It is a well known cliche that man’s best friend is a dog. There’s a lot of truth behind that. If you know how to handle a dog, your relationship with him can be a great one. To care for your friend, take a look at the valuable in the article below.

Owning a dog is quite a large financial commitment. 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. A sick dog could cost you tens of thousands! Look into doggie health insurance!

Talk with a vet about which foods are good for dogs and which ought to be avoided. Certain brands may not be right for a small pup and could cause him to get a stomachache or become sick. Be careful when it comes to what you feed your pet.

If you are not sure how often you should feed your dog, ask your vet. Some people feed the dog based on their food package recommendations, but these can be wrong and cause them to be overweight. Your vet will know how much to feed your particular dog.

Instead of feeding your dog meat bones, give him rawhide. Rawhide limits the danger when your dog is chewing. Rawhide is a great treat you can use in lieu of real bones.

Your dog’s nails need to be trimmed regularly. If they start to curl, your dog may feel a lot of pain. You can do this yourself using a pair of dog clippers from the pet store. If you do not want to take this matter into your own hands, hire a professional.

When you get a new dog, it is best that you schedule a check-up at the vet right away. As soon as your dog is brought to your home you should get an appointment scheduled with the vet. This allows the vet to look him over and schedule the necessary vaccines. Remember that there is a tremendous dog overpopulation problem, so you should have your dog spayed/neutered.

Demonstrate plenty of affection to your dog. As with most things, owners tend to focus more on the bad behavior instead of the good. You might have a hard time later on. Try to ensure that you praise or give affection to your pet at least five times for every instance of reprimand or scolding. This will make it more likely that your dog will behave well.

Be cautious with female dogs in the heat. If you aren’t, you may have to deal with an unwanted pregnancy. A male will be able to smell her from a far distance. This causes fights as well as sexual behavior.

You may think it’s okay to share your own snacks with your dog. It might be alright to give your dog some foods, but not all foods are good for dogs. Some foods you cannot give your dog are chocolate, grapes, or any caffeine. These foods can hurt your dog’s health.

Remember, your dog isn’t a human. While training your dog, keep in mind that his attention span is not as great as yours. Try to keep your training sessions fun, so that your dog stays interested.

A dog makes an outstanding animal friend. Dogs can enrich your life in so many ways. This article shared a lot of information, and you should apply it to your life. You’ll be able to have the best friend you’ve always desired.