Dogs can be great to have around, as they are loyal and friendly. But, it may take some work to get them to that point. Training them, working on behavioral issues and caring for them properly all go a long way toward helping to ensure they are welcomed family members and companions. This guide offers information to teach you all about dogs. Continue reading to learn more.
If your dog displays a good behavior, praise it or reward it with a treat. Let a dog know that their behavior is what you wish to see. Your dog will soon understand that good behavior is rewarded with praise.
You should always trim your nails. When they start curling under, the dog runs the risk of experiencing pain. Find some good clippers you can use to trim your dog’s nails yourself. If your dog does not respond well when you try to trim the nails, a groomer or even your veterinarian can handle the task.
Make sure that you’re giving your dog enough exercise. A dog requires regular exercise and game time; it keeps him healthy and happy, both mentally and physically. Throw a ball around the park with your dog and play fetch. Exercising with your dog will help you establish a bond with it.
If you’ve been considering adopting a dog but still aren’t sure, you could try to become a foster owner first. A lot of shelters that take in homeless or abused animals have a way to let you adopt them for a while. Fostering dogs will give them a wonderful home – who knows, maybe you will decide to be a fulltime dog owner!
Always follow through with instructions from your vet if your dog has medication or needs special attention. The dog may not be fond of the treatment or medication, but it’s for its health. The vet doesn’t give advice for no reason, and it can be dangerous to now do what is advised.
Pure Bred
Even if you seek a pure bred animal, you should not overlook the pound. Many pure bred dogs are abandoned at dog pounds or shelters when owners aren’t able to care for them. You can contact the local dog shelter to see what breeds are there. You’ll be saving a life.
Let your dog know that you care about him. In life, it is far too common to give bad behavior more attention than good. This may eventually cause problems. Instead make it a habit to praise your dog much more often than any scolding. Make it five times to any one. When you do this, you will probably end up with a better behaved dog.
Be certain a lost dog can be returned to you by giving him some identification. This is typically a collar with a tag on it. Your dog’s name and your contact info should appear on the tag. Micro-chipping is another great option to help in the event that your dog gets lost.
Always go to your dog’s yearly check-up. Vets can find problems such as kidney troubles, thyroid issues and diabetes well before symptoms appear to you. By having a physical each year, you can avoid unnecessary expenses later on and your dog will not suffer.
Check your dog for ticks and fleas every day when the weather gets warm. If you do find fleas, you can use a flea comb. A number of products saturate the market that help control fleas and ticks on your dog. Speak with your vet concerning these products and other options.
Always praise your dog when he does something good. A dog learns quickly when he knows he will be rewarded. It’s just a much better solution for immediate results and for the long term relationship too. Be nice and enjoy the results.
Be firm. Often, dog owners think it’s fine to sneak some food to them or let them tear apart a toy. This is very common when dogs are cute little puppies. This will prevent accidents from occurring in the future. If you are not firm, your dog will take advantage of you.
As you can see, taking care of a dog isn’t that hard. Use these tips and do more research on the different issues you are running into. Take all of the things you learned here and put them to good use.