Dogs are fantastic as pets because they give you loyalty and can be great company. But, dogs are not simply born this way. They require proper care along with some training to follow the rules you set for them. This article is packed with tips about owning a dog, so read on.
If you’re taking your dog on a trip, be sure that you have a recent picture of them on-hand. This ensures that, should he get lost, you have a current photo, ready for showing around or being used in flyers.
Always make sure to keep any prescription medications away from your dog. The same holds true for over-the-counter meds. Your dog could have a heart attack or a seizure if it swallows some pills. When your dog happens to get at your meds, call the vet ASAP.
Use flea treatments with caution. Quite a few of them use ingredients that are very unsafe for kids, including an ingredient that has been linked to cancer. Talk to the vet about different forms of treatment that are safer for use around small kids.
Practice your training regimen for your puppy near your home. Avoid training your dog in heavily occupied areas. People will only distract your dog, making it more difficult to train him.
Hand signals are great when they are paired with verbal commands. When provided with signals of this type, dogs tend to pick things up faster. Every pet is different though, so use a combination of both verbal and visual cues and then determine what works the best.
If you’re trying to figure out what type of dog you might want to get, take a look at your lifestyle. For instance, joggers may want dogs that can run along with them, instead of a toy breed that cannot. Likewise if you are quiet home-body, look for a smaller dog that enjoys pampering and living it up on your sofa. When you match your traits and the traits of your pet, you will both be happy.
Ask your vet how much food your dog should get every day. It is important to follow guidelines for the sake of your dog’s health. Check with you vet to find out about the feeding guidelines for your particular dog.
Do not buy your dog a particular brand of food just because it is cheap. Cheap dog food contains lots of preservatives and additives that your dog doesn’t need. Check with animal advocacy groups or consumer reviews to find the best dog foods that are recommended by professionals. Your dog will be in better health when he has high quality food.
If your dog behaves badly, correct the behavior immediately. You should never ignore bad behaviors when they are puppies because this will make it a lot harder to correct down the road. Neglecting your dog’s behavior can lead to injuries.
Grooming your dog every day will ensure it doesn’t shed all over the place. A daily brush will make their coat radiant and shiny. When you brush a dog, you are moving the skin’s oils evenly throughout its fur, so it really makes the fur shine and feel great.
If your vet prescribes medication, always carefully follow the provided instructions. He may not like wearing a cone over his head, but it’s prescribed for a reason! You will leave your dog open to serious health problems down the line if you do not follow the advice from your vet for the health of your dog.
If you have your heart set on a purebred dog, realize that the city pound may be somewhere to look. Many pure bred dogs are abandoned at dog pounds or shelters when owners aren’t able to care for them. Call the pound to see what they have available. You can save the life of a dog this way.
You should know that taking care of a dog isn’t that hard. It will be a little difficult at first, but the above advice should have you pointed in the right direction. Utilize this advice to its fullest advantage.