Owning a dog is a very serious responsibility. You must make sure your dog is happy and healthy all the time. Knowing how to achieve balance with your pooch will take a lot of work, and reading the information below will be a good start.

Having a dog at your home is a big financial commitment. Food, supplies and vet bills can add up to $1,000 or more per year. You should also look into purchasing a good pet health insurance policy to avoid high medical bills.

When training your puppy or dog, keep the sessions short! Experts say that a dog has the attention span of a small child, sometimes less, and that longer sessions will actually cause him to forget everything you’ve learned together. Use positive reinforcement and limit your training sessions to no more than 15 minutes.

It is very important for you to keep your dog’s ears clean. Keeping the inside of the ears clean will help prevent infections of the ear. This is also a good time for you to inspect the ear for fleas, ticks and any other pests that could have made your dog’s ear home.

If your dog does something that you do not like, try to avoid just saying no. To your dog, no doesn’t really explain what you want your pup to do. Instead of saying no if your dog is jumping, try to get your dog to sit or lay down. By doing this, you provide your dog with an instruction of what to do.

Pet

When preparing to groom your pet, start the session off on the right foot by helping your dog relax. Spend a few minutes simply petting him, starting with the head and then rubbing the back, paws, belly and even tail. Once you feel your dog is happy and content, begin grooming him.

Know the basics of pet first-aid if you have a dog in your family. Being able to react quickly in an emergency, such as your pooch being bitten by a snake, can mean the difference between life and death. Read a good book on the subject or ask your vet to brief you on the basics.

You might find a pure breed dog at the pound. Some owners leave their dogs, which gives you an opportunity to give them a better life. Simply call the area pound to determine which breeds are available. You’ll be saving a life.

If your dog makes messes in the house or chews when you are away, consider crate training. Crate training involves providing your pet with an appropriate sized crate to,stay in while you’re out of the house. It can keep your pet and belongings safe. Just make sure to never leave him in the crate for a very lengthly period of time.

The suggestions in the article will help you a lot if you apply them! Make an effort to provide your dog with a good environment, quality food and plenty of affection. You will get the most out of the relationship with your pet if you do your best to keep it happy.