It is a well known cliche that man’s best friend is a dog. There is truth in those words. If you have the information you need, you can create a wonderful lifelong relationship. This article will give you some great advice on having a dog as your best friend.
If you bring your pet on vacation with you, keep a picture of him with you, particularly on your phone. If they’re separated from you, then you’ll have a current photo that you can easily access and show others or to download for “lost” flyers.
Be sure to keep all medications out of the reach of children and pets. Many medicines that benefit you can be harmful or fatal to your dog. If, by chance, a dog does eat some of your pills, contact the vet right away.
Table Scraps
Don’t give table scraps to your dog. This teaches dogs bad habits. Table scraps are also not nutritionally sound for a dog, and this might mean digestive problems, obesity, and other ailments. If you spend the time to train your dog to spend mealtimes well removed from the table, there won’t be any scrap-feeding temptations to worry about.
Dog training should be take place out in the yard, or even inside your home. Don’t train in a park. They may get distracted and it will be more difficult to teach them even the most basic commands.
Buy or build a home for the dog if they need to stay outside when it’s cold. Exposure to extreme weather for long periods can cause health issues, particularly if the dog’s feet get wet. Make sure that your dog has a spacious home that they can go into to get out of the weather.
Take time and correct bad behavior when you first see it. Ignoring it for a while can make it harder to correct later and you don’t know what may happen if you don’t. If your dog is not under control, he could end up hurting you or someone else.
Trim your dog’s nails on a regular basis. If they start to curl under then your dog may start to feel pain. Buy some clippers and do the job yourself. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this on your own then you can hire a groomer to do it for a little bit of money.
Schedule a visit to the vet when you get a new pet. Don’t wait to long to make your appointment. In addition to giving your dog a check up, the vet will schedule vaccinations. Talk with a vet about your dog being spayed or neutered. There are lots of homeless dogs and you don’t want to make the problem worse.
Solid leash training is a must for any dog. Keep your dog at your side when you are taking a walk. Walking this way will help to keep your pet safe, and it will make it easier for you to enjoy walks too. If you are using a loose leash, you help your dog to realize this is the best way to go about it.
Avoid matting on your dog’s paws by keeping the hair on them trimmed. Prior to trimming it, straighten the fur using a comb. Go to a professional groomer if you have a hard time doing this yourself.
Your dog needs exercise and entertainment. You can even teach your dog useful tricks such as fetching the newspaper for you. This gives him a job to do and he’ll feel fulfilled as a result.
To prevent your female dog from getting pregnant, be on the lookout for the times she becomes in heat. Male dogs from as far as 5 miles away may pick up the scent. This causes fights as well as sexual behavior.
Your dog needs to wear some sort of identification in case he escapes your house. Consider purchasing a breakaway collar for your pet. Put your own name and contact information on it, along with your dog’s name. If a tag doesn’t feel like the right option for your dog, consider a microchip.
Dogs make great pets. By learning as much as you can, you’ll ensure that your relationship will be a great one. You have gained a lot of knowledge from what you have just read, and hopefully this knowledge can be used to make your pet happy. You really can have the perfect furry friend.