There are a lot of pets out there. Reptiles, cats and hamsters are a few options. If you are looking for a pet that will be your best friend and always by your side, a dog is an excellent choice. In the following paragraphs, you’ll find advice that will help you be a great dog owner.
Make sure that your home is safe for your dog. Prior to bringing your dog into your home, be sure that it is entirely safe. All cleaning materials and drugs must be put away, and put your trash receptacle inside a cabinet. Some common house plants that are toxic to pets should be removed from your home.
Be sure to have your pet spayed or neutered. Studies have shown that this leads to the pet living a longer and much healthier life. Also, dogs that are fixed lose their desire to stray from the home, lessening the chance of them getting lost or hurt.
If you’re taking your pup on a vacation, make sure that you take a picture of him for on your phone. Therefore, if your animals get lost, there is a recent photo that can be used for the purpose of locating them.
Never allow your dog to leave your yard without a leash even if he seems very trustworthy and calm. A wild animal may get his attention and cause him to run off, or he may have a bad situation with others and their dogs. You will be to blame if your dog gets hurt for being off his leash.
Ask the vet about how much the dog should eat each day. Simply reading the label on your dog food package may not be enough; your dog may have special needs. Check with you vet to find out about the feeding guidelines for your particular dog.
Dog Foods
Avoid cheap dog food. The cheaper dog foods have tons of additives and preservatives which aren’t the best for your dog. Check with animal advocacy groups or consumer reviews to find the best dog foods that are recommended by professionals. Your dog will appreciate your research.
Rather than purchasing an actual meat bone for your dog, go with rawhide instead. Real bones can break into pieces that can then become dangerous due to how sharp and small they can be. In contrast, rawhide has health benefits for your pet.
If your dog behaves badly, correct the behavior immediately. Ignoring it for a while can make it harder to correct later and you don’t know what may happen if you don’t. You don’t want to be the owner of a dog who hurts someone, so get a handle on it now.
If you get your dog from the pound, make sure you have a vet check him out right away. Shelter dogs could be sick or exposed to different viruses. You need to be sure that you get your animal all of the shots it needs prior to bringing it home.
Schedule a visit for your new dog with your local veterinarian. Make a vet appointment right after the dog comes home. The vet is going to check over your dog to see if everything is okay, as well as set it up to get vaccinations it may need. Also talk to your vet about getting the dog spayed or neutered – there are already way too many dogs in shelters, and you really don’t want to add to this problem.
Let your dog know that you care about him. Like a lot of things, people notice bad behavior more often that good behavior. With dogs, this can lead to trouble. You should mostly focus on praising and petting your dog when you notice a good behavior. This will reinforce that positive behavior brings due rewards, and thus lead to a better behaved pet.
Your dog needs to have mental stimulation as well as ways to become physically active too. Teaching your dog tricks, such as fetching your shoes or the paper, is a fun activity and it also will stimulate your dog’s mind, keeping him alert and attentive. Your dog is going to feel useful and also stay quite sharp.
Be sure your dog sees the vet once a year. Your dog requires an annual checkup and testing for heartworm, and the vet can ensure that your dog has had all the necessary vaccinations. You will need to see a vet more often if the dog is a puppy. You also should see a vet as soon as possible if your dog seems ill or gets injured.
If your dog has an accident indoors, be certain you get rid of any sign of it. Start with a professional quality cleaner, and follow that up with an odor remover you know will work. If you do not clean up the mess well enough, your dog might just go again in the same spot.
Even if your dog spends most of its time outdoors, it still needs lots of attention. When left by himself all the time, he may pick up negative habits, such as biting, chewing, and barking. The result might even be an aggressive pet. Give him lots of love and playtime to keep him happy.
Taking in a dog is a massive responsibility, but thanks to the tips you’ve read, you should be up to the task. Keep learning about dogs and keep finding out as much as you can. Not only will it be an enjoyable way to pass time, but you’ll be able to effectively care for your pet.