Dog Owner Questions Answered In This Article
Some dogs require a bit of work to make them the great companion that they should be. To really get the most out of your relationship with your dog, you need to spend a little time learning about proper dog ownership. This article has some great tips for taking better care of your dog.
Take the time to make sure your house is dog-proofed. Make sure any area your dog will be in is safe. Do not have any pills out in the open and put all supplies in cabinets. Many common household plants are poisonous, so keep them away from your dog or get rid of them.
Keep in mind that dogs are expensive. Expect to spend from $700 to as high as $1000 in a year to pay for medical attention, food and other items needed. It can cost a lot of money to take your dog to the vet in an emergency, so you will want to investigate health insurance for your pet.
Give your dog hugs, but don’t kiss him. Your dog’s mouth is fairly dirty at any given time. Dogs really get into everything, from toilet water to the neighbor’s trash. It saying that the dog’s mouth is much cleaner than a human’s is folklore. It’s not true.
Table Scraps
You need to have a physical every year, and so does your dog. Your dog can’t talk, it might be difficult to find out what is wrong if there is an issue. Regular checkups will help you find these issues prior to them becoming a serious problem.
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 can negatively affect the dog’s health and cause digestive issues or obesity. Keep the dog away from your table when you eat to avoid any temptation on both parts.
When it comes to dog flea treatments, you should proceed with caution. Some medicines can put your children in harms way. Speak with your vet to see if there are any alternatives that are healthier choices for your pet and your family.
Don’t take your dog off of your own property without a leash, no matter how well-behaved he is. He could easily get spooked by something and run off into harm’s way. Understand that any damage your dog causes to other people and their pets is your responsibility, so you need to always use caution when off your property.
Carefully consider what your home is like when deciding on a breed of dog. For example, someone that stays inside a lot would want a calm lap dog and not a hyper breed. Similarly, if you’re quiet and stay at home, small dogs might be better suited to you. Avoiding a mismatch means both of you will be happier.
Let your dog chew some rawhide rather than meat bones. Pieces can break off of the real bone, which may cause your dog to choke. Also, rawhide is better for the health of your dog’s teeth.
When you’re choosing your dog’s food, don’t cut costs by going with the cheapest option. It will benefit your dog greatly if he is fed food that is nutritious and high in quality. Though better brands cost more, it is worth it to know your dog is receiving the nutrients it needs.
Regularly brushing your dog’s fur won’t just stop your pet from shedding on your furniture. Regular brushing encourages a healthy, shining coat. This is mainly due to the fact that brushing allows the oils in the skin to be distributed evenly. That keeps the skin soft, shiny, and healthy.
When you get a new dog, schedule a visit with a vet. Make an appointment as early as possible. The vet will provide a full health check and create a vaccination schedule. Also discuss the spaying or neutering process with your vet. This can help to eliminate unwanted animals and keep your dog happy and healthy for a longer period of time.
Do not try to save money by choosing the cheapest dog food. After a while it’s good for the dog if it has been eating nutritious and high quality food. Even though you are paying more, it will save on health bills down the road.
Leaving a radio playing while you are gone will help your dog stay calm and may alleviate separation anxiety. That noise will help your dog feel more secure, and it will help him feel he’s not alone. This is a good way to keep your dog from feeling lonely.
Keep the fur around your pup’s paws trimmed so that it does not get matted. Use a comb and a small pair of scissors for this task. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, a professional can always step in to help.
Make sure you provide your dog with affection on a regular basis. As is the case with most things in life, owners often pay more attention to the bad behavior than the good. With dogs, this can lead to trouble. On a ratio of five:one, seek out the positive things your dog does and reward him accordingly. Your dog’s behavior will improve because of your new technique.
If you have to leave your dog alone for a whole day, leave a radio or a TV on. That helps the dog feel like someone is around. That might work to appease his anxiety during the time you aren’t home.
If you have just one dog and he seems pretty lonely when you are gone, think about finding him a friend. Dogs prefer living in groups with other animals. Match them carefully based on energy levels and temperament.
Always make sure that your dog is wearing some sort of identification on their collar. Keep identification on your dog’s collar. Include your dog’s name and information on how to contact you. You may also want to install a micro-chip into your dog.
Be sure your dog wears identification so it can always get back home. A collar with identification is a great way to ensure that your dog is found and returned if it happens to get lost. Put your own name and contact information on it, along with your dog’s name. Micro-chipping is another great option to help in the event that your dog gets lost.
When you train your dog, don’t allow your efforts to be diminished by an excess of trainers. Be sure that each person working with the dog uses the same commands and responses. Have one person train and make everyone else do exactly the same commands during the day.
Be politically active when it comes to your dog. Watch for local laws that people are trying to pass to restrict how dog owners have to behave and what their rights are. Many times new, overly-restrictive ordinances have incredibly broad impacts when they’re only intended to affect a tiny minority of pet owners. Speak up for the rights of responsible dog owners everywhere by contacting local officials.
Before adopting a dog, be sure to give the matter careful consideration. Sometimes, it is hard to resist the adorable face of a puppy or dog, but remember how much is involved in the proper care of a pet. Use that time to consider this so you make sure you are making the right choice. q
Know that an animal doesn’t need too many people telling it what to do when it’s being trained. If the other people who help you train your dog are not consistent with what you started teaching, your dog will have a hard time. One person should be the trainer, and everyone else can act to reinforce good behaviors.
Vitamins are not necessarily a good thing for your dog. If you feed your dog a balanced diet, there is no need to give him extra vitamins. You can cause damage to your dog’s joints, bones and circulatory system with excessive vitamins. Before giving your dog vitamins, get your vet’s OK.
Dogs often get cuts from debris or pieces of glass. Washing a cut with antiseptic and using a bandage is an effective treatment for when dogs get small cuts. See a vet if they have a deep cut.
The temperature of your dog’s nose is not a good indicator of its health. Sick dogs often have cold, wet noses. You can keep track of your dog’s heath by paying attention to it’s appetite, demeanor, and energy levels. These are more reliable signals of your dog’s health. Temperature can be monitored rectally.
You might be tempted to share your food with your dog. Keep in mind that some foods are unhealthy for dogs. Always avoid giving your dog chocolate and grapes, for instance. They won’t agree with your dog and could even cause him to become very sick.
Take some precautions for your dog when it’s hot out. It is easy for a dog to become overheated, and this can cause health problems. You should have a cool, shady place they for them to go in the summer. Keep clean, fresh water readily available at all times. Additionally, the sun can affect your dog, but you can get doggie sunscreen.
Never trust the feel of your dog’s nose as the sole diagnosis of a health condition. Even a sick dog can have a cold, wet nose. Using your dog’s appetite, attitude, and amount of energy, you can determine its health. These signs more accurately foretell the state of your dog’s health. Temperature can be monitored rectally.
It takes a lot to be a good dog owner. There’s a lot more to it than choosing a dog you find cute and loving it bunches. You have to do your part, too. Enjoy the time you spend with your dog now.
Always praise your dog when he does something good. Rewards and praise helps dogs learn faster than violence and dominance. Treating the dog in a humane manner offers the best possible training and has shown to work best over the long run. So be sure to be positive in your training!
