Do you truly enjoy your dog? People all over the country love dogs, and for good reason. They are active, affectionate, and very loving. A dog makes a fabulous companion. You need to be an excellent companion to the dog as well, and it starts with making sure they get proper care. Here are some things you can learn if you need to know more.
Because dogs cannot speak to you, it is important to learn their non-verbal cues. If they seem hesitant upon meeting up with other dogs or people, don’t force interaction. This might lead to a bite to another dog or even to a person. Look out for non-verbal hints so that the dog can guide your actions.
Be wary when it comes to flea treatments. Many have ingredients that are dangerous to kids. Talk to your veterinarian about the safest options, and don’t let your kids near the dog while you’re doing a treatment.
It can be really helpful to incorporate hand signals with verbal commands when first training your dog. Signals like these help your dog learn things quickly. Give both methods a try to find out which works best for your particular pup.
Offer rawhide rather than actual meat bones. Real animal bones can chip and pose a danger to your dog’s digestive tract and mouth. Rawhide is healthy for their teeth and gums, so don’t share your bones, even if the dog wants it!
Daily brushing brings great rewards – much more than just a reduction in shedding. A daily brush will make their coat radiant and shiny. This is caused by the motions since brushing distributes oils that keep skin, soft, shiny and healthy.
Do not buy cheap food items for your dog in an effort to save money. Overall, your dog will benefit form a lifetime of quality food. While this may mean paying higher prices for a premium brand, you can be assured your dog is getting the proper nutrients from wholesome sources.
You can keep your furry friend mentally as well as physically active through plenty of exercise. You can teach your dog to be helpful with and respectful of things in your house. This will make him feel like an active member of the family.
It is not uncommon for dogs to get cuts on their paws from stepping on pieces of glass and debris. Wash any small cut your dog has with some antiseptic and then put a bandage on it. If the cut seems deep, have a vet check it out.
You need to perform daily tick and flea inspections on your dog as spring and summer approaches. If you find fleas, use a flea comb and get rid of them. There are a lot of things on the market that will help you get your dog’s fleas and ticks under control. Speak with your vet about which choices are best.
Think about how you live your life on a daily basis, as well as vacations and other events you participate in before deciding to get a dog. Most people want dogs, but sometimes they cannot give the dog everything that they need.
When you train your dog, you will always want to use positive reinforcement. Rewards and praise can help the dog to come around much quicker than violence or dominance. Humane treatment in training is not only better for the dog in the long run, but will be more effective as well. Be kind and you will enjoy great results.
When you first start training, experiment with several types of rewards. You need to figure out what motivates your particular animal. Pieces of sausage or tasty dog treats will work for a dog that is motivated by food. If a dog likes toys better, play a little tug o’ war with your puppy if you wish. Some dogs are even driven by being rubbed and petted.
You need to exercise some extra caution with your dog during the hottest months of the year. Dogs have great difficulty dealing with extremely high temperatures. Give your dog a cool, shaded area to retreat to when it gets hot. Also, be sure your dog has clean, cold water. You don’t want your dog to develop skin cancer, either, so pick up some sunscreen for dogs!
You have to be the same kind of friend that your dog is to you. Using the tips in this article to help you, you can take even better care of your dog. Your dog is deserving of a great life and if you use what you have learned in this article, you’ll have a fantastic life too.