Would you like to save a little puppy from the pound? Do you want a purebred animal instead? From a mutt to a show dog, they’ll all bring you love. Along with the love comes responsibility, so read through the article below to get an idea of what you are in for once you bring your new friend home.
If your dog comes with you on vacations, you need to have an up-to-date picture of it on hand and in your phone. If they’re separated from you, then you’ll have a current photo that you can easily access and show others or to download for “lost” flyers.
Use flea treatments with caution. Some medicines can put your children in harms way. Ask your vet for recommendations instead, and keep children away while you’re applying flea treatments.
Resist the urge to give your dog table scraps. This teaches dogs bad habits. In fact, a steady supply of scraps may encourage your dog to gain unhealthy amounts of weight and set off serious digestive problems. Put your dog in another room while the family eats, and do not allow him to reenter the dining space until dinner is done.
It is a great idea to put hand signals in use when you are training your pet; use them in conjunction with words. These signals will help you keep your dog under control in a noisy environment. Give both methods a shot, and see what your pet prefers.
If you’re trying to figure out what type of dog you might want to get, take a look at 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. If you like to stay at home, perhaps you would like a small dog. You will be much happier when you make a choice that is complementary to your lifestyle.
Avoid the bargain brands of pet food. Less expensive brands of dog food often contain artificial coloring, additives, preservatives and so on that can be very bad for your dog. Use a consumer awareness or animal advocacy group to obtain a list of the best foods that come with the highest recommendations by professionals. Your dog will enjoy and benefit much more from healthier food.
Always correct any bad behavior you see in your dog as soon as you see it. Ignoring it for any length of time will only make it that much more difficult to contain later and you never know what could happen as a result of it now. Be sure to control and contain your dog to prevent problems with people.
You won’t just stop your dog from shedding on your carpet if you brush him on a daily basis. It leaves them looking gorgeous, for one thing. Brushing distributes the natural oils of the skin throughout the hair coat for added sheen and softness.
Let your dog know that you care. Do not focus on just the negatives with your dog. If that persists, your dog may begin to act inappropriately to get your attention. Rather, be sure to give praise five times more frequently than you reprimand. This will reinforce that positive behavior brings due rewards, and thus lead to a better behaved pet.
Stay on top of canine politics for your friend. Look for changes in the local laws that govern pet ownership in your area. Breed-specific laws are typically the result of media hype. Talk to responsible pet owners all around you by contacting your local officials.
You now know what it takes to care for your dog as best as possible, so you are ready to bring your new mutt or purebred home! Use online resources, which change fairly frequently, to learn as much as you can about dog ownership. You can even find online discussion groups where other dog lovers meet. You will gain valuable information by doing so.