Whether you are considering getting a dog or you have one already, it is likely that you are aware of the care required by dog ownership. This isn’t something you can start doing without knowing a few things first. The following article will help you to be the best dog owner to your dog.
Be sure your house is dog-proofed. Check your whole home to be sure it is safe prior to bringing a dog home. Put cleaning supplies and medications away and keep indoor trash inside a cabinet. Keep house plants out of his reach, especially if they could be poisonous.
You need to take your older pet to the vet at lease once a year. Your dog can’t speak to you, so it is not easy to know when he’s got arthritis or an aching tooth. A yearly checkup once a year will help diagnose any problems.
Do not fall prey to the temptation to feed your dog “people food”. This causes regular begging and will only teach him want human food every time you have a meal.
Do not fall prey to the temptation to feed table scraps to your dog. Doing so teaches it to beg and ruins its appetite for its regular food. Table scraps are also not nutritionally sound for a dog, and this might mean digestive problems, obesity, and other ailments. Put your dog in another room while the family eats, and do not allow him to reenter the dining space until dinner is done.
This will show your dog that the behavior he is doing just what you want. This will also give your dog that praise comes from good behavior.
Ask your vet how much food your dog needs daily. While some people follow the direction on the back of the dog food packaging, this may not be good for your dog and can make it overweight. Your vet will know how much to feed your dog’s specific needs are.
It is a great idea to put hand signals in use when you are training your pet; use them in conjunction with words. Dogs tend to read body language and signs very well. Try both ways and see which is best for your dog.
Don’t force your dog eat something they don’t want to eat. If your dog doesn’t like a particular treat, just try another brand rather than making him eat. Learn what he likes and dislikes when you first bring it home.
Take the time and correct bad behavior when you first sign of it. Your dog might hurt someone else, including you, so keep him under control.
Talk to your vet about what foods are best for your dog. Keep in mind that a young puppy’s stomach is not ready for certain foods. Choose dog food adapted to the age of your puppy and use common sense when determining which foods are healthy for your dog.
Brushing your dog daily will do more than reduce shedding all over your home. Brushing every day can help your dog to have a shiny and beautiful coat. The reason for this is that brushing distributes a dog’s oils throughout the coat to condition the fur and shiny.
Teach your dog the proper way to walk with a leash. This will make going for walks more enjoyable for you. Even if you still use the loose leash walk at times, it should still know the command anyway.
A dog that spends a lot of time outside should have a warm and safe shelter in case it is needed. If his feet are wet during very cold weather, it will stress him and lead to health problems. Keep your dog safe by giving him shelter.
Do not allow your dog to remain outdoors all day. Dogs are social creatures and need interaction with their owners. A dog by himself tends to be lonely and stressed out if he is left alone outside.Also, when the weather gets bad, hurt by other animals or even abducted.
Trim the hair that’s around your pup’s paws to prevent it from getting matted up. A comb is a good tool to straighten the dog’s fur before you do any cutting. If this process is something with which you are uncomfortable, enlist the services of a groomer.
Try not to force your dog to eat things. If you have purchased treats the dog does not appear to enjoy, do not force the issue. When you have a dog, get to know his likes and dislikes.
Some breeds have inherent health issues. Research the breed of your dog and see if there are any infections or diseases.
A lot of dog owners leave their dogs to the pound because they can’t look after their pet for whatever reason. Just call to your local pound to find out what breeds they may have available. You may be saving a poor dog’s life.
Correct your dog’s bad behavior immediately. When you ignore this behavior, your dog thinks that it is okay. It is possible that your dog could injure a person, and that person could be you! So correct unwanted behavior right away.
Ensure that your dog will come back after being lost by having some type of identification on them. A good way to ensure your dog is to use a breakaway collar and ID tag. This identification tag needs to have the dog’s name as well as a way to contact you. You may also have your dog micro-chipped.
Be proactive politically active on behalf of your pet dog. Be on the lookout for changes in local laws and ordinances that may be passed which could restrict your rights as a dog owner’s rights. It is usually indicative of a particular breed or bad dog.You need to talk to your local officials that responsible owners should have rights.
Be sure to schedule a check up for your new friend with a trusted veterinarian. Make the appointment when you buy your dog. The vet will provide a full health check and create a vaccination schedule. You also want to check with the vet about fixing your dog if you will not be breeding him.
With the assistance of the advice you’ve just received, you should be better equipped to care for a dog properly. Remember to love your pet and act calmly and patiently for a happy existence. You need to look around to find out more information to make your dog happy.