Is your dog a little mischievous? Does he chew your favorite shoes without thinking what he is doing? It’s probably past time that your dog is given a lesson in how to behave properly. In this article you will find the information you need to turn your dog into a well behaved family member.
While hugging your dog will make both of you feel great, refrain from kissing him. Dog kisses may be seen as cute, but their mouths aren’t all that clean. Dogs love to dig in garbage, get into the toilet, and then they lick their butts, yuck! It is not true that a dog has a cleaner mouth than a person. It certainly isn’t the truth.
Take the time to make sure your house is dog-proofed. Prior to bringing the pooch home, check that the whole home is safe. Hide cleaning supplies and medicines and hide trashcans in a cabinet. Research the toxicity of plants you own, and move or remove anything that might be an issue.
Since your dog can’t talk to you, it’s crucial that you listen to their non-verbal language. If it seems as though your dog holds back when around other dogs or people, don’t insist that they interact. One of the animals could become aggressive. Keep an eye out for your dog’s hints, and do what he needs you to do.
Hugs are great to give your pets, but kisses are not that great. In theory, giving a dog a kiss is cute, but realize that the mouth of a dog is generally very dirty. Dogs go through garbage cans, toilet bowls, and love smelling and licking specific body parts of some other dogs. There is an old wives’ tale that says that the mouth of a dog is cleaner than that of a human. It is not necessarily true.
Choose the correct flea medicine for your dog. Many have ingredients that are dangerous to kids. 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.
Your dog cannot communicate through speech; therefore, you must learn its non-verbal language. You should never pressure your pet into interacting with strangers, be they human or canine. This might lead to a bite to another dog or even to a person. Watch for these non-verbal hints and let the dog guide your actions.
Associate some hand signals to verbal commands when training your dog. Dogs tend to respond better with these additional types of signals instead of always relying on voice commands. Try both ways and see which is best for your dog.
Never let the dog go off your land without its leash, regardless of its good behavior. There are a number of distractions that could cause your dog to run off into a dangerous situation. Your dog is your responsibility, so treat him right.
Talk to your vet about what you feed your dog. Sometimes you’ll find that a puppy can’t eat certain brands of foods because it will make their stomach upset. Be careful when deciding what to feed your dog.
Talk to your vet about which foods you should be feeding your dog. In some cases, your pet may not be able to consume certain food brands without becoming nauseous. You should be careful when you are feeding your dog.
The dog breed you choose should blend in well with your lifestyle. A good example would be if you are a runner. A dog that can keep up with you while you run would be a good choice. Also, if you like to stay at home, find small dogs that prefer sitting on laps and being stroked. Finding a dog that matches your personality will make both of you happy.
Your daily lifestyle should help guide your choice of dog breed. If you are a hunter for example, perhaps a retriever is the dog for you. If you like to stay at home, perhaps you would like a small dog. Both of you are sure to be happier if you choose a good match.
Avoid buying your dog bargain-based food. Generally, food that is less expensive is not as healthy for your pet due to preservatives and additives put into the food. You should contact an animal advocacy group or a consumer awareness program to get some recommendations for quality dog foods. Your dog will thank you for feeding him a better food.
Avoid cheap dog food. Generally, food that is less expensive is not as healthy for your pet due to preservatives and additives put into the food. Contact an animal advocacy group about which foods are best for your dog. Your dog can really benefit from better food.
Genuine meat bones may be tempting, but it’s best to stick to rawhide. Genuine bones can chip, and the pieces may become stuck in your dog’s teeth or digestive system. Rawhide is very healthy and will help your dog develop some strong teeth. Never ever give him a real bone!
Rawhide bones are the best options for your dog. Real bones can chip and splinter, this can cause your dog to choke and wreak havoc on his digestive tract. Rawhide is much safer and also cleans teeth.
Take your time to teach your dog what kind of behavior is right or wrong as soon as it occurs. When you ignore this behavior, your dog thinks that it is okay. Your dog might hurt someone else, or you, so take steps to control him early on.
Avoid pushing things that your dog dislikes onto him. If your dog doesn’t like a treat you give him, let it go. It’s important to take your pets likes and dislikes into consideration and to not push them into anything unnecessary.
Make sure your dog always has trimmed nails. If they get too long and start to curl, the result could be painful injuries to the nail beds and your dog’s paws. You can buy clippers in a pet store and do them yourself. If you don’t feel comfortable trimming them yourself, a groomer can do it for little money.
Brushing your dog daily will do more than keep them from shedding all over your home. It’ll also give them a very beautiful and shiny coat. The brushing motion encourages distribution of the skin’s oil, leaving the coat healthy, soft and glossy.
When you are getting dog food for your pet, don’t try to save money and get whatever is cheapest. It will benefit your dog greatly if he is fed food that is nutritious and high in quality. Sure, it’s more expensive. But, isn’t your pet worth it?
If you’re going to adopt a new dog from an animal shelter, you need to get a vet appointment scheduled as soon as possible. Shelters expose dogs to a number of illnesses, and your pet could be ill already. It is best to make sure your new puppy gets all the shots needed before you bring it home.
Give your dog plenty of exercise for both his body and his mind. Train him to fetch the newspaper and help with other household chore. Your dog is going to feel useful and also stay quite sharp.
Your dog should not be left outside in the yard by himself for the entire day. It is important that your dog has interaction. Your dog will get very lonely if it is left outside by itself. It’s especially important that your dog be inside if the weather outside is nasty.
Your dog needs to wear some sort of identification in case he escapes your house. A breakaway collar that includes an ID tag will ensure the return of your dog if they should wander. The tag should include your name and contact information as well as the name of your dog. Another good thing to do would be to have a micro-chip put in your dog.
If you are seeking a dog of a particular breed, be sure to check with your local animal shelter first. A pure bred dog is just as likely to be abandoned at the pound as any other if its owners can no longer take care of it. Speak to the nearest pound to see if an option suits you. Taking this option may save the life of a dog.
When it comes to training your dog, you should never have several people in charge. Everyone trains differently, and this can lead to confusion for your dog. Assign a person to do the training and then have others fortify what he learns by following the same guidelines and respecting the procedure.
Keep a dog tag on your dog at all times. A popular way to ensure your dog gets back home safely is to make them use a breakaway collar that has an identification tag. The tag needs to have your name and phone number on it. Another good thing to do would be to have a micro-chip put in your dog.
You might feel the urge to feed your dog a piece of your snack. This is okay with certain foods, but some things are very bad for a dog. Chocolate, caffeine, and grapes are some examples of food that should not be given to dogs. Foods such as these can do a lot of harm to your dogs health.
Now, you shouldn’t have trouble modifying the behavior of your dog. You’re never going to have to sit there and see your dog disobey you and do things like growl at people that walk by. It is up to you to control your dog’s behavior. The information you have learned can help prevent bad behavior from happening.
Your dog’s nose is not a way to determine if your dog’s health is good. Even a sick dog can have a cold, wet nose. Assess the health of your dog by observing its mood, energy level and appetite. These signs more accurately foretell the state of your dog’s health. You can also take his temperature with a rectal thermometer.