Some things about dogs are easy. They scratch their bowl when hungry. When your dog feels the need to relieve himself, he might scratch your back door. Your dog might stare at you and look longingly if it needs affection. Since your dog can’t talk, though, it may be hard to always understand what he needs. The following article will help you care for him in the best way possible.
Your home needs to be ‘dog-proofed’. Create a safe area to bring a new puppy into the home. Put all medication and cleaning supplies away, and keep your indoor trash can inside a cabinet. Research the toxicity of plants you own, and move or remove anything that might be an issue.
Get your dog neutered. This helps reduce the probability of cancer and extends the life of your dog. They are also more likely to remain close to home, reducing their risk of becoming lost or getting injured by a car or another animal.
When you have medications of any sort, keep them where your dog cannot get to it. Just a few of your pills can be disastrous for the dog, inducing a heart attack or seizure. If, by chance, a dog does eat some of your pills, contact the vet right away.
Do not feed your dog “people food”. This will make your dog beg all of the time and also will make it not want to eat its regular food as much. Table scraps can negatively affect the dog’s health and cause digestive issues or obesity. Make your dog leave the room if he begins to beg, or train him to spend mealtimes in another room entirely.
Keep your dog on leash any time he leaves your fenced yard, regardless of his gentle nature and good behavior. Something could distract him, like a squirrel or a cat, causing him to leave your side. Your dog is your responsibility, so treat him right.
Use hand signals when training your dog along with verbal commands. Dogs tend to read body language and signs very well. Every pet is different though, so use a combination of both verbal and visual cues and then determine what works the best.
If a dog does something correctly like sitting before you leash them, give them lots of praise and affection. It’s important that you pooch is aware that they did something good. This will also give your dog incentive to be good.
If you are going to get a dog from the shelter, make a appointment with the vet. Illness is common in shelters, and your new pet could be at risk or already nursing an ailment. It’s smart to ensure your dog has all shots necessary before you take him home.
People say that you can tell what your dog is thinking by the way they look, this is true. However, now that you’ve read this article, you have a deeper understanding beyond just facial expressions. This is something that your pet will appreciate.