Are you someone that has owned a dog or has grown up around them? If you are thinking of getting a dog, or already have one, knowing some simple facts can be a lifesaver. This article has dog tips to help you care for your dog properly.
It costs a lot to own a dog. When you add up the medical care, food and supplies in general, your costs could run from $700-$1000 annually. Emergency visits to the vet can cost thousands, so you may want to invest in health insurance for your dog.
When it comes to dog flea treatments, you should proceed with caution. A lot of the ones on the market have ingredients that are 1000 times more potent than what is considered safe by the EPA and it may be a cancer risk for children. Talk with your vet concerning alternative treatments, and do not let small children come near while treating your dog.
Practice training your dog around your home, where you and your pup can be alone. It is not a good idea to train them in areas where a lot of people are present. They can get distracted, which can make it harder to train them even basic commands.
If you’re training your dog, don’t just use verbal commands. Try hand signals as well. This is a very effective way to communicate with your dog. Find out the way that your dog prefers and use it.
Talk to your vet about how much to feed your dog. Dog food packages provide guidelines, but they can be wrong for your particular pet and lead to obesity. Your vet will give you personalized advice.
Brushing your dog every day is going to stop them from shedding in your home, but more than that. Brushing your dog every day helps its coat become beautiful and shiny. This is mainly due to the fact that brushing allows the oils in the skin to be distributed evenly. That keeps the skin soft, shiny, and healthy.
If you’re going to adopt a new dog from an animal shelter, you need to get a vet appointment scheduled as soon as possible. Dogs that live in shelters may be sick or may have been around other sick dogs. You should also get your dog all of his shots before bringing him into your home.
The cheapest dog food may not always be the best buy when considering what food to feed your dog. In the long run, it is beneficial to be feeding your dog high quality, nutritious food. Even though you are paying more, it will save on health bills down the road.
Take the time to train your dog on a leash. Keep your dog at your side when you are taking a walk. Your dog will be safer in this position, and you’ll both enjoy your walks more this way. Even if you decide to give him additional slack on the leash from time to time, teaching your dog to heel remains an important task as a pet owner.
Your dog should not be left outside all the time. Dogs need to interact with people and other dogs. Especially if it’s only one dog, it can get very lonely. Also, they could be bitten by ticks, hurt by other animals or even abducted.
If your vet prescribes medication, always carefully follow the provided instructions. For instance, your dog may need a cone and not like it, but your vet prescribed it for a reason. When a vet makes a recommendation, it is for the safety and health of your dog; if you ignore them, that can lead to trouble.
In the case your dog has separation anxiety, leave music or the television on when you leave your house. The music will calm the dog down, and they’ll feel like someone else is there. This could be the perfect fix to keep him calm until you return.
If your female dog is in heat be cautious – she could very easily become pregnant. A male dog is able to smell her from up to five miles away. This causes fights as well as sexual behavior.
You should be an activist for your dog. Be on the lookout for any new laws that may be passed which could restrict your rights as a dog owner. Sometimes, a small number of bad dogs get more publicity than a large number of good dogs. Take action and speak up on behalf of your pet by calling or emailing local officials.
Now that you’ve read this article, you probably have a better understanding of everything dog care entails. So long as you apply these tips, you can avoid any issues. Simply take things one step at a time and re-read this article if you are unsure of anything.