You are probably aware that dog care can be quite involved and complicated, regardless of whether or not you currently have a dog. This isn’t just something that you’re able to do from the start. Read on to learn a few excellent tips on great dog care.

Store your prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines in a safe place where your dog cannot get them. If your dog has access to these pills, there can be fatal consequences. If your dog happens to get into any such pills, call your veterinarian or animal poison control immediately.

Even if your dog is well-behaved, never leave home without putting him on a leash. He could easily get spooked by something and run off into harm’s way. You are responsible for anything your dog does, as well as for his safety.

If you want to keep your dog outside, build him or her a small shelter. Especially if your dog’s feet get wet, exposure to very cold temperatures for long time periods can cause stress and other health issues. Always protect him from wind, sun and rain by making sure he has a dry shelter to go to.

When you first notice behavior problems in your dog, take proper steps to correct the behavior. If you delay too long, the behavior will get harder and harder to correct. Your dog could hurt somebody, including you, so keep him under control.

Giving your dog a good brush every day will definitely do more than lower their amount of shedding. Brushing daily will give them a shiny, beautiful coat. The reason for this is that brushing helps distribute the skin’s oils throughout the coat to condition the fur and skin.

Keep the fur around your pup’s paws trimmed so that it does not get matted. Use a comb first, then start cutting. If this process is something with which you are uncomfortable, have a professional groomer do the job.

Dog Breeds

Certain dog breeds are susceptible to some health problems, so make sure you know what is typical for the breed of dog you have. You should do some research on the dog breeds you are interested in to learn more about the health issues they are likely to develop. Also, ask your vet what you can do to help your canine beat the odds for his breed.

You can find many types of dogs at the pound, even pure breeds. Unfortunately there are many people out there who simply cannot care for their dogs anymore and they end up at the local pound. All you have to do is give your local shelter a call, and you can find out which breeds they have. You could get the dog you are looking for and save a life in the process.

Show your dog that you love him. As it usually happens, many times owners focus more on bad behavior rather than good ones. Your dog will develop more behavioral problems if you adopt this attitude. Instead, make sure you pet or praise your dog five times more often than you scold him. Your dog will more likely showcase proper behavior when you do that.

Get into puppy politics. Look for changes in the local laws that govern pet ownership in your area. Frequently, this sort of thing is just a knee-jerk reaction based on an isolated incident. You need to talk to your local officials and stick up for rights of dog owners.

You need to train the dog by yourself; more than one person might confuse him. If the other people who help you train your dog are not consistent with what you started teaching, your dog will have a hard time. Pick a single person to be the main person doing the training, and let the others know what that person’s methods will be so they can follow along.

It should be easy to care for your dog with the advice found above. With a lot of love and patience your dog will be happy and healthy. Read up all you can about taking care of your dog – this will help the two of you to enjoy each other’s company much more!