Owning a dog is a very serious thing and it takes responsibility. It’s important for your dog to always be happy and healthy. By learning all that you can about being a good dog owner that knows what they’re doing, you can be sure that things go well for you and your dog.

Medical Care

Having a dog at your home is a big financial commitment. High quality dog food, medical care, toys and treats can easily run close to $1,000 in a year. Pet insurance can be very helpful since emergency medical care for your dog can cost thousands of dollars, depending on the circumstances.

It’s good to give hugs, but avoid giving kisses. While those sloppy kisses may be cute, be aware that your dog’s mouth is apt to be crawling with germs and bacteria. Dogs root around in garbage pails, drink enthusiastically from the toilet bowl and love to lick and smell certain body parts of other dogs. It is not true that a dog has a cleaner mouth than a person. This statement is most definitely not true.

Since your dog can’t talk to you, it’s crucial that you listen to their non-verbal language. For instance, if your dog is hesitating, it is not a good idea to force him to approach a person or another animal. This could lead to the other dog or person getting bit. Pay attention to the posture of the dogs and let them take their time.

Use hand signals when training your dog along with verbal commands. Your dog may have a better time understanding you when you use manual signals. Find out the way that your dog prefers and use it.

Before giving your dog a new dog food, talk to your vet. Certain brands may not be right for a small pup and could cause him to get a stomachache or become sick. Use care when feeding your dog.

If you choose to adopt a pet, take him or her to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Dogs in shelters could be sick or may have already been exposed to some viruses. It’s crucial that your pet has all necessary shots before it’s brought into your house.

You should carefully trim the hair near the paws to avoid matted hair. You ought to use a comb as a means to straighten it before trimming. If you have a hard time with this, enlist the services of a groomer.

The information you just read should help you get started. When you adjust your behavior to help your dog, you are going to see good results. There’s no reason to have a dog if you aren’t going to give them a good life, so use the things you’ve read to your advantage!