Dog care is a huge responsibility. Providing for your dog is kind of similar to having a child, expect you have one that barks. If you take the time to educate yourself and apply some patience, you can easily become a responsible dog owner. This article will provide you with great tips for caring for your dog.
Make your home suitable for dogs. You need to look for hazards around your home that your dog might run into. Store things like meds and cleaning products in a safe location, and be sure to keep any indoor trash cans behind a cabinet. Keep house plants out of his reach, especially if they could be poisonous.
You should have your dog spayed or neutered. Research has proven that this can reduce your dog’s risk of cancer and make them healthier in general. Also, dogs that are fixed lose their desire to stray from the home, lessening the chance of them getting lost or hurt.
Try giving the dog rawhide versus actual meat bones. Pieces can break off of the real bone, which may cause your dog to choke. Studies have shown that rawhide bones are good for your dog’s health and their teeth. Don’t give in and let your dog gnaw on real bones. Stick to rawhide.
Buy or build a home for the dog if they need to stay outside when it’s cold. Exposure to extreme weather for long periods can cause health issues, particularly if the dog’s feet get wet. Your dog needs a space that is dry and provides him with adequate shelter.
It is important that your dog’s nails are not allowed to get too long. Once the nails start to curl under, they can cause your dog a great deal of pain. It is easy to purchase a pair of clippers and attend to these yourself. If you aren’t comfortable with this, invest a little money and take your dog to the groomers.
Train your dog how to properly walk when on a leash. Make him walk at your side, and do not let him pull far in front of you or stay far behind. Use the command “heel” to prompt him. If your pet is leash trained, it’ll be safer, and you’ll enjoy walks more as well. Even if your dog is sometimes walked on a loose leash, it should still know the command anyway.
Avoid matting on your dog’s paws by keeping the hair on them trimmed. Straighten hair with a comb a bit before you trim it. If you lack the confidence to attempt this, take the dog to a professional groomer.
For pure bred dogs, don’t discount local pounds to find one. There are people who drop off pets for many different reasons, such as moving abroad or the death of an owner. Just give a quick call to your local humane society to see what breeds they may have available. You could possibly be saving a dog’s life in the process.
When you train your dog, don’t allow your efforts to be diminished by an excess of trainers. Everybody does things differently, and a dog can be confused by having several commanders. Only allow one person to teach the dog things and then everyone else should learn what that person has taught the dog and stick with that.
Make sure that your dog goes to it’s vet for a checkup each year. Your vet may see problems, such as thyroid problems, kidney problems, and diabetes, before you’ll notice any signs. Yearly physical exams can save money down the line and save the dog from suffering unnecessarily.
You should take dog care seriously. In much the same way a child requires care, it is important to have the proper skills, knowledge and tools to care for your canine family member. It can be a huge undertaking but something that can be easily accomplished by just about anyone. You have this article to help you if you need it, so take care of your dog.