You may have the mindset that each dog at your local shelter or pet store is a cuddly creature who will keep you warm at night. You might end up with something really different. Even so, you are now responsible for caring for the dog, so learn the ropes from the article that follows.
A physical is good for you, and a yearly vet trip is good for your dog. Obviously, dogs don’t speak, so it can be hard to figure out when they’re having problems with their bones or teeth. Taking your dog for a yearly checkup allows relatively minor problems to be detected before they turn into major issues.
Keep your dog on leash any time he leaves your fenced yard, regardless of his gentle nature and good behavior. A wild animal may set your dog off and send it running into traffic, or someone could provoke your dog and get injured by accident. You’re responsible for everything your dog does, and for his safety. as well.
Make use of hand signals when training your dog versus relying only on verbal commands. Your dog may have a better time understanding you when you use manual signals. Try both ways of giving commands to see what works best.
Think about your life and then find a dog breed that will fit in well with your habits. For instance, joggers may want dogs that can run along with them, instead of a toy breed that cannot. Likewise if you are quiet home-body, look for a smaller dog that enjoys pampering and living it up on your sofa. Steer clear of a breed mismatch if you want to be a happy dog owner.
You don’t want to buy the bargain dog food. The brands that are cheaper actually have lots of additives, preservatives and other harmful ingredients that can endanger the health of your dog. You should contact an animal advocacy group or a consumer awareness program to get some recommendations for quality dog foods. The higher quality food will benefit your dog profoundly.
Genuine meat bones may be tempting, but it’s best to stick to rawhide. Real animal bones can chip and pose a danger to your dog’s digestive tract and mouth. It has been shown that rawhide bones are safe and great for their teeth, so be sure to not give your dog that ham bone next time.
This advice will prove helpful and ignoring it would be a mistake. Use it every day and your dog will soon be your dream dog. Happy dogs give unconditional love, and that is what you should strive to achieve.
