There are many responsibilities that you have when caring for a dog. Your dog also needs constant TLC. Sometimes it is difficult to know what you should do when it comes to being a pet owner. The following article contains helpful advice you can use when owning a dog.
Be sure your house is dog-proofed. Before bringing your dog home for the first time, make sure that the entire area is completely safe. Put up all of your cleaning supplies and medications, and be sure you put away any trash cans. Research the toxicity of plants you own, and move or remove anything that might be an issue.
If your dog is coming along on a family vacation, keep a picture of him handy or take one using your phone. Therefore, if your animals get lost, there is a recent photo that can be used for the purpose of locating them.
Always make sure to keep any prescription medications away from your dog. The same holds true for over-the-counter meds. Just a few of your pills could literally kill your dog. You should contact your vet right away if your dog swallows some medication.
Always have your dog on a leash when he’s off your property. He can be scared away by some wild animal, or an unforeseen provocation with another dog can result in an unpleasant situation. Your dog’s actions and safety is your responsibility.
Choose a dog in that can easily and happily blend into your lifestyle. For instance, if you love to run, get a dog that loves to run too, and leave the miniature breed for someone who is less active. Likewise if you are quiet home-body, look for a smaller dog that enjoys pampering and living it up on your sofa. Keeping a mismatch out of play makes both of you happy.
Always correct any bad behavior you see in your dog as soon as you see it. When you ignore this behavior, your dog thinks that it is okay. You need to make sure your dog is happy to keep them in control and so he does not hurt anyone.
Providing foster care for a homeless dog can be a great way to see if you are suited to care for a dog. There are plenty of animals sitting in homeless shelters who desperately need a home due to over-crowding and limited shelter resources. You can give a hand by fostering a dog without a home and try on the role of dog owner too!
Trim hair around a dog’s paws so that hair mats don’t form. You should use a comb to straighten out the hair a bit before trying to trim it. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, then you’d probably have to hire a groomer who knows what they’re doing.
Become familiar with the medical peculiarities of the breed of dog you have chosen. Research his ancestry and take steps to prevent problems he might be prone to. You can also speak with the vet about steps you can take to increase their lifespan.
Stepping on sharp objects or glass is a common hazard for dogs waling outside. If your dog has a tiny cut, use an antiseptic to wash it with and then bandage the area. If the cut is deep, contact a vet.
If your pup has an accident in your home, be sure to clean it up properly. Use a cleaner specifically made to clean up such messes. If your dog can still smell its waste, it may use the bathroom in that spot repeatedly.
When selecting the ideal diet for your dog, investigate the options thoroughly. A number of dog foods are available, but you must choose one that suits your dog’s age and size. While some choose to feed their dogs table scraps, this is not the best way to ensure that all of a dog’s health needs are being met.
Were you aware that vitamins are not good for your dog? If you feed your dog a balanced diet, there is no need to give him extra vitamins. Some vitamins cause irreversible damage. Before you begin giving your dog any vitamins or supplements, make sure that you check with your vet first.
You need to consider your own life when you are thinking about getting a dog. Wanting a dog is easy, but it is not always easy to deal with responsibilities of dog ownership.
Always keep an eye on your dog’s diet. As puppies, for example, dogs thrive on rich, high-calorie foods that fuel their rapid growth. When they become adults, if they eat too much, they can become obese which is not healthy.
Curb your expectations when it comes to your dog. Your dog will not be able to pay attention for very long when you are training him. Try to limit your training sessions to several minutes so your dog does not come to dislike the sessions and you can avoid a lot of frustration.
If you will be away from your dog for periods of time, consider crate training him. You can prevent unwanted accidents and damage to your belongings by using an appropriate crate.
The longer you spend studying about dogs, the better you’ll be at caring for them. You will have a loyal companion for life when you treat your dog right. Let’s say you were the dog–it would make you happy to know your owner has researched everything about you.