What Any Dog Lover Needs To Know
Caring for your dog is a major responsibility. If you decide to become a dog owner, be prepared to spending a lot of time training your dog and playing with it. However, with the right education and a lot of patience, this can be a rewarding journey. This article will provide you with great tips for caring for your dog.
Just like humans benefit from an annual physical, your dog should see the vet at least once a year. Since dogs cannot talk, it’s difficult to know if your dog is in pain. Getting your dog checked up on annually will allow you to know if there are any problems.
Being a dog owner requires a financial commitment. Food, vet care and supplies can add up quickly. You should also look into purchasing a good pet health insurance policy to avoid high medical bills.
Store your prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines in a safe place where your dog cannot get them. Dogs can have very negative side effects from even small amounts of medications intended for humans. Call the vet immediately if you suspect that the dog has swallowed the medication.
If you have medication is your home, even if it is just over-the-counter medication, place it where your dog cannot access it. Even if the dog were to eat a couple of pills, it could have very life threatening effects. If this does happen, call your vet immediately.
Do not feed your dog “people food”. Your dog will constantly beg for food when you are eating and will not be hungry when the time to feed it comes. “People food” can also make dogs sick and contribute to obesity. You need to make sure your dog is not near the dinner table. This will make it easier for your pet (and you!) to avoid temptation.
When it’s time for dog training, you’ll want to do it inside your house or in your yard. This allows you to control how many people are there while the training takes place. The more people there are, the more difficult training will be. This will make it more difficult for your dog to pay attention.
Try not to buy low quality food for your dog. Cheaper brands usually contain lots of additives and preservatives that can harm your dog’s health. Professional associations and dog advocacy groups may offer lists of the highest quality foods available. Higher quality dog food will offer your dog many health benefits.
To improve the dog training process, try using hand signals in addition to verbal commands. These signals will help you keep your dog under control in a noisy environment. Try these things to find out what is the best for your pet.
Get a dog house if you have a dog that you leave outside, in case the weather gets bad. A dog can get ill if he is left out in rough weather, so make sure you have a warm, dry dog house where he can rest. Give him a place that has dry floors and a lot of room.
Your dog deserves to have quality dog food. Cheaper brands have tons of additives, preservatives, and ingredients that can harm a dog’s health. You can get a list of veterinarian-recommended foods from your vet or from animal advocacy groups or consumer awareness groups. Better food will be very beneficial to your dog.
You can find pure breeds at the dog shelter. 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. All you have to do is give your local shelter a call, and you can find out which breeds they have. Taking this option may save the life of a dog.
Solid leash training is a must for any dog. He should know the “heel” command, stay close to you and not veer far ahead or drag behind. That way, your dog is safe and the walks are better for you as well. Even if you decide to give him additional slack on the leash from time to time, teaching your dog to heel remains an important task as a pet owner.
Really show your dog some love. Like many things in life, many owners pay much more attention to bad behavior than good behavior. That could mean trouble later with your dog. Instead, make sure you pet or praise your dog five times more often than you scold him. Your dog’s behavior will improve because of your new technique.
Leaving a radio playing while you are gone will help your dog stay calm and may alleviate separation anxiety. The noise can help him feel more secure. That might work to appease his anxiety during the time you aren’t home.
Keep a dog tag on your dog at all times. A breakaway collar that includes an ID tag will ensure the return of your dog if they should wander. Put your own name and contact information on it, along with your dog’s name. You can also have your dog micro-chipped.
Show the dog that he is loved. Make sure you don’t only focus on the negative things that your dog does. This may spell trouble in the future. You should ensure you give your dog positive reinforcement. This will make it more likely that your dog will behave well.
Get into pet politics! Look for changes in the local laws that govern pet ownership in your area. It’s often only motivated by the actions of a specific breed or a few bad apples. You need to talk to your local officials and stick up for rights of dog owners.
Bring your dogs to their scheduled appointments. The vet will be able to spot signs of diabetes, thyroid issues and kidney trouble a while before your dog shows any signs. 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.
It’s not that unusual for dogs to cut themselves after stepping on discarded debris or broken glass. Washing a cut with antiseptic and using a bandage is an effective treatment for when dogs get small cuts. If you think the cut is fairly deep you should see a vet.
Do tick and flea inspections on a daily basis with your dog whenever the weather becomes hot. Remove any fleas you find with a specialized comb. 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 to find the best option for your dog.
When you’re snacking, your dog may look at you with big, begging eyes, asking for a treat. While some foods are fine for sharing with your dog, there are some that must be avoided. Caffeine, grapes and chocolate should never be fed to dogs. They can make you dog seriously ill or even cause death if enough is ingested.
Taking care of a dog should be a serious matter. Owning a dog is almost like having a child in that you’re the one responsible for keeping your dog alive. It’s a big job, but you can do it. This article can help you take better care of a dog.
Before you add a dog into your lifestyle, consider both the pros and cons of this decision. Falling in love with a puppy is easy, but there is more to taking care of a dog than that. Take everything into consideration first to make sure you can provide your puppy with everything that he needs and to be able to manage it successfully.
