Are you at a loss for competent, responsible information on caring for your dog and what type of food to buy him? Are you confused about what your dog’s diet should consist of, as well as other questions related to his care? A lot of dog owners wind up handling things on their own. With the guidance provided below, you’ll be better equipped to be a responsible and happy dog owner.
Just like humans benefit from an annual physical, your dog should see the vet at least once a year. 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. Annual checkups can catch issues before they develop into something serious.
Dog-proof your home. Before bringing home your new pup, make sure that it’s safe. Do not have any pills out in the open and put all supplies in cabinets. Research the toxicity of plants you own, and move or remove anything that might be an issue.
Since humans don’t speak dog, we need to figure out how to communicate with our pets non-verbally. Don’t force interaction with other pets or people if your dog is showing reluctance. This may cause a human or the other canine to get bit. Always be on the look out for non-verbal hints. If you see them, allow your dog to guide you in the next action you will take.
While you can hug your dog, you should avoid kissing your dog. Your dog’s mouth is fairly dirty at any given time. After all, dogs eat out of the garbage, drink from toilet bowls, and lick all over their body. It’s an old wives tale that your dog’s mouth happens to be cleaner that a human being. This is not the truth!
If you’re taking your dog on a trip, be sure that you have a recent picture of them on-hand. This will be helpful should he get lost.
Table Scraps
Be careful with canine flea treatments. Some of them contain chemicals that can increase the risk of cancer in children, and are 1,000 times as strong as the safe levels recommended by the EPA. Ask your vet for recommendations. Be sure to keep children away while you’re applying any flea treatment.
Resist the urge to give your dog table scraps. Not only will table scraps turn your dog off on their regular food, but it will also teach them to constantly beg. In fact, a steady supply of scraps may encourage your dog to gain unhealthy amounts of weight and set off serious digestive problems. Make your dog leave the room if he begins to beg, or train him to spend mealtimes in another room entirely.
Don’t give table scraps to your dog. Your dog will constantly beg for food when you are eating and will not be hungry when the time to feed it comes. Table scraps can actually lead to obesity and other health concerns. While you and your family dine, keep your dog in another room so that table-feeding isn’t an option.
Speak with your vet to see how much you’re going to have to feed your dog daily. Some people refer to the label on the package to determine the quantity of food to feed their dogs, but those guidelines are not always right and using them can cause your dog to become overweight. Speak with your vet and work out an appropriate eating plan for your dog.
When you are training your dog, you should practice in your home or in your yard. Don’t train them in any areas full of people. Too many people causes distractions, making it hard to train them.
Provide your dog with rawhide to chew on rather than actual meat bones. Real bones can chip and become lodged in harmful place such as the digestive tract. Rawhide is a healthy alternative and will help keep your dog’s teeth clean as he satisfies his need to chew.
Talk to your vet about how much to feed your dog. It is important to follow guidelines for the sake of your dog’s health. Speak with a vet to see what you should be feeding your dog according to its needs.
Don’t try forcing anything into your dog. For instance, don’t force it to eat a treat that it appears to hate. Learn what he likes and what he doesn’t.
If your dog has to stay outside during cold weather, give him a dog house. If his feet are wet during very cold weather, it will stress him and lead to health problems. Give your dog a shelter that is spacious and dry, and your dog will be protected from the hard winds and dampness.
Regularly brushing your dog’s fur won’t just stop your pet from shedding on your furniture. Regular brushing encourages a healthy, shining coat. Brushing helps evenly distribute the oils in the fur and skin, which keeps things looking shiny, healthy and soft.
Put a leash on your dog at all times when walking him. He should know the “heel” command, stay close to you and not veer far ahead or drag behind. Walking in this manner keeps your dog safe, and you are bound to enjoy walks more as well. Even if you’re using a loose leash from time to time, you should still train your dog so that it understands when you issue that command.
When making a dog food selection, the cheap stuff is rarely the best choice. In the long term, it’s crucial to feed healthy, high-quality food to your dog. While this could mean paying more for higher-end brands, your dog’s proper health will be guaranteed through eating healthfully.
Having too many people trying to train one dog can cause problems. Different people do things different ways, and you can confuse your pup. Therefore, ensure that only one person is doing the training. The other people should only reinforce the person’s rules and stick by them.
Always follow through with instructions from your vet if your dog has medication or needs special attention. Dogs do not like having a cone around their head, but it was given for a reason. It is always best to follow the recommendations shared by your veterinarian.
If you are shopping for a new dog and already own another dog, it is a good idea to take your old dog along. Dogs are very social by nature, but some get along better than others. Finding dogs that are compatible is a good way to save yourself hassle and heartache.
You can keep your furry friend mentally as well as physically active through plenty of exercise. For example, train your dog to retrieve the newspaper or other helpful chores. Doing this will help your pet to feel like a loved and needed family member, and teaching your dog these skills will give it some much needed mental exercise.
Some vitamins can be bad for your dog’s health. A balanced diet may be all that your dog needs. If you give your dog a large amount of vitamins, you could be damaging his joints, bones, and blood vessels. Before you begin giving your dog any vitamins or supplements, make sure that you check with your vet first.
A dog should always be brought to the vet for regular checkups. Your dog needs to see a vet for full check-ups, heartworm blood testing, and for making sure all of their shots are up to date. If your dog is young, he will need to go to the vet more frequently. You will also need to see a vet right away if your dog starts showing signs of illness or injury.
Wash your dog’s water and food bowls regularly. You wouldn’t want to eat off of a dirty plate, neither does your dog. Wash them every day, and keep the food and water fresh.
Check your dog for ticks and fleas daily once it gets warmer outside. Use a type of flea comb to get rid of fleas you see. There are a lot of things on the market that will help you get your dog’s fleas and ticks under control. Speak with your vet concerning these products and other options.
If your dog must be alone during the day, crate training is a very good idea. If you do this, your house will not get messed up.
Make a careful selection when choosing your dog’s food. There are a lot of foods out there, but you have to choose foods that are right for the size and age of your particular dog. You certainly can save some money by serving your dog leftovers, but it is difficult to achieve a balanced diet and include all of the right nutrients.
Your dog requires cleaning just as a human would. This doesn’t mean you need to bathe your pet daily, but it does mean they should be cleaned weekly or more, if necessary. This stops skin irritation and shedding.
Your dog doesn’t have to eat the food that your grocery store provides. There is more out there available to your dog. You need to remember what you learned here as you plan out your dog’s care.
If you have just gotten a new dog, then you’re going to have to figure out where the dog will sleep. Putting the puppy in your bed if you intend to eventually crate him at night will lead to problems down the road. If you are going to allow your dog on your bed, be sure you’re going to want this to go on every night.