Even if you don’t have a dog yet, you likely know what a big responsibility dog ownership is. It isn’t something you can do uneducated. The following article will help you to be the best dog owner possible.
Make your home dog-proof. Make sure any area your dog will be in is safe. Store things like meds and cleaning products in a safe location, and be sure to keep any indoor trash cans behind a cabinet. Some house plants are poisonous, so keep them away from your dog’s reach or remove them.
Hugs are good, but kisses should be avoided. Kisses from dogs are adorable, but they’re a lot less cute when you realize how filthy your dog’s mouth actually is. After all, dogs eat out of the garbage, drink from toilet bowls, and lick all over their body. It’s an old wives’ tale that a dog has a very clean mouth. It is not necessarily true.
Be sure to have your dog spayed or neutered. Research has proven that this can help your dog live longer and also specifically help prevent cancer. 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.
When you take your dog on vacation with you, get a snapshot of them for your phone. This way, should he get lost, you have a picture you can show others. You can also use the picture to hand our “lost” flyers.
If you have medication is your home, even if it is just over-the-counter medication, place it where your dog cannot access it. Dogs can have very negative side effects from even small amounts of medications intended for humans. Make sure you have your veterinarian’s number handy in case your dog does accidentally swallow your medicine.
To improve the dog training process, try using hand signals in addition to verbal commands. Your dog may have a better time understanding you when you use manual signals. Test out both methods to see which works for you.
Avoid buying your dog bargain-based food. Cheap dog food usually includes fillers (such as corn or soybeans) which are not appropriate for dogs. It may also contain poor quality ingredients which may hurt your dog’s health over time. Professional associations and dog advocacy groups may offer lists of the highest quality foods available. Your dog will get good benefits from the right kind of food.
Never give your dog a real bone to chew on. Real bones can splinter and can get caught in your dog’s mouth or digestive tract. Rawhide is healthy and good for their teeth, so don’t share that T-bone no matter what faces they make.
Make sure that your dog is not left alone outdoors all day. You may see this on TV or in movies, but that doesn’t make it right. If you only have one dog, he can get lonely outside. If you’re area is experiencing rain or snow, you’ll need to bring your dog inside to prevent your dog from getting ill.
Always follow any instructions from the vet carefully, especially if your dog requires medication or other special attention. The dog may hate that cone on its head, but it’s there for a very good reason! The directions that you get from your vet are focused on the health of your pet and ignoring them can be detrimental to your pet.
You should be an activist for your dog. Be on the lookout for any new laws that may be passed which could restrict your rights as a dog owner. Breed-specific laws are typically the result of media hype. Make sure that your voice is heard on behalf of other dog owners.
Always take your dog for his yearly check-up. The vet will be able to spot signs of diabetes, thyroid issues and kidney trouble a while before your dog shows any signs. Yearly physical exams can save money down the line and save the dog from suffering unnecessarily.
With the assistance of the advice you’ve just received, you should be better equipped to care for a dog properly. You must be loving and patient to ensure they appreciate it. Do plenty of research on this topic and look for solutions to the issues you are encountering with your dog.