Taking in a dog is a massive responsibility. You’re the one in charge of your pet’s health and happiness. By learning all that you can about being a good dog owner that knows what they’re doing, you can be sure that things go well for you and your dog.

It costs a lot of money to own a dog. Every dog is going to need supplies, good food, and will also need medical care. After all is said and done this could cost about $800 or more. Pet health insurance can help; although you will pay a monthly or yearly fee, you will often be covered if a big medical emergency occurs for your pet.

It’s a great idea to keep a snap-shot of your dog handy (a digital pic on your phone is ideal) whenever you’re traveling with him. 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.

If you are teaching your dog, do it at home. It is unwise to do it where there are many strangers around. They can get distracted, which can make it harder to train them even basic commands.

Try not to buy low quality food for your dog. Generally, food that is less expensive is not as healthy for your pet due to preservatives and additives put into the food. Use a consumer awareness or animal advocacy group to obtain a list of the best foods that come with the highest recommendations by professionals. Your dog will be much healthier if you feed it some healthy food.

Instead of feeding your dog meat bones, give him rawhide. Real bones can chip and become lodged in harmful place such as the digestive tract. Rawhide is proven healthy and great for teeth as well, but don’t be tempted to share that T-bone, no matter what kind of eyes your dog gives you.

If you want to keep your dog outside, build him or her a small shelter. If his feet get wet, being exposed to extreme weather can cause health issues and stress. Keep your dog safe from wind, rain and snow by providing it with a house with lots of room and a dry floor.

When obtaining a shelter dog, you need to set up an appointment with your local vet immediately. Shelter dogs have numerous opportunities to be exposed to harmful bacteria and viruses; these can result in dangerous illnesses. The best thing to do is to ensure that you new dog has all the necessary vaccinations before it comes home with you.

Adequate exercise is an important consideration for dog owners. Regular play and exercise is essential to keep your dog happy, both physically and mentally. Even the smallest amount of exercise, such as throwing a ball, will be good for your pup and you. It gives you exercise and helps develop a relationship that will last forever with your dog.

Always make sure your dog understands how to walk correctly on a leash. Your dog has to understand the “heel” command and respond to it by walking beside you, not ahead of or in back of you. Walking like this can keep them safe and help you enjoy walks too. Your dog needs to get used to this.

If you want to get yourself a new dog, but aren’t totally sold on the idea, you could try to get a foster pet. A lot of shelters that take in homeless or abused animals have a way to let you adopt them for a while. Foster one of these dogs to help and see if you wish to care for one.

There’s nothing stopping you from putting these tips into action immediately. Make sure you change your ways to make your dog happy and you will be happy. If you won’t do whatever it takes to give your dog the best life possible, why have one at all?