Having a dog is not really very easy. They have to be fed, walked, brushed and brought to the vet. So, how do you know what to do? Looking at this article will provide you with tips for becoming the ideal dog owner.
Don’t give in to the urge to feed your dog food meant for humans. If you feed from the table, he’ll become a beggar and stop eating his own food. “People food” can also make dogs sick and contribute to obesity. Make sure your dog doesn’t hover around your dinner table so it isn’t tempted to eat your food.
Make your home suitable for dogs. This should be done before the dog shows up at your home. All cleaning supplies and medications should be moved out of reach of your dog. You should also find a way of securing your trash somewhere that your dog cannot get to, such as in a cabinet. Certain common house plants are toxic, so remove them or keep them out of reach.
Give your dog rawhide instead of real meat bones. Real animal bones can chip and pose a danger to your dog’s digestive tract and mouth. Rawhide is a great treat you can use in lieu of real bones.
While you can hug your dog, you should avoid kissing your dog. Dog kisses are adorable, but your dog’s mouth is really dirty. Dogs are always getting into garbage, drink from places like the toilet, and they clean their bodies with their tongues. Many people say that dogs have cleaner mouths than people. However, this simply is not the case.
Do not force your dog to eat things. If your dog doesn’t like a particular treat, don’t make him eat it. Not all dogs like the same things.
You should have your dog spayed or neutered. Research has shown that by doing this you can be sure your pet can have a longer life and not be at risk for things like cancer. Not only that, but neutered and spayed dogs feel less need to wander away from home, so they are not as likely to be hit by a vehicle or become lost.
Put a leash on your dog at all times when walking him. Your pet shouldn’t be ahead of you, behind you, or anywhere that isn’t by your side. They should also answer correctly when you say “heel”. Walking this way will help to keep your pet safe, and it will make it easier for you to enjoy walks too. Your dog needs to get used to this.
If you’re taking your pup on a vacation, make sure that you take a picture of him for on your phone. By doing this, in case your dog gets lost, you can provide others with a picture and easily put up flyers, which will assist in finding your dog.
If your vet gives you special instructions for your dog’s care, follow them to the letter. There’s a reason dogs have to endure uncomfortable situations like a cone-collar! If you fail to listen to your vet, your dog may end up sick or injured.
Always make sure to keep any prescription medications away from your dog. The same holds true for over-the-counter meds. Just a few of your pills can be disastrous for the dog, inducing a heart attack or seizure. Call your vet as soon as possible if your dog swallows any pills.
If you have to go out, leave the TV or radio on when you leave. The sounds help your dog feel like others are still home and help your dog feel more secure. When it comes to treating your pet’s anxiety, a little music could be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Table Scraps
Be sure that your dog has some kind of identification in case it were to escape from your home. This is typically a collar with a tag on it. All of the necessary contact information, including your dog’s name, should be included. You can also opt to have a micro-chip inserted into your dog.
Fight the urge to feed table scraps to your dog. This can make your dog not want to eat his dog food, and it will promote begging. Feeding table scraps to your dog could lead to digestive problems or obesity. Train your dog to sit far away from your dining room so that you and your family won’t be tempted to feed it table scraps.
Know that an animal doesn’t need too many people telling it what to do when it’s being trained. Everybody does things differently, and a dog can be confused by having several commanders. Only allow one person to teach the dog things and then everyone else should learn what that person has taught the dog and stick with that.
When choosing a dog, make sure you consider your lifestyle. If you like to go out running in the evenings, select a dog that also enjoys vigorous exercise. If you spend more time in the home, a more sedate, indoor dog will fit your lifestyle best. You should find a dog that fits well with your personality.
Always go to your dog’s yearly check-up. Your vet can notice health ailments long before you can, and many of the tests he can perform will help to detect or prevent things like diabetes, kidney or thyroid problems. This saves you money on vet bills later on, or heartache from your pet’s suffering.
Your dog deserves to have quality dog food. Cheap dog food contains lots of preservatives and additives that your dog doesn’t need. You can get a list of veterinarian-recommended foods from your vet or from animal advocacy groups or consumer awareness groups. Your dog will appreciate your research.
If your pup has an accident in your home, be sure to clean it up properly. Special cleaners and deodorizers are available to do the job right. If you still smell dog waste, the dog could be emptied to return to the scene of the crime and repeat the actions.
Never give your dog a real bone to chew on. Real bones can splinter and can get caught in your dog’s mouth or digestive tract. Also, rawhide is better for the health of your dog’s teeth.
You must carefully think for a while before getting a dog. There is a lot involved and it’s too simple to fall for a cute puppy’s face. Think it through carefully and talk to friends with dogs so you fully understand all that is involved.
Make sure your dog always has trimmed nails. If they start curling under, your dog may experience a lot of pain. Buy some clippers from a pet store and cut them yourself. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this on your own then you can hire a groomer to do it for a little bit of money.
Outdoor dogs need attention just like indoor dogs do. He will develop very bad habits, like barking, digging or chewing if left alone too often. Dogs that feel isolated often become aggressive. Give him lots of love and playtime to keep him happy.
Give your dog a lot of love. It is easy to overlook the good behavior your dog shows while you concentrate on eliminating the bad. This often results in problems later. Rather, be sure to give praise five times more frequently than you reprimand. Your dog will probably show proper behavior more if this is done.
When thinking over what you’re dog is eating, you have to look over their diet carefully. Puppies need to eat foods with lots of calories in order to grow. However, when these same foods are eaten during adulthood, they could cause extreme weight gain, which can cause damage to your dog’s health.
What new laws or regulations concerning pets will affect you? Make sure that you know all legislation that may be going through your local system. Some of it may be trying to regulate you as a dog owner. These pieces of legislation are typically motivated by a single incident, one particular breed or a limited number of misbehaved dogs. Stand up for good dog owners and let local officials know your thoughts.
You need to provide your dog with shade and water during the summer. Dogs get overheated quite easily. Have a shaded, cool area they can go to in the summer. Make sure your dog has access to clean and cool water. Additionally, the sun can affect your dog, but you can get doggie sunscreen.
Never miss one of your pet’s annual check-ups. A good vet will be able to easily spot problems with your dog way before you actually see something. It’s best to take your dog for annual physical, since that is the best way to ensure that there aren’t an problems that have gone undiagnosed for a long time. In the end, you will save money.
Be sure that you’re washing your dog’s water and food bowls regularly. You wouldn’t want to eat out of an unclean dish, and your pet doesn’t want to either. Each day, wash the bowls and make sure your dog has clean water and fresh food.
After reading this advice, start putting it to use on a daily basis. If being a great dog owner is what you want to do, you should now be a few steps closer to that goal. Using these suggestions, treat your dog right!
Consider taking a dog-training course whenever you obtain a new dog. Owning a dog will be much easier if the animal is properly trained and obeys your commands. While training a puppy is easier, any dog is able to be trained regardless of their age.