Do you enjoy being a dog owner? Dogs are valued as pets by many people, and there are good reasons for it. Dogs are affectionate, playful and enjoy being happy. They make wonderful friends. That is why you want to make sure you are doing your part to give them the best possible care. Here are some things you can learn if you need to know more.
Always have your dogs spayed or neutered. Research suggests that this small thing can give extended life to your dog by reducing cancer risk. A spayed or neutered dog is also less likely to stray from its home, meaning it won’t risk getting lost or winding up in a street accident.
Your dog cannot communicate through speech; therefore, you must learn its non-verbal language. Avoid forcing your dog to interact with others if he doesn’t want to. This can lead to a bad ending for your dog, the other pooch or the other person. Watch for these non-verbal hints and let the dog guide your actions.
Don’t get sub-par food for your dog that’s from a bargain store. Less expensive dog foods include fillers and additives that are not beneficial to your dog’s health. Check out professional recommendations from groups online. Better food will be very beneficial to your dog.
A dog’s bad behavior should always be corrected whenever you see the first signs of it. You should never ignore bad behaviors when they are puppies because this will make it a lot harder to correct down the road. Also, the dog may end up hurting someone, perhaps even you.
It’s important to make sure that your pup’s nails stay trimmed. If they get too long, they may start to curl under and cause your dog pain. It is easy to purchase a pair of clippers and attend to these yourself. If your dog does not respond well when you try to trim the nails, a groomer or even your veterinarian can handle the task.
Whenever you adopt from the pound, take the dog straight to the vet. Dogs that live in shelters may be sick or may have been around other sick dogs. You should also get your dog all of his shots before bringing him into your home.
Do not buy cheap food items for your dog in an effort to save money. Your dog will be healthier and happier if you feed it the highest quality food. Although the food may cost more, you know that your dog is receiving the correct nutrients from quality food.
Properly teach your dog how to walk with 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. This will keep him safe, and it’ll make walks more enjoyable. By having your dog understand this command, it will be very helpful for most situations.
Providing foster care for a homeless dog can be a great way to see if you are suited to care for a dog. Many homeless and abused animals are waiting in shelters for someone to adopt them and with over-crowding, resources are slim. Become a foster parent to test the waters.
Never leave any dog outside for long durations. Understand that dogs need to interact with other people and animals. Your dog will get very lonely if it is left outside by itself. It’s especially important that your dog be inside if the weather outside is nasty.
Keep trimming the soft hair near the paws of your dog to keep it from matting. A comb should be used first to straighten it before you do any cutting. If you’d prefer, you could have a groomer do this for you.
Always remember that you are responsible for the well-being of your dog. Follow these tips to take the best possible care of your best friend. Your dog should have the best life possible and by using this advice, you will find your life to be more enjoyable as well.