Are you not satisfied with the food options for your canine found at the local supermarket? There are many dog owners who feel that they have nowhere to turn for helpful pet care advice. If you want to be able to care for your canine friend, then you’re in the right place. The following article will give you some great tips to help you better understand your dog’s needs.
It costs a lot to own a dog. Not only do you have to buy food, but you have to pay their vet bills and purchase other items that they need. You could spend as much as a thousand dollars in one year on your pet! Getting emergency care from the vet is costly, so you may need to take a look at health insurance for your pet.
Watch out for dog flea treatments. A lot of them have chemicals that might be bad for kids! Discuss family-friendly alternative flea treatments with your vet. Be sure to store all flea treatments out of the reach of children.
It is smart to use your hands to signal while dog training, as opposed to just your voice. This is a very effective way to communicate with your dog. Try each way to see what works well with your dog.
Which breed you need to buy depends on your lifestyle. For example, someone that stays inside a lot would want a calm lap dog and not a hyper breed. If you are a homebody, a small dog that lounges around a lot is a good fit. Finding a dog that matches your personality will make both of you happy.
When the dog does something right, be sure to lavish praise on him or her. This will show your dog that the behavior he is exhibiting is just what you are looking for. It teaches the dog that he gets praised when he does what you’d like him to do.
You need to trim your dog’s nails regularly. Once they get to a length where they are curling under, this is likely to cause your dog some pain. These can be trimmed at home if you use nail clippers from the store. Can’t hack it? Take them to the groomer instead.
Proper leash walking is something that you should teach to your dog. Your dog should learn to walk by the side of you, teach them to ‘heel’. If you do this, your dog will be safe, and it will be easy for you to handle. Even if you still use the loose leash walk at times, helping your dog to understand this command is a good idea.
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 plenty of animals sitting in homeless shelters who desperately need a home due to over-crowding and limited shelter resources. Fostering an animal will help animals and help you decide whether or not you would like to keep a dog of your own.
Never leave any dog outside for long durations. It is important that your dog has interaction. A dog with no companions can feel very isolated and stressed out if he is left alone outside. You need to bring your dog inside the house when it is inclement weather outside.
If your vet has given you medication or special instructions for your dog, make sure that you follow them. He may not like wearing a cone over his head, but it’s prescribed for a reason! Your vet makes recommendations that will help your dog be happy and healthy, so you should follow your vet’s advice.
The dog food at the store isn’t the only option you and your pet have. There are many things your dog can eat besides what is in the store. Keep the information you’ve read here in mind as you work towards providing the right care for your dog.
