Caring for a dog is a lot of work and you should not underestimate the responsibilities of being a dog owner. Do not expect to be a perfect owner right away. Look to this article for advice on properly caring for your dog.
If you bring your pet on vacation with you, keep a picture of him with you, particularly on your phone. This will help in the rare situation that you get separated from your dog. You will have a current picture of your dog to show to people.
If you have medication is your home, even if it is just over-the-counter medication, place it where your dog cannot access it. If your dog has access to these pills, there can be fatal consequences. If, by chance, a dog does eat some of your pills, contact the vet right away.
Flea Treatments
When it comes to dog flea treatments, you should proceed with caution. A large number of them contain high doses of carcinogens and other hazardous ingredients. Talk to your vet to learn about flea treatments that are safer and more family friendly, and always keep flea medication out of reach of children.
Practice training your dog around your home, where you and your pup can be alone. It’s never good to try and train your pet when there are quite a few people around. Distractions occur, making it difficult to get your dog to focus on basic commands.
It is a great idea to put hand signals in use when you are training your pet; use them in conjunction with words. This is a very effective way to communicate with your dog. Try using both ways with your dog to see which works best.
Talk to your vet about your dog’s food portions. Many people look at the guidelines on the dog food bag; the problem with this is that some of the recommendations may be inaccurate and could cause your dog to gain weight. Ask your vet for some recommendations if you are not sure which brands are best for your dog or need help with quantities.
Try not to base your dog food choices on the price of the food. The cheaper brands actually contain a lot of preservatives, additives and other ingredients that can compromise your dog’s health. Get a list from an animal advocacy or consumer awareness group of the highest recommended foods to give your dog. Your dog will enjoy and benefit much more from healthier food.
You shouldn’t make your dog do something it doesn’t want to do. Some dogs won’t love all treats, and you shouldn’t push your dog to like something. When you are a new dog owner, it may take a while to figure out what he does and doesn’t like.
When a dog behaves badly, correct him immediately. If you ignore any issue with your pet then later on it’s going to be harder to train it to obey because it doesn’t know any better. It is possible that your dog could injure a person, and that person could be you! So correct unwanted behavior right away.
Schedule a visit for your new dog with your local veterinarian. Make an appointment as early as possible. Your vet will provide a full check up and establish vaccination dates. Set up an appointment to have your dog fixed, too.
Trim hair around a dog’s paws so that hair mats don’t form. Clean and comb the hair before you trim it. If you’re too scared, take him to the groomer instead.
When giving your dog medication or special treatment, follow vet instructions closely. He may not like wearing a cone over his head, but it’s prescribed for a reason! When a vet makes a recommendation, it is for the safety and health of your dog; if you ignore them, that can lead to trouble.
If you are seeking a dog of a particular breed, be sure to check with your local animal shelter first. A lot of dog owners leave their pet at the pound if they do not want them or cannot keep them. Call the pound to see what they have. You’ll be saving a life.
Let your dog know that you care. Do not focus on just the negatives with your dog. This often results in problems later. Instead make it a habit to praise your dog much more often than any scolding. Make it five times to any one. This will make them very happy when around you.
If you’re the owner of a lone, lonely dog, you should consider getting a second pooch. Dogs naturally travel in packs and like to have fellow canines around. Match them carefully based on energy levels and temperament.
Now that you’ve learned a little bit about dogs, it shouldn’t be hard to care for them. Just stay firm and consistent, and most of all, patient. Keep educating yourself to discover more ways to improve your dog’s life and make your time together more enjoyable.