A dog can provide you with many things, including love and attention. Dogs are terrific family pets, but can also be great for anyone living alone. Follow the tips below to learn a better way to care for your dog.
Getting a dog is going to cost you some money. Dogs need good food, medical care and other supplies. This can add up to $500-$1000 a year. You should also look into purchasing a good pet health insurance policy to avoid high medical bills.
You will pay a lot to take care for your dog. Good quality dog food and medical care can cost between $700-1000 a year. Emergency care for animals can cost thousands of collars, so think carefully about getting pet health insurance.
Make your home suitable for dogs. Before you bring a new dog home, make sure the whole area is safe. All cleaning materials and drugs must be put away, and put your trash receptacle inside a cabinet. Some plants that are usually kept in the home are poisonous to pets, so move them where your dog cannot get to them, or put them out of your home completely.
You should take your dog to the vet at least once a year. Even the best dog owner will find it difficult or impossible to detect the first signs of health troubles, like a tooth infection or arthritic joints. An annual vet visit can help you find problems early.
Be wary when it comes to flea treatments. Many of them contain ingredients that can put children at risk for cancer at a rate that is 1000 times more than what the EPA considers safe! Discuss any concerns with your veterinarian, and see if he has more holistic treatment options that might help to keep your pet free from fleas and your family safe.
Table Scraps
Fight the urge to feed table scraps to your dog. If you feed from the table, he’ll become a beggar and stop eating his own food. Scraps from the table obesity, digestive problems, or other health issues in dogs. Insist that your dog wait away from the table during family meals to avoid temptation on his part – and yours.
Don’t give table scraps to your dog. That encourages him to beg and makes him not want his own food. A dog fed on table scraps will be prone to unhealthy weight gain, disruptive digestive problems, and other health issues. Resist the temptation and only give dog food to your pup.
Don’t take your dog off of your own property without a leash, no matter how well-behaved he is. There are a number of distractions that could cause your dog to run off into a dangerous situation. You are responsible if your dog does this.
Practice training your dog around your home, where you and your pup can be alone. Don’t train them in any areas full of people. They are going to become distracted, and the easiest commands can be tough.
Be sure to show your dog lots of praise and love when they do something good. This will show that you appreciate what your dog is doing. It also reinforces the idea that they will receive attention if they behave as you want them to.
When you are training your dog, it is always best to incorporate the use of hand signals in addition to using verbal commands. These types of signals are sometimes easier for a dog to learn. Try both methods to see which your dog prefers.
Talk to the veterinarian about the proper amount of food for your dog. It is important to follow guidelines for the sake of your dog’s health. Speak to the vet about what makes sense for your dog.
Talk with a vet about which foods are good for dogs and which ought to be avoided. In some cases, your pet may not be able to consume certain food brands without becoming nauseous. Be careful when it comes to what you feed your pet.
Don’t make you dog eat something they don’t want to eat. If you have food or treats your dog does not like, leave it alone. It will take you a little while to figure out what your dog likes and what he doesn’t, but you’ll get the hang of it.
Choose a dog in that can easily and happily blend into your lifestyle. If you are a hunter for example, perhaps a retriever is the dog for you. Likewise if you are quiet home-body, look for a smaller dog that enjoys pampering and living it up on your sofa. By selecting the right dog breed, both you and your dog will be more content.
Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise. Your dog has to be worked out to stay happy and healthy. Whether you take a dog on an extended walk or toss a ball around, your dog and you will both benefit. Not only will your canine buddy get the stimulation required for staying healthy, the two of you will bond much more closely.
Always give your dog lots of praise and hugs when it does something right. This will show your dog that the behavior he is exhibiting is just what you are looking for. This will teach your dog that praise comes from good behavior.
If you are interested in adopting a pure breed, consider visiting the dog pound. Dogs are abandoned daily at such facilities, and they are in need of new homes. Call the pound to see what breeds they’ve got. You could save a dog’s life by doing so!
Dog Foods
Love your dog! In life, it is far too common to give bad behavior more attention than good. This could lead to trouble down the line. Try to give your dog praise five times more than the amount of time you scold him. Your dog will do its best to please you.
Don’t buy your dog cheap dog food. Less expensive dog foods include fillers and additives that are not beneficial to your dog’s health. You should contact an animal advocacy group or a consumer awareness program to get some recommendations for quality dog foods. Your dog will appreciate your research.
If you have one dog that seems lonely or is by himself often, consider another dog. Dog’s love the companionship of others and enjoy another partner to play with. Match them carefully based on energy levels and temperament.
Never give your dog a real bone to chew on. Real animal bones can chip and pose a danger to your dog’s digestive tract and mouth. Rawhide is much safer and also cleans teeth.
Make sure you are providing your dog with the opportunity for plenty of physical exercise as well as staying mentally active. By teaching your dog tricks that he can do around the house, such as grabbing the newspaper, you’ll be keeping your dog mentally stimulated. This kind of play will make your dog feel like a contributing member of the family and keep his mental functioning at a high level.
It is important that your dog’s nails are not allowed to get too long. Your dog will be in pain if the nails begin curling. You can use store bought clippers to trim them yourself. If you lack the confidence to attempt this, take the dog to a professional groomer.
If you already own a dog and are getting another one, have the two meet before bringing the new one home. Dogs are quite social, though not all get along well. If you are able to find dogs that are compatible you will not be troubled later on.
If you have a dog with extreme separation anxiety, you can help reduce it by playing music or leaving the television on whenever you leave your home. The sound will help him feel more secure and not as alone. This could be the perfect fix to keep him calm until you return.
Use different reward systems to find out what your dog prefers. Take the time to learn what will motivate your pet the most. If your dog likes food, try giving them food as a reward. If your dog is more motivated by toys, offer up a short game of fetch or tug-of-war when your puppy obeys properly. Some dogs are even driven by being rubbed and petted.
Keep in mind that more is not always better when it comes to the number of folks training a dog. Many people do it differently than just having a few commands to give your dog. Be sure that one individual is in control of the training and keeps others working with the dog on the same page.
Outdoor dogs need the same amount of attention as indoor dogs. He may bark, dig or chew on his paws. In addition, it may turn aggressive, which can be very problematic. Give him a lot of love and play with him often if you want him to stay happy.
Keep your annual appointments for check-ups with your dog. This allows the vet to catch any diseases in the early stages before they can cause enough damage for you to even notice. This saves you money on vet bills later on, or heartache from your pet’s suffering.
Wash your dog’s water and food bowls regularly. Your dog has no interest in dining from dirty bowls, nor would you. You need to wash the bowls on a daily basis.
If you already own a dog and are getting another one, have the two meet before bringing the new one home. Dogs are very social by nature, but some get along better than others. Find a dog that your current dog gets along with.
If you’re a parent, you are aware that schedules are important. Dogs are very similar in this respect. If they don’t know what is going to happen, your dog can become mean or cranky. How they feel will affect how they behave. You need to give your dog a specific time to eat, play, and learn.
Your dog, like you, must be kept clean. While you don’t have to bathe your dog on a daily basis, giving it a bath once a week is recommended. This stops skin irritation and shedding.
Try to avoid leaving your dog on its own for extended time periods. A lot of people have day jobs, which a dog can get used to, but other than that be aware of how much time he spends alone. Consider putting on a little background noise, like music, to help keep your dog company when you are out. You may want to hire a sitter to keep the dog company.
When you’re adding a puppy to your family, you need to have it around other dogs quickly so it can be more comfortable. Invite the neighbor’s dog to play with your pet in the backyard, visit a dog park or spend some time with your pet in a group training class for increased socialization.
Make sure you stay informed on pet food news, especially about products that have been recalled. Contaminated pet food shows up on store shelves with alarming frequency. Look online for the latest updates on recalls. Information online is passed along a lot faster than if you were to rely on newspapers and magazines.
Taking care of a dog requires a lot of dedication and hard work. The job doesn’t end with setting out food and taking the occasional walk. You have to know how to properly take care of a dog. By doing so, you and your dog can spend many years together.
Don’t be too quick to respond when your dog starts to whine. It may seem sensible to comfort it, but really you are just reinforcing to the dog that there is something serious to worry about. Stick to games your dog knows well, so that it’ll be easy for it to forget about whatever has it upset.