It is a well known cliche that man’s best friend is a dog. In every common saying, there is always some truth. If you’re prepared for a pet, you can really build a great relationship. The following article contains some information you can use when you want to make your dog your friend.
Your home needs to be ‘dog-proofed’. Check your whole home to be sure it is safe prior to bringing a dog home. Store things like meds and cleaning products in a safe location, and be sure to keep any indoor trash cans behind a cabinet. Certain common house plants are toxic, so remove them or keep them out of reach.
A physical is good for you, and a yearly vet trip is good for your dog. Since your dog does not speak the human language, he simply cannot tell you if his tooth aches or his arthritis is making it difficult for him to walk. Taking your dog for a yearly checkup allows relatively minor problems to be detected before they turn into major issues.
Try not to feed your dog any table scraps. This causes regular begging and will cause him to dislike his food. Table scraps can actually lead to obesity and other health concerns. Make your dog leave the room if he begins to beg, or train him to spend mealtimes in another room entirely.
Let your dog have rawhide rather than bones from the meat you eat. Real bones can chip and fragments may become lodged in their mouths or digestive tract. Rawhide bones are tested and veterinary approved, and they can benefit your dog’s teeth and gums too. Treat your dog to one regularly.
If you’re adopting your pet from a shelter, it’s important that you take it to see a vet immediately. A shelter is often a haven for kennel cough and other diseases. It’s smart to ensure your dog has all shots necessary before you take him home.
If you are not sure whether dog ownership is a good idea for you, then you might want to try being a foster care provider for a needy dog. There are many animals who need a temporary home until they are adopted. Fostering dogs will give them a wonderful home – who knows, maybe you will decide to be a fulltime dog owner!
Trim any hair that’s around your pup’s paws so it doesn’t get matted up. Comb the tangles out before you start trimming. If you’re uncomfortable doing this, you should get a professional groomer to do it.
Separation anxiety could be a problem with your dog. If so, show him extra love and attention and leave music on while you are away. The noise will keep him company and make him feel a little more secure. Doing this might help your dog get past its anxiety while it awaits your return.
Demonstrate plenty of affection to your dog. As is the case with most things in life, owners often pay more attention to the bad behavior than the good. This could lead to trouble down the line. Instead, scold your dog less and praise him more. Your dog’s behavior will improve because of your new technique.
Your dog needs both physical and mental exercise. You can even teach your dog useful tricks such as fetching the newspaper for you. They’ll feel like a useful family member and the constant reinforced training will maintain their sharp thinking skills.
If your dog is a female and in heat, you need to be careful if you’re not trying to get her pregnant. A male can pick up on her scent from as far as five miles away! Also, she can cause a fight between other dogs, as well as become pregnant with unwanted litter from an unknown origin.
Dogs tend to get cuts and scrapes on their paws from things they step on. If your dog suffers a cut, clean it with antiseptic and bandage the wound. Go to a vet if it seems like the cut is very deep.
Dogs make for amazing companions. When you know how to care for your dog, the relationship will be long and happy. You have learned quite a bit from this article, and hopefully you can use it and have a life full of happiness with your dog. You can have that best friend you have always wanted.
