Are you having a hard time with training your dog? Does he chew on the furniture and hide your shoes when he is not supposed to? It’s time for some behavioral lessons! In this article you will find the information you need to turn your dog into a well behaved family member.

It costs a lot to own a dog. Dogs need good food, medical care and other supplies. This can add up to $500-$1000 a year. Emergency vet visits can cost a ton, so think about purchasing health insurance for your dog.

Make your home doggie-proof. Before you bring a dog into your home, you should be sure that the area you’re bringing it to is safe. Store things like meds and cleaning products in a safe location, and be sure to keep any indoor trash cans behind a cabinet. Some houseplants are toxic and need to be kept out of your dog’s reach.

Hugs are great to give your pets, but kisses are not that great. Dogs lick dirty things you don’t even want to think about. Dogs love to dig in garbage, get into the toilet, and then they lick their butts, yuck! Many people believe that the human mouth has more germs than that of a dog – this isn’t true. It certainly isn’t the truth.

Take your dog to the vet at least one time a year for checkups. Since your dog cannot talk to you, it may be hard to determine when arthritis is setting in or a tooth begins hurting. An annual vet visit can help you find problems early.

If you’re taking your pup on a vacation, make sure that you take a picture of him for on your phone. If he is ever separated from you, it will be easy to show people what he looks like or print out flyers with a recent picture showing that you are looking for him.

Watch out for dog flea treatments. A lot of them have chemicals that might be bad for kids! Speak with your vet to see if there are any alternatives that are healthier choices for your pet and your family.

Do not feed your dog “people food”. Feeding a dog from the table only reinforces begging. The dog will also be less likely to eat its normal food. Table scraps can also be unhealthy and lead to excess weight and digestive problems. If you spend the time to train your dog to spend mealtimes well removed from the table, there won’t be any scrap-feeding temptations to worry about.

You can have a good dog today. You don’t have to put up with inappropriate aggression and destruction. Your dog’s behavior is based on you. Use what you’ve learned and show your dog how to behave.