If you feel like your life could use a little more unconditional love, putting a dog in the picture could be the answer. Anyone can love a dog, whether they’re a part of someone’s big family, or a great companion for a person who lives by themselves. To ensure that you’re caring for your dog properly, use the tips below.

Keep in mind that dogs are expensive. Expect to spend from $700 to as high as $1000 in a year to pay for medical attention, food and other items needed. It can cost a lot of money to take your dog to the vet in an emergency, so you will want to investigate health insurance for your pet.

Make your home dog-proof. Check your whole home to be sure it is safe prior to bringing a dog home. Put cleaning supplies and medications away and keep indoor trash inside 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.

Yearly physicals help you and yearly vet checks help your dog. Your dog can’t speak to tell you he’s in pain. Making an annual trip to the vet is the best way to discover and deal with these kinds of problems when they’re still manageable.

It’s a good idea to have your regular dog training sessions in your own yard or at home. Avoid training your dog where many people are present. Too many people causes distractions, making it hard to train them.

Carefully consider what your home is like when deciding on a breed of dog. If you are very active, think about getting a dog that will run with you. By the same token, if you are a quiet person, you should choose a quiet lap dog. You should find a dog that fits well with your personality.

Talk to your vet about your dog’s food portions. Dog food packages provide guidelines, but they can be wrong for your particular pet and lead to obesity. Speak to the vet about what makes sense for your dog.

If your dog has to stay outside during cold weather, give him a dog house. Especially if your dog’s feet get wet, exposure to very cold temperatures for long time periods can cause stress and other health issues. Keep your dog safe from precipitation and winds by providing him with a place that is spacious, with a dry floor.

Make sure your dog always has trimmed nails. If they get so long that they start curling under, your dog will probably hurt a lot. These can be trimmed at home if you use nail clippers from the store. If you aren’t confident enough to do it yourself, take the dog to a local pet groomer.

Make sure your dog knows how to properly walk while it’s leashed. He should know the “heel” command, stay close to you and not veer far ahead or drag behind. If you walk in this way, you will be sure that your pet is safe so that your walks are more enjoyable. Even if your dog is sometimes walked on a loose leash, it should still know the command anyway.

There are plenty of things involved in properly taking care of a dog. It’s much more than simply feeding and walking him. It is important that you have good information when it comes to dog care. If you do, you will have a happy, healthy dog for many years to come.