If you’re looking for love and affection, dogs are for you. They are great pets for children and show compassion for adults. In order to be responsible owner and give your pooch the care he or she deserves, check out the following suggestions.
Make sure your house is free of doggy danger. Prior to bringing the pooch home, check that the whole home is safe. Store things like meds and cleaning products in a safe location, and be sure to keep any indoor trash cans behind a cabinet. Some plants that are usually kept in the home are poisonous to pets, so move them where your dog cannot get to them, or put them out of your home completely.
Give your dog hugs, but don’t kiss him. Dogs lick dirty things you don’t even want to think about. Dogs root around in garbage pails, drink enthusiastically from the toilet bowl and love to lick and smell certain body parts of other dogs. It’s an old wives’ tale that a dog has a very clean mouth. That tidbit of information is plain wrong.
Spay or neuter your dog. Studies show that these operations help your dog live longer and can reduce cancer risks. Not only that, but neutered and spayed dogs feel less need to wander away from home, so they are not as likely to be hit by a vehicle or become lost.
Take some time to become familiar with your canine’s non-verbal language. For instance, if your dog is hesitating, it is not a good idea to force him to approach a person or another animal. This could lead to the other dog or person getting bit. So pay attention to your dog’s demeanor and make your judgement from these cues.
It’s a good idea to have your regular dog training sessions in your own yard or at home. Training in busy areas with lots of people around should be avoided. Too many people causes distractions, making it hard to train them.
Try using hand signals when training a dog instead of just using verbal commands. Dogs tend to respond better with these additional types of signals instead of always relying on voice commands. Experiment with each way and determine what works.
Rawhide treats are better for your dog than real meat bones. Genuine bones can chip, and the pieces may become stuck in your dog’s teeth or digestive system. Also, rawhide is better for the health of your dog’s teeth.
A dog should not be left outside all day. Many people do this, but dogs need interactions with others. If there is only one dog in your household, he may feel lonely outdoors. If you’re area is experiencing rain or snow, you’ll need to bring your dog inside to prevent your dog from getting ill.
If you have your heart set on a purebred dog, realize that the city pound may be somewhere to look. There are often pure bred dogs at shelters and rescues, and they are desperately in need of homes. Just call your local pound to find out what breeds they have available. You may be saving a dog’s life.
Take care with a female dog in heat, unless you want a lot of puppies. Males can detect the scent from miles away. The dog might also want to fight other dogs, and become pregnant.
You need to train the dog by yourself; more than one person might confuse him. If the other people who help you train your dog are not consistent with what you started teaching, your dog will have a hard time. Pick a single person to be the main person doing the training, and let the others know what that person’s methods will be so they can follow along.
Make sure that you are keeping up with your dog’s vet appointments. The vet will be able to spot signs of diabetes, thyroid issues and kidney trouble a while before your dog shows any signs. It’s best to take your dog for annual physical, since that is the best way to ensure that there aren’t an problems that have gone undiagnosed for a long time. In the end, you will save money.
A dog should always be brought to the vet for regular checkups. You must keep up with vaccinations, heartworm testing and physical exams for your dog. You will need to see a vet more often if the dog is a puppy. If your dog seems ill or becomes injured, you must take it to a vet immediately.
When the weather heats up, start checking your pet for ticks and fleas daily. Use a flea comb on your dog’s fur. There are also other products you may want to consider using to get rid of fleas and ticks. Try to get your vet’s opinion on these products or what you can do to help your dog.
A lot goes into owning and caring for a dog. The job doesn’t end with setting out food and taking the occasional walk. You need to know the right way to care for your dog. You will have many great years with your dog if you learn how to care for them properly.