You might think that you will find your dream dog at the local animal shelter or pet store. What you get may be completely different from what you wanted. No matter what the situation, you need to be a good pet owner, and the following paragraphs will help you do just that.
Dog-proof your home. Make sure any area your dog will be in is safe. Hide cleaning supplies and medicines and hide trashcans in a cabinet. Some houseplants are toxic and need to be kept out of your dog’s reach.
Get your dog spayed or neutered. Research suggests that this small thing can give extended life to your dog by reducing cancer risk. They are also more likely to remain close to home, reducing their risk of becoming lost or getting injured by a car or another animal.
Make sure to keep prescription drugs out of the reach of your dogs. Just a few of your pills could literally kill your dog. Make sure you have your veterinarian’s number handy in case your dog does accidentally swallow your medicine.
Keep table scraps to a minimum. This teaches dogs bad habits. “People food” can also make dogs sick and contribute to obesity. Don’t allow your dog to beg at the table while you are eating.
Let your lifestyle determine what breed of dog you should bring into your home. Do not buy a dog that is lazy if you are very active. Likewise if you are quiet home-body, look for a smaller dog that enjoys pampering and living it up on your sofa. When you find the perfect match, you’ll both be happier!
If you have a dog that does something right, like sitting when you’re getting out the leash, you should give the animal lots of praise and affection. This will show that you appreciate what your dog is doing. It also reinforces the idea that they will receive attention if they behave as you want them to.
Don’t buy cheap dog food. The brands that are cheaper have preservatives, additives, as well as other things that aren’t good for your dog. Instead, research which brands are considered to be nutritious. Your dog will enjoy and benefit much more from healthier food.
Genuine meat bones may be tempting, but it’s best to stick to rawhide. Real bones chip apart and can become dangerously lodged in the oral cavity or digestive track. Rawhide is healthy for their teeth and gums, so don’t share your bones, even if the dog wants it!
Do not force your dog to do anything. If your dog doesn’t want it, don’t force him to eat it. When you first get a dog, you should take some time to get to know what it likes and what it dislikes.
Keep the nails on your dog trimmed. Long nails cause huge amounts of pain. Nails can easily be clipped. Your local pet store will have the tool you need. 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.
Get your new pet a veterinary exam. Directly after getting your dog, be sure to make a check up appointment with a trusted vet. Your vet will provide a full check up and establish vaccination dates. 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.
Keep trimming the soft hair near the paws of your dog to keep it from matting. A comb should be used first to straighten it before you do any cutting. You can always use a dog groomer if you find the process difficult.
Become Pregnant
If your female dog is in heat be cautious – she could very easily become pregnant. A female’s scent can travel a very long distance. Also, she can cause a fight between other dogs, as well as become pregnant with unwanted litter from an unknown origin.
Dogs sometimes get tiny cuts on their paws. If your dog experiences a cut, wash the area with antiseptic and put a bandage on it. If the cut seems very deep, take him to the vet.
Now that you have gone over this fantastic advice, you should make sure you don’t ignore any of it. Use it liberally and you will see that your dog can be a model of good behavior. This will make your dog happy and affectionate towards you.