Dogs need more than a bowl of food and a scratch behind the ears. Your dog also needs constant TLC. What can you do to take care of your dog? The advice here runs the gamut of dog needs, so read on.
You should take your dog to the vet at least once a year. Your dog is not able to talk, so it is not easy to know when he’s got arthritis or an aching tooth. A checkup every year can make sure that issues are caught before he is suffering too much.
Obviously, dogs are unable to sleep. Therefore, you have to pay attention to your canine’s non-verbal cues. If you notice your dog is hesitant to meet a particular person or dog, don’t force it. One of the animals could become aggressive. You need to keep your eyes open for these signs.
Take a photo of your dog when you plan to take him on vacation. In the event that he gets separated from you, you have easy access to a current photo to put on flyers that will help identify him.
If you’re on any kind of medication, even if it’s over-the-counter, you need to keep it away from your dog. Consuming even a single pill can cause serious health problems or your dog. If your pet does manage to ingest some medicine, contact the vet right away.
Never let the dog go off your land without its leash, regardless of its good behavior. There are quite a few things that could cause your dog to run off unexpectedly. You will be to blame if your dog gets hurt for being off his leash.
If you’re trying to figure out what type of dog you might want to get, take a look at your lifestyle. For instance, joggers may want dogs that can run along with them, instead of a toy breed that cannot. If you are a homebody, a small dog that lounges around a lot is a good fit. Don’t get a dog that you don’t fit in with if you can avoid that.
Avoid cheap dog food. Cheaper brands usually contain lots of additives and preservatives that can harm your dog’s health. You should contact an animal advocacy group or a consumer awareness program to get some recommendations for quality dog foods. Food that is healthy will benefit your dog.
If you get your dog from the pound, make sure you have a vet check him out right away. They may be carrying some sort of illness that they picked up at the shelter. You need to be sure that you get your animal all of the shots it needs prior to bringing it home.
Follow your vet’s advice when it comes to medications and special care requirements. They may not like their cone, but they need it for a purpose. Recommendations that a vet makes are for the good of your pet and if you don’t adhere to these things it could be bad for your pet.
Let your dog feel the love that you have for him. As it usually happens, many times owners focus more on bad behavior rather than good ones. This could lead to trouble down the line. Instead, scold your dog less and praise him more. This increases the chance that your dog will repeat the good behavior rather than the bad.
Identification will be great in the event that your dog gets away from you. Consider purchasing a breakaway collar for your pet. This tag needs to contain all of your relevant contact details and the name of your dog. You can also have your dog micro-chipped.
By taking time to educate yourself on dog behavior, you are more likely to succeed in raising an excellent pet. Doing so means providing your dog with the best life possible, seeing as he is already such a good friend. Wouldn’t you want a good and knowledgeable owner if you were a dog?
