If your dog needs to eat, it might start scratching at its food dish. If he needs to go potty, he might scratch the back door. When dogs are looking for love, they might even gaze into your eyes. Unfortunately it is not always easy to read what a dog is looking for.

It is fine to hug your dog, but avoid those wet kisses. Dog kisses are adorable, but your dog’s mouth is really dirty. They eat garbage or poop and even sniff other dog’s butts. Some believe the mouth of a dog is even cleaner than our own. That tidbit of information is plain wrong.

Be wary of the flea treatment you’re going to use on your dog. A lot of them have chemicals that might be bad for kids! Talk to your vet to learn about flea treatments that are safer and more family friendly, and always keep flea medication out of reach of children.

You should never give table scraps to your dog. Your dog will constantly beg for food when you are eating and will not be hungry when the time to feed it comes. Scraps can be terrible for his diet and lead to obesity and other health problems. Train your dog to remain in another room while the family eats so no one is tempted to slip something to him under the table.

Practice your training regimen for your puppy near your home. This will give you security and an area that your dog is comfortable. Your dog could become distracted and will be tougher to teach.

Your vet can give you some good advice on what you should feed your dog. Sometimes you’ll find that a puppy can’t eat certain brands of foods because it will make their stomach upset. Be careful when it comes to what you feed your pet.

A foster home is something you can provide for a dog that needs it. The shelters are full of homeless pups and lack many resources because of the overcrowding. Fostering will help you become adapted to the life of a pet owner, and you will be making a difference in the life of a dog at the same time!

To prevent the hair around a dog’s paws from matting, you should keep it trimmed. Use a comb and a small pair of scissors for this task. If you’re too scared, take him to the groomer instead.

Make political decisions which will help your dog! Look for changes in the local laws that govern pet ownership in your area. This is often caused by a few bad dogs, or a particular breed. Talk to responsible pet owners all around you by contacting your local officials.

Make sure you select dog food very carefully. 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. It’s also tempting to feed your dog foods that humans eat, but your dog isn’t human and needs dog food that contain the nutrients that a dog needs.

If you’re adding a second dog to your home, try to let your first dog meet the second before bringing it home. Dogs happen to be social creatures, but that doesn’t mean they all get along. Finding a dog that gets along well with your current pet will be best for everyone in the long run.

If you contain your dog outside, that does not mean you should give him less attention than an indoor dog. Your dog will acquire poor habits like digging or barking if it’s left isolated for too long. He may also start acting aggressively. Spend some time with your dog and take the time to train it properly.

Dog’s facial expressions can be a good way to understand a dog’s emotions. However, now that you’ve read this, you can understand that dogs are deeper than just body language. This is something that your pet will appreciate.