Tips For Finding The Perfect Dog For You And Your Family
Does your dog get out of control? Is their daily behavior cause for concern? It might be time to teach your dog some lessons on how to behave. Keep reading this article, there is some great advice here to ensure your dog starts acting the right way.
Avoid kisses and stick with hugs. Dog kisses may be seen as cute, but their mouths aren’t all that clean. Dogs poke around trash cans, love smelling and licking other dogs’ body parts and enthusiastically drink from toilet bowls. Your dog’s mouth is not really any cleaner than a human’s mouth. However, this simply is not the case.
It can be quite costly to own a dog. High quality dog food, medical care, toys and treats can easily run close to $1,000 in a year. Pet insurance can be a good investment because your pet may require emergency care for illness or injury.
When choosing a dog, make sure you consider your lifestyle. For instance, if you like to go running, you’re not going to want a little dog that can’t keep up with you. Also, if you like to stay at home, find small dogs that prefer sitting on laps and being stroked. You will be much happier when you make a choice that is complementary to your lifestyle.
Be sure to keep all medications out of the reach of children and pets. Your dog could be seriously injured or killed by ingesting a couple of small pills. If your dog eats your medication, see a vet right away.
Talk to your vet about your dog’s food portions. 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. Ask your vet what the right meal plan is for your dog.
When you are training your dog, it is always best to incorporate the use of hand signals in addition to using verbal commands. Hand signals can really help your dog. Try both ways and see which is best for your dog.
Try not to buy low quality food for your dog. Cheap brands are full of fillers, preservative and even chemicals. Check with an animal advocacy group for a list of foods you should be feeding your dog. Food that is healthy will benefit your dog.
Don’t force your dog to do anything. If your dog doesn’t like a particular treat, don’t make him eat it. Find out your dog’s likes and dislikes and feed him accordingly.
If you choose to adopt a pet, take him or her to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Shelter dogs have likely been exposed to all kinds of viruses, such as parvo and distemper, which are deadly. You need to be sure that you get your animal all of the shots it needs prior to bringing it home.
Giving your dog a good brush every day will definitely do more than lower their amount of shedding. A daily brush will make their coat radiant and shiny. Brushing helps evenly distribute the oils in the fur and skin, which keeps things looking shiny, healthy and soft.
Always buy high quality food for your best friend. Overall, your dog will benefit form a lifetime of quality food. While this could mean paying more for higher-end brands, your dog’s proper health will be guaranteed through eating healthfully.
Whenever you adopt from the pound, take the dog straight to the vet. Shelter dogs have numerous opportunities to be exposed to harmful bacteria and viruses; these can result in dangerous illnesses. Giving your dog shots before taking it home will keep everyone healthy.
You can find many types of dogs at the pound, even pure breeds. There are people who drop off pets for many different reasons, such as moving abroad or the death of an owner. Call the pound to find ask what dog breeds are in house at the time. You could save a dog’s life by doing so!
Vet Appointment
When you train your dog remember that the end result might be ruined if too many people try to take charge. Everyone trains differently, and this can lead to confusion for your dog. Therefore, ensure that only one person is doing the training. The other people should only reinforce the person’s rules and stick by them.
Schedule a vet appointment for the new dog. When you bring them home, schedule a vet appointment. The veterinarian will do a full checkup and set a schedule for his vaccinations. Remember that there is a tremendous dog overpopulation problem, so you should have your dog spayed/neutered.
Dogs often get cuts from debris or pieces of glass. Wash the cut with antibacterial soap, dry it thoroughly, and leave it to air dry unless it is bleeding or the dog is licking it. If the cut is relatively deep, bring your dog to the vet.
If your female dog is in heat be cautious – she could very easily become pregnant. Male dogs can pick up the scent of a female dog in full heat up to five miles away. In addition, a female dog in heat can cause fighting among dogs in the local area. If you don’t want a set of puppies, keep her away from male dogs.
Clean up completely if your dog uses the bathroom on your floor. You must make use of an effective cleaner and a strong odor remover. If you still smell dog waste, the dog could be emptied to return to the scene of the crime and repeat the actions.
When the weather heats up, ticks and fleas become active. If you spot any fleas, you can remove them with a flea comb. There are many products out there that can help you control your dog’s ticks and fleas. Speak with your vet before using anything and ask them what your options are.
During hot weather, check your dog for fleas and ticks daily. Utilize a flea comb in order to eliminate any fleas on your pet. The market is full of products that will assist you in keeping your pet’s fleas and ticks in check. Speak with your vet about which choices are best.
Do not believe that a wet, cold nose can judge the health of your dog. A cold and wet nose could be due to many reasons, and it does not preclude illness. Instead, focus on his energy level, bathroom habits, appetite and thirst. These are a truer indication if anything is amiss with your furry friend. Dogs can have their temperature taken rectally.
Make sure you select dog food very carefully. There are many to choose from, so focus on those that are for your dog’s age and size. It’s also tempting to feed your dog foods that humans eat, but your dog isn’t human and needs dog food that contain the nutrients that a dog needs.
Always praise your dog when he does something good. Rewards and praise make your pet learn faster than threats and violence. Treating your dog humanely provides better results and is better for your dog long term. Be kind to your dog and use positive reinforcement at all times.
Did you know that vitamins could actually be harmful to your dog? Dog food usually meets your dog’s nutritional requirements by itself. Too many vitamins can damage his body, particularly the bones, joints and blood vessels. Always seek your vet’s advice before giving supplements to your dog.
Your dog needs to be protected in the summer time. It does not take much for dogs to become overheated. Have a shaded, cool area they can go to in the summer. Your dog should have access to water that is clean and cool. Also, dogs can suffer from the effects of the sun, so see if the vet recommends sunscreen.
During the summer, you need to be careful about leaving your dogs outside. Dogs have a coat of fur and can get hot very quick. In the summertime, be sure they can lay in a cool, shaded area. Clean water will also be extra important during these months. Also, the sun’s rays can affect your dog, so ask his vet about sunscreens that are made for dogs.
If you will be away from your dog for periods of time, consider crate training him. This can help lessen the damage in the home and assist in housebreaking your dog.
You should give your dog the opportunity to socialize with other dogs. Socializing your dog can be done by going to dog parks, play dates and the groomer.
Your dog should be as clean as you are. You should bathe and brush your dog on a weekly basis. This can help to maintain a clean home and will help prevent your dog from having skin issues.
Consider your dog’s diet carefully. While many dog foods look alike, they can be far apart in quality and this includes foods that are expensive. You should ask your vet if they can recommend certain brands or give you advice on the kind of foods you should give to your dog in relation to its age or size. This most definitely can help boost your pet’s life.
If you have a dog in the house, you need to set aside a place it to relax and sleep. Putting the puppy in your bed if you intend to eventually crate him at night will lead to problems down the road. Also, you can put your dog in your own bed at night.
Scheduling is important when you care for children, and this fact prepares parents well for handling a dog. Dogs are quite similar to children in this respect. If your pet has no knowledge of how the day is to proceed, the end result can be a cranky and ill mannered dog. They will act out if they are not in a good mood. So, set up fixed times for training, play and meals.
Your vet can give great advice about appropriate dog food for your canine friend. Some dogs have medical conditions, such as diabetes, that warrant a special diet. You want to ensure that whatever you feed your dog will not damage his health further. Your vet will recommend certain foods for feeding plans.
If you have a dog that chews constantly, buy him rawhide bones or dog toys. These dog toys will help satisfy your dogs urge to chew on items. You can generally find these items at pet stores or big box stores.
Do you have children? If so, then you understand the importance of them following a schedule. You can put dogs in that same category since they tend to follow a similar routine. If your dog does not know how its day is going to be, it can become hyperactive and cranky. The behaviors they show will reflect their mood. This means you should have set times for play, training, and meals.
Do not leave your dog by himself for long stretches of time. Generally people will have to go to work and dogs will adjust. Always keep in mind how long your dog is alone for. Leaving a TV or radio on can make them feel better. You might think about using a petsitter as well so your dog doesn’t feel lonely.
Dogs don’t have to exhibit unacceptable behavior. You don’t have to observe your dog ripping everything apart or barking at anyone who comes near it. You have the power to transform you dog into a well behaved pet. Take all that you’ve learned here, and teach your canine how to be a good pet.
Pay attention to pet food news, particularly news about food that’s been recalled. There are recorded cases of lethal pet food in stores. You can look online for the latest information about any such recalls, especially on pet friendly forums. News can travel faster online than in the newspaper or on TV or radio.
