Having a dog can be among life’s true pleasures, but sometimes, things do not work out that way. To really get the most out of your relationship with your dog, you need to spend a little time learning about proper dog ownership. This article will provide you with great tips to help you be a great pet owner.
While hugging your dog will make both of you feel great, refrain from kissing him. Dog kisses may be seen as cute, but their mouths aren’t all that clean. Dogs go through garbage cans, toilet bowls, and love smelling and licking specific body parts of some other dogs. Your dog’s mouth is not really any cleaner than a human’s mouth. This is not true, at all!
Purchase a dog that can keep up with your lifestyle. If you are a hunter for example, perhaps a retriever is the dog for you. On the other hand, if you are the type of person to sit at home, you need a smaller breed that will enjoy lounging around with you. By selecting the right dog breed, both you and your dog will be more content.
Avoid cheap dog food. The cheaper dog foods have tons of additives and preservatives which aren’t the best for your dog. Contact an animal advocacy group about which foods are best for your dog. You will see a difference in your dog’s activity level and general happiness when you feed him “good” food.
Don’t force your dog to eat something. If you offer him a treat he doesn’t seem to like, do not make him eat it. You need to find out what your dog does and does not like.
Take the time to correct bad behavior in your dog at the first sign of it. Ignoring it can help your dog to establish lifelong bad habits. The longer you wait to address the problem, the worse the problem will become. Be sure to control and contain your dog to prevent problems with people.
A daily brush does a lot more than just prevent shedding. Brushing daily can ensure your dog’s coat is shiny and healthy looking. When you brush the coat, oils from the skin are distributed throughout, and this is makes the coat soft and silky.
If you want to get a pet from a shelter, find a vet who can examine your new dog. Dogs from shelters might have been exposed to viruses or might already be sick. The best thing to do is to ensure that you new dog has all the necessary vaccinations before it comes home with you.
Take your new dog to the vet. This should be one of the first things that you attend to when you’re bringing home a new pet. The veterinarian will make sure your pet is as healthy as you think he is and also talk to you about vaccinations. Also, be sure to speak to the veterinarian about neutering or spaying your dog. There are plenty of dogs already in the shelter, and you don’t want to increase that problem.
Your dog must learn to walk on a leash correctly. Your dog should know how to heel and not behind you or ahead of you. This will ensure that your pet is not too far ahead or behind you. Not having to hold the leash tightly will make going for walks easier.
If you want to a great dog owner, you have to know certain things. Picking out a new puppy to be your companion is the easy part. It takes time, responsibility and effort on the part of you, the pet owner. Have a wonderful time with your furry companion using the given information.