your dog know that the behavior is something that you want to see. This is called positive reinforcement.
Daily brushing for your dog does more than simply prevent shedding. Brushing daily can ensure your dog’s coat is shiny and healthy looking. Brushing helps to spread the oil on the skin which results in soft, shiny, and healthy skin.
Avoid keeping your dog outdoors all day, every day. Dogs need to interact with people and other dogs. Your dog will get very lonely if it is left outside by itself. Plus, bad weather can be health and even life threatening to your pet.
You can find many types of dogs at the pound, even pure breeds. Dogs are abandoned daily at such facilities, and they are in need of new homes. Call the shelter to find out which dogs they have available. When you adopt a dog, you save its life.
Rather than purchasing an actual meat bone for your dog, go with rawhide instead. Bones can fall apart and become lodged between teeth or digestive system. Rawhide is a healthy alternative and will help keep your dog’s teeth clean as he satisfies his need to chew.
If you have a dog that has problems with separation anxiety, or to be nice, you should leave music on when you’re going out of the house. That helps the dog feel like someone is around. This could be the perfect fix to keep him calm until you return.
Female Dog
To prevent your female dog from getting pregnant, be on the lookout for the times she becomes in heat. Males can pick up the scent of a female dog in heat, and this can even happen from several miles away. This causes fights as well as sexual behavior.
If your dog spends time outside, he should have a good house. You can purchase one or build one yourself if you are handy. Particularly if his feet get wet, extended exposure to extreme temperatures causes stress and can lead to health complications. Keep your dog safe from the elements by providing shelter.
Whenever your dog has a house-training accident, be careful to clean it very thoroughly. Use a cleaner specifically made to clean up such messes. If any scent remains, the dog might soil the area over and over.
When selecting a new dog to come and live with an existing dog, take your current dog to meet him if at all possible. Most dogs enjoy another dog’s company, but some dogs do not get along. If you find one that gets along with your current one, you’ll save yourself a lifetime of headaches.
When you’re snacking, you might be tempted to let your dog snack too. You can give him some things, but not others. Caffeine, grapes and chocolate should never be fed to dogs. They can make you dog seriously ill or even cause death if enough is ingested.
Correct bad behavior the first time you see it from your dog. If you ignore it, you are going to make the problem harder to contain, and you aren’t sure what the result of bad behavior will ultimately be. Neglecting your dog’s behavior can lead to injuries.
By learning more about caring for your dog, you can give him the love and attention he deserves. You can make sure your dog is both happy and healthy. Doesn’t it stand to reason that your dog craves responsible care from you as well as love and affection?
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