When you care for your dog properly, you will be rewarded with a great deal of joy. Maintaining a dog’s happiness relies taking care of his health, and knowing exactly what the dog needs. Read on to find some helpful tips for creating a great relationship with your dog.

Take the time to make sure your house is dog-proofed. Take the time to tour your home with an eye for safety before you introduce your dog to your home. Put cleaning supplies and medications away and keep indoor trash inside a cabinet. Since some plants are very harmful because of their toxicity, it’s best to get rid of them or put them in an area that the dog cannot get to.

While it’s great to show your dog affection, you shouldn’t kiss them. Dog kissing may be adorable, but dogs have awfully dirty mouths. Dogs poke around trash cans, love smelling and licking other dogs’ body parts and enthusiastically drink from toilet bowls. It saying that the dog’s mouth is much cleaner than a human’s is folklore. This couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Always, have your dog spayed or neutered. Studies have shown that this leads to the pet living a longer and much healthier life. Besides, a neutered dog will be less likely to run away or to get in fights with other animals.

Because non-verbal communication is vital to dogs, you should devote yourself to learning how to read your dog’s signals. Don’t force interaction with other pets or people if your dog is showing reluctance. This could cause your dog to harm a person or another dog. Watch for any of these non-verbal cues and let these guide your actions.

Know about what could go wrong with flea treatments if you have a dog. Some treatments contain dangerous ingredients that may put your kids at risk for diseases like cancer. Talk to your veterinarian about the safest options, and don’t let your kids near the dog while you’re doing a treatment.

Table Scraps

Don’t 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. Table scraps can also be unhealthy and lead to excess weight and digestive problems. Make sure your dog does not sit near the table and beg, so you aren’t tempted.

Talk to your vet about appropriate nutrition for your canine. Simply reading the label on your dog food package may not be enough; your dog may have special needs. Ask your vet for the proper amount based on your dog’s needs.

When you buy dog food, avoid the cheap stuff. It is vital to give your dog the best quality food. Sure, it’s more expensive. But, isn’t your pet worth it?

Schedule a visit to the vet when you get a new pet. This should be done as soon as he is adopted. The veterinarian will make sure your pet is as healthy as you think he is and also talk to you about vaccinations. Also discuss with your vet about spaying or neutering your dog because there is a problem of over-population of dogs in shelters.

Dogs can be one of the most joyful presences in your household. It is, however, important to have sufficient knowledge of what makes and keeps dogs happy and energetic. Use what you learned here, and you can be a great and responsible dog owner.