Have you ever considered getting a dog? Do you have a dog living in your home? If yes, then you came to the right place as the tips here are just what you need. This article is full of tips that will ensure that you have a happy, healthy dog for many years to come.
Just like people need regular yearly physicals, dogs need the same thing. Since your dog cannot talk to you, it may be hard to determine when arthritis is setting in or a tooth begins hurting. Taking your dog for a yearly checkup allows relatively minor problems to be detected before they turn into major issues.
Make sure that your dog is spayed or neutered. Studies have shown that this leads to the pet living a longer and much healthier life. Not only that, but neutered and spayed dogs feel less need to wander away from home, so they are not as likely to be hit by a vehicle or become lost.
If you are going to taking your dog on vacation, take a pic of him on your phone. You’ll be prepared to take effective action in case your pet gets lost. You can use your recent photo to illustrate just what your dog looks like as well as to print up flyers, if necessary.
Be careful when selecting canine flea treatments. A lot of these medications have ingredients that can be harmful to children and can cause cancer. Ask your vet about alternative treatments that are more family-friendly, and be sure to keep small children away during applications.
Talk to the veterinarian about the proper amount of food for your dog. Even though many people stick to the label on the can or package of the dog’s food, sometimes these guidelines might not work for the type of dog that you have. This could lead to your dog becoming obese. Speak to the vet about what makes sense for your dog.
If you have an outdoor pet, build a shelter for him or buy one that is ready to use. Your dog could get sick if he is left outside in the cold or if the ground is wet. Make sure that your dog has a spacious home that they can go into to get out of the weather.
You can always choose to foster a dog for a few weeks if you’re not sure about making the full commitment of dog ownership. There are plenty of animals sitting in homeless shelters who desperately need a home due to over-crowding and limited shelter resources. Fostering a dog will both help the cause and allow you to test drive the responsibility involved with pet ownership.
Let your dog know that you care about him. Similar to other areas of life, dog owners notice a dog’s bad behavior rather than the good. This causes problems with dog behavior. Give your dog positive reinforcement every time they do something right. Your dog will probably show proper behavior more if this is done.
Stay on top of canine politics for your friend. Legislation aimed at dog owners is proposed every now and then, and you need to know if this affects you. These pieces of legislation are typically motivated by a single incident, one particular breed or a limited number of misbehaved dogs. Speak up for the rights of responsible dog owners everywhere by contacting local officials.
Did you take the time to really absorb everything that you have just read? If not, take a few moments and reread the tips. You should know how to make sure your dog is healthy and happy. These tips can help you establish a good repoitre with your dog.
