Do you have concerns when it comes to your dog? The many responsibilities of dog ownership can be overwhelming to a lot of first-time owners. For other dog owners, curbing their pets’ independent streak seems impossible. This article contains some of the most often recommended tips that can help your dog to live a happier life and behave in a more respectful way toward your family and friends.

When you are training your dog, you should practice in your home or in your yard. Don’t train in a park. Being around others can cause distractions, meaning it is more difficult for your dog to master basic commands.

TIP! You will pay a lot to take care for your dog. High quality dog food, medical care, toys and treats can easily run close to $1,000 in a year.

Talk with your vet about the foods you should feed your dog. In some cases, your pet may not be able to consume certain food brands without becoming nauseous. Use your vets advice and common sense to feed your dog properly.

Always give your dog lots of praise and hugs when it does something right. You need to reward good behavior. It will show your dog that doing the right thing will earn him praise from you.

Purchase or construct a dog house if your dog must stay outside when the weather is cold. If your dog’s feet get wet, then the continued exposure can lead to stress and other health issues. A roomy shelter that protects from the windy, rainy, and snowy weather is the best option.

TIP! Do not feed your dog “people food”. That encourages him to beg and makes him not want his own food.

There are more advantages to daily brushing of your dog than just keeping your home hair free. Brushing them daily can help them keep a shiny and beautiful coat. Brushing helps evenly distribute the oils in the fur and skin, which keeps things looking shiny, healthy and soft.

Keep your dogâ”s nails trimmed. Long nails cause huge amounts of pain. You can always do your own trimming with clippers from the store. If you aren’t confident enough to do it yourself, take the dog to a local pet groomer.

When you get a new dog, schedule a vet visit for soon after you’ve brought him home. Once the dog arrive home, place a call to the vet and schedule that appointment. Your vet can make health recommendations, make sure that vaccinations are up to date and help with maintenance items like flea care and proper diet. Also see about getting your dog fixed because there are tons of animals in shelters and adding to that problem isn’t good.

TIP! If you are teaching your dog, do it at home. It is not a good idea to train them in areas where a lot of people are present.

There is a lot for dog owners to digest. Looking after your dog is time-consuming but also very rewarding. However, the suggestions in the preceding article will aid you in tackling many of the problems you will face. In a short amount of time, you will be worrying less.