Dogs are often considered among man’s best friends. There is so much truth in that saying. If you care for your dog and can handle him, you can have a wonderful relationship. This article will provide you with some tips on gaining a new best friend.
Get your dog neutered. Statistically speaking, dogs who are “fixed” live longer lives and are less prone to cancer. They are also more likely to remain close to home, reducing their risk of becoming lost or getting injured by a car or another animal.
When you take your dog with you on vacation, take a picture and save it to your phone. This way, if you find out that your dog went missing along the way, you will have a recent picture that you can show to people when you go out to look for you pet.
Choose the correct flea medicine for your dog. Lots of treatments contain things that can be harmful to kids. Talk with your vet concerning alternative treatments, and do not let small children come near while treating your dog.
Fight the urge to feed table scraps to your dog. This will only teach him to beg constantly and also inhibit his appetite toward his regular food. A dog fed on table scraps will be prone to unhealthy weight gain, disruptive digestive problems, and other health issues. You can keep your dog healthy and avoid any temptation to feed it from the table by teaching it to spend dinnertime well away from your family.
Don’t take your dog off of your own property without a leash, no matter how well-behaved he is. A wild animal may get his attention and cause him to run off, or he may have a bad situation with others and their dogs. You are solely responsible for the dog’s actions and for the dog’s safety as well.
It is smart to use your hands to signal while dog training, as opposed to just your voice. It may be easier for your dog to learn commands if they see a visual signal. Try using both ways with your dog to see which works best.
Avoid pushing things that your dog dislikes onto him. If you have purchased treats the dog does not appear to enjoy, do not force the issue. When you have a new dog, take time to learn what they do and don’t like.
Find out what is going on that is causing your dog to act out. If you delay too long, the behavior will get harder and harder to correct. In addition, by not taking action, your dog may injure another person, even you. Therefore, ensure you discipline your dog.
When you buy dog food, avoid the cheap stuff. Overall, your dog will benefit form a lifetime of quality food. While this could mean that you’re going to have to pay more money, you can know that you’re doing the best for your dog to keep it healthy.
Take your new dog to the vet. Make the appointment when you buy your dog. The veterinarian will set the dog up with the proper vaccinations and give it a routine health checkup. Also discuss the spaying or neutering process with your vet. This can help to eliminate unwanted animals and keep your dog happy and healthy for a longer period of time.
Prevent matting on your dogs paws by keeping the area well trimmed. Before you trim, carefully run a comb through the hairs to separate them. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, take your dog to a groomer.
Help your dog to stay active mentally and help him to exercise enough. Train him to fetch the newspaper and help with other household chore. This gives him a job to do and he’ll feel fulfilled as a result.
Take care any time a female dog is in heat, as you likely do not want her to become pregnant. A male can pick up on her scent from as far as five miles away! The dog might also want to fight other dogs, and become pregnant.
Get into puppy politics. Keep your eye on potentially-restrictive legislation regarding dogs. These pieces of legislation are typically motivated by a single incident, one particular breed or a limited number of misbehaved dogs. You need to talk to your local officials and stick up for rights of dog owners.
When you eat snacks, you might be tempted to offer some to the dog. There are certain human foods that should not be fed to a dog. Your should not give your dog grapes, caffeine, or chocolate, for instance. Such foods tend to harm the health of dogs.
A pet dog can be very rewarding. The more you educate yourself about caring for them, the happier your relationship will become. Take the tips you learned here to be the best dog owner possible. A good owner makes for a happy and healthy pet. Your dog will be your best friend.