Dogs bring a lot of love to your life as an owner. They make for an amazing pet the whole family will love. In order to be responsible owner and give your pooch the care he or she deserves, check out the following suggestions.

It costs a lot to own a dog. Food, supplies and vet bills can add up to $1,000 or more per year. It can cost a lot of money to take your dog to the vet in an emergency, so you will want to investigate health insurance for your pet.

While hugging your dog will make both of you feel great, refrain from kissing him. Your dog’s mouth is fairly dirty at any given time. Dogs dig in trash cans, drink from toilet bowls and sniff and lick various body parts on themselves and other dogs. It’s an old wives’ tale that a dog has a very clean mouth. It is not necessarily true.

Don’t take your dog off of your own property without a leash, no matter how well-behaved he is. Wild animals could get the dog’s attention and lead him into dangerous places, or unanticipated circumstances could provoke conflicts with others. You are responsible for anything your dog does, as well as for his safety.

Use hand signals when training your dog along with verbal commands. When provided with signals of this type, dogs tend to pick things up faster. Try using both ways with your dog to see which works best.

If the dog is doing something right, like sitting before he is leashed, lavish him with praise and affection. Make your dog understand you are pleased with the behavior and expect to see it again. Your dog is looking for ways to please you, and giving him your praise lets him know he has done just that.

Purchase or construct a dog house if your dog must stay outside when the weather is cold. Adverse weather conditions can be detrimental to your pooch, causing illnesses, anxiety and poor behaviors. Make sure that your dog has a spacious home that they can go into to get out of the weather.

Try not to force your dog to eat things. For instance, don’t force it to eat a treat that it appears to hate. Keep an eye on your dog’s likes and dislikes.

Take the time to correct bad behavior in your dog at the first sign of it. When you ignore this behavior, your dog thinks that it is okay. In addition, by not taking action, your dog may injure another person, even you. Therefore, ensure you discipline your dog.

You can keep your furry friend mentally as well as physically active through plenty of exercise. Teach your dog to get your newspaper as well as other things that are useful in your home. He’ll feel helpful and like he is a member of the family. At the same time, the training is good for his mental and thinking skills.

To prevent your female dog from getting pregnant, be on the lookout for the times she becomes in heat. Male dogs from as far as 5 miles away may pick up the scent. Your dog could cause some fights and you will be responsible for finding new homes for the puppies if your dog gets pregnant.

Carefully pick the foods you feed your dog. You’ll find a wide variety of food to buy, but they’re not one-size-fits-all. Choose the food that fits both your dog’s age and size. Giving your dog leftovers may be cheap, but it may not give them a lot of health benefits.

You might be tempted to share your food with your dog. Some foods are okay, but many foods aren’t good for dogs. Grapes, chocolate, and caffeine are all things that you should never give your pup. If your dog eats these foods, it could be detrimental to his health.

Taking care of a dog requires a lot of knowledge. There is more to the task than simply walking and feeding it. It’s important to know the correct way to take care of your dog. If you do, you will have a happy, healthy dog for many years to come.