Owning a dog is one of life’s joys, but that isn’t the case with every dog. To get the most out of your relationship with your dog, you’ll need to know a few things. The following tips will help you be an informed pet owner.
Talk to your vet about what kinds of foods you might want to keep your pet away from. If your puppy is very young, it might not be ready to consume specific brands, and feeding them to your pup can result in sickness. Be careful when deciding what to feed your dog.
Let your lifestyle determine what breed of dog you should bring into your home. A good example would be if you are a runner. A dog that can keep up with you while you run would be a good choice. On the other hand, if you are the type of person to sit at home, you need a smaller breed that will enjoy lounging around with you. Avoid a mismatch if you want both of you to be happy.
Speak with your vet to see how much you’re going to have to feed your dog daily. It is important to follow guidelines for the sake of your dog’s health. Speak with your veterinarian about what your dog’s needs are and what amounts are proper.
Let your dog chew some rawhide rather than meat bones. Real bones chip apart and can become dangerously lodged in the oral cavity or digestive track. It has been shown that rawhide bones are safe and great for their teeth, so be sure to not give your dog that ham bone next time.
If your welcome a new dog into your family, immediately schedule a check up for him. This should be one of the first things that you attend to when you’re bringing home a new pet. Your vet will be able to give a clean bill of health, and appoint a schedule for vaccinations. You should also speak to your vet concerning your dog being spayed or neutered because there is an overpopulation of dogs in shelters.
Take the time to train your dog on a leash. Keep your dog at your side when you are taking a walk. This will keep him safe, and it’ll make walks more enjoyable. Even if you’re using a loose leash from time to time, you should still train your dog so that it understands when you issue that command.
Never leave any dog outside for long durations. It is important that your dog has interaction. Dogs become lonely. Also, any extreme weather can cause problems for your dog.
Certain dogs are prone to medical conditions and make yourself aware of this before selecting a dog. Do what you can to combat those issues early. Your vet will be able to tell you how you can help your pet prevent illness that it is prone to getting.
Make sure that you show your dog affection at all times. Similar to other areas of life, dog owners notice a dog’s bad behavior rather than the good. This can only lead to future difficulties. Dogs need to be praised five times more frequently than scolding. Dogs stand a much better chance of displaying good behavior if that is the case.
Bring your dog to a veterinarian regularly. It’s important that the dog sees a vet every so often to make sure there aren’t any shots that they might need. You will have more frequent vet visits if you have a puppy. If your dog becomes ill or is injured, don’t delay in getting him to the vet.
Clean up completely if your dog uses the bathroom on your floor. Make sure that you clean up the mess quickly and thoroughly. If you still smell poop, your dog will too and might strike again.
Lots of things are required from good dog owners. You can’t just pick the cutest puppy at the store and live happily ever after. You have to do your part, too. Use the advice that has been provided to have an enjoyable time with your new dog.
