Do you feel like your grocery store is lacking in the dog food department? A lot of people agree with you. It is important that you understand how to properly care for your dog. These tips can help you be a better, more responsible dog owner.

It doesn’t matter how good your dog is, you should never leave your property without keeping him or her leashed. 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 are solely responsible for the dog’s actions and for the dog’s safety as well.

Hand signals are great when they are paired with verbal commands. Hand signals can really help your dog. Give both methods a try to find out which works best for your particular pup.

Do not buy your dog a particular brand of food just because it is cheap. Cheap dog food contains lots of preservatives and additives that your dog doesn’t need. Check with animal advocacy groups or consumer reviews to find the best dog foods that are recommended by professionals. Better food will be very beneficial to your dog.

Instead of feeding your dog meat bones, give him rawhide. Genuine bones can chip, and the pieces may become stuck in your dog’s teeth or digestive system. Rawhide is proven healthy and great for teeth as well, but don’t be tempted to share that T-bone, no matter what kind of eyes your dog gives you.

If your welcome a new dog into your family, immediately schedule a check up for him. This is one of the first things you should do. Your vet can make health recommendations, make sure that vaccinations are up to date and help with maintenance items like flea care and proper diet. Ask your vet about neutering your dog. Shelters are filled with unwanted animals and not neutering your dog means you could be making this problem worse.

If you have a dog with extreme separation anxiety, you can help reduce it by playing music or leaving the television on whenever you leave your home. The sound will help him feel more secure and not as alone. This could be the perfect fix to keep him calm until you return.

As you can see, caring for a dog is a big responsibility. There are a lot more dog foods than what you see in the grocery store. Keep these tips in mind for your dog.