Have you ever owned a dog, or are you considering getting one? If so, you are already aware of the many blessings that come from dog ownership. However, dog ownership comes with responsibilities. Neglect these responsibilities and you will miss out on many of the rewards of being a pet owner. This article provides a wealth of information about owning and caring for a dog.
Your home needs to be ‘dog-proofed’. Before bringing home your new pup, make sure that it’s safe. Secure the trash can, stow way all medications and put away your regular cleaning supplies. Keep house plants out of his reach, especially if they could be poisonous.
It’s good to give hugs, but avoid giving kisses. Kissing a dog might seem cute, but they have dirty mouths. Dogs really get into everything, from toilet water to the neighbor’s trash. Keep in mind that an animal’s mouth is full of germs. This is not the truth!
If there are prescription and other medications within your home, keep them away from your dog. Your dog could have a heart attack or a seizure if it swallows some pills. Make sure you have your veterinarian’s number handy in case your dog does accidentally swallow your medicine.
Take some time to schedule dog training sessions in your own home and backyard. Avoid training your dog where many people are present. People will only distract your dog, making it more difficult to train him.
Speak with your vet about how much food should your dog be eating each day. Sometimes the guidelines on pet food labels aren’t correct, and following them could lead to obesity. The vet will know what is best for your pet.
Try not to buy low quality food for your dog. Cheap brands are full of fillers, preservative and even chemicals. Use an animal advocacy group or some kind of consumer awareness group to see if you can get a list of good foods that are professionally recommended. Food that is healthy will benefit your dog.
Try not to force your dog to do new things. If you purchase a treat your dog doesn’t appear to like, just try another brand rather than making him eat. Keep an eye on your dog’s likes and dislikes.
If you have a dog with extreme separation anxiety, you can help reduce it by playing music or leaving the television on whenever you leave your home. The music will calm the dog down, and they’ll feel like someone else is there. It can help his anxiety as he waits for your return.
If you’ve got just one dog and he doesn’t seem all that happy or is left alone a lot, think about getting him a friend. Dogs love to be social and hate to be alone. Match them carefully based on energy levels and temperament.
You need to train the dog by yourself; more than one person might confuse him. Be sure that each person working with the dog uses the same commands and responses. Designate one person to be in charge of training and have others reinforce everything the dog learns by adhering to the same rules and respecting the process.
Dogs paws can be damaged by walking through areas that are rife with debris and broken glass. If you notice a small cut on your dog, use antiseptic to wash it, and then put a bandage around it. If the cut seems deep, visit your vet.
Anytime your dog has an accident in your home, remove any trace of it. Use a cleaner with professional strength, followed by any odor remover. If you still smell dog waste, the dog could be emptied to return to the scene of the crime and repeat the actions.
If you are bringing a new dog into your home, arrange a meeting between your current dog and the newcomer. Dogs are quite social, but sometimes two particular dogs just are not compatible with each other. If you can find compatible dogs, it will save you a lot of trouble and anguish.
When you first start training, play with different reward systems. The goal is to learn what type of reward motivates your dog the most. If find that your dog is motivated by food, a hot dog, cut into small pieces, is a great reward. Maybe your dog will respond better to a game of tug-of-war with a favorite toy. Occasionally, a dog may just want to be petted for their reward.
When thinking over what you’re dog is eating, you have to look over their diet carefully. As a puppy, it is okay for them to eat foods filled with calories, as they need it for their growth. Adult dogs can’t eat everything because it will cause them to gain weight and have health problems.
Be firm. When some people own dogs they give them extra treats and allow them to misbehave. That usually happens with the cutest dogs! By being firm in your actions, you can avoid incidents all together. You might not mind giving table scraps, but if you fail to be consistent, your dog might one day help himself to your dinner!
Avoid high expectations with your dog. A dog’s attention span tends to go in and out, so you must be aware of that when training him. Only spend a short amount of time during each training session.
Consult with your veterinarian about the best brand of food to feed your dog. Your vet will consider any special needs your dog has, as well as be knowledgeable about the quality of various types of dog food on the market. Feeding the right food could help alleviate his symptoms, or prevent things from getting worse. Your vet will be able to tell you what the best food is.
As the beginning of this article discussed, owning a dog is very rewarding. You’ll get even more out of dog ownership when you’re knowledgeable about your pet. Now that you’ve read this information, you should understand dogs pretty well. Take advantage of what you have learned and enjoy a healthy, happy relationship with your dog!