Being a dog owner is not easy. Dogs need to eat, exercise, and be groomed to be happy. How can one get ready for all of the challenges? The following tips will teach you how to take great care of your dog.

You will pay a lot to take care for your dog. Good quality dog food and medical care can cost between $700-1000 a year. Also, emergency care is a lot if your dog was to ever get sick; you may want to think about pet insurance.

Your dog needs an annual physical exam from the vet, just as you need one from your doctor. It can be difficult to know what could be causing your dog pain since they cant talk to you. Annual checkups can catch issues before they develop into something serious.

Be wary about certain flea treatments to use for your dog. A lot of the ones on the market have ingredients that are 1000 times more potent than what is considered safe by the EPA and it may be a cancer risk for children. Talk to the vet about different forms of treatment that are safer for use around small kids.

When training your dog, use hand gestures along with the verbal commands. Dogs tend to read body language and signs very well. Look at both options and see if one particular way works best.

When your dog is good, praise him immediately. Make your dog understand you are pleased with the behavior and expect to see it again. It teaches your pup that he will be rewarded for good behavior.

Do not buy your dog a particular brand of food just because it is cheap. Generally, food that is less expensive is not as healthy for your pet due to preservatives and additives put into the food. Use a consumer awareness or animal advocacy group to obtain a list of the best foods that come with the highest recommendations by professionals. Your dog will thank you for feeding him a better food.

Your dog needs a dog house if he or she has to remain outside in cold weather. If his feet are wet, extreme temperatures can be stressful and bad for his health. Build a shelter yourself or purchase a kit from the nearest pet store.

Properly teach your dog how to walk with a leash. He needs to know to heel next to you, not behind you or in front of you. Doing this will not only be easier on you, but it will also keep your dog safe. When you dog understands the command to heel, you can relax occasionally and walk with a loose leash without having your arm pulled off.

Some breads are prone to illness, and you need to know if yours is one of them. Find out what health problems to expect and learn how to prevent those that your dog is prone to developing. Talk to the vet to find out what you are able to do to assist your dog in beating the prognoses of his breed.

The information provided above will be useful in your daily interactions with your dog. This information provides a good foundation for dog ownership that you can build on in years to come. Employ the canine care advice that was discussed here and your dog will appreciate it.