Owning a dog is a serious matter. You must always understand that your actions are the key to your dog’s health and happiness. Knowing how to achieve balance with your pooch will take a lot of work, and reading the information below will be a good start.

When you take your dog on vacation with you, get a snapshot of them for your phone. This will help in the rare situation that you get separated from your dog. You will have a current picture of your dog to show to people.

Keep your medications out of paw’s reach. Your dog could have a heart attack or a seizure if it swallows some pills. When your dog happens to get at your meds, call the vet ASAP.

Find out what is going on that is causing your dog to act out. The longer you ignore it, the more difficult it will be to correct it later, and the consequences could be dire. Neglecting your dog’s behavior can lead to injuries.

Your dog’s nails need to be trimmed regularly. If the dog’s nails curl under, your dog might be in pain. Find some good clippers you can use to trim your dog’s nails yourself. If you lack the confidence to attempt this, take the dog to a professional groomer.

Proper leash walking is something that you should teach to your dog. Your dog should know how to heel and not behind you or ahead of you. If you walk in this way, you will be sure that your pet is safe so that your walks are more enjoyable. Even if you’re using a loose leash from time to time, you should still train your dog so that it understands when you issue that command.

If you’re thinking about getting a dog, but aren’t sure you want to make the commitment, try serving as a foster home. Shelters are full of animals who need a loving home, and there’s not room to hold all of them. You can give one a home for a while to help the cause and you can also keep it if you like it!

A dog should not be left outside all day. You may see this on TV or in movies, but that doesn’t make it right. If you don’t have more than one dog, the dog will get lonely when he’s not around you. Plan on bringing your dog inside when the weather is rainy, snowy, very hot, or very cold.

There are many ways to show your dog how cherished he is. It is easy to overlook the good behavior your dog shows while you concentrate on eliminating the bad. This could cause lots of problems for you. Praise your dog at least 5x more than you discipline him. Your dog will be better behaved.

ID your pet. To make it more likely that your dog finds its way home to you should it become lost, outfit it with a collar that has identification tags attached. Put your own name and contact information on it, along with your dog’s name. You can also opt to have a micro-chip inserted into your dog.

This information is all yours, so use it to get started right away. You’ll get the greatest benefit from making the most changes. It makes no sense to get a dog if you do not plan to offer it a happy and healthy lifestyle.