Your dog may scratch the inside of his bowl when he is hungry. If your dog has to use the bathroom, you might see it paw at your back door. When your dog needs love, he might look at you for a long time. Sometimes, it is hard to establish a form of communication with your dog.
Always, have your dog spayed or neutered. Statistics show that doing this can reduce your dog’s cancer risk, which can result in a longer life span. A spayed or neutered dog is also less likely to stray from its home, meaning it won’t risk getting lost or winding up in a street accident.
When choosing a dog, make sure you consider your lifestyle. For example, if you’re a jogger, get a type of dog that can run with you, not a toy-poodle. 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. Selecting the right dog will make you both happier.
Correct your dog’s bad behavior immediately. Ignoring it for any length of time will only make it that much more difficult to contain later and you never know what could happen as a result of it now. It is possible that your dog could injure a person, and that person could be you! So correct unwanted behavior right away.
Take your new dog to a vet. Immediately after bringing home the new dog, schedule a checkup with your veterinarian. The vet is going to check over your dog to see if everything is okay, as well as set it up to get vaccinations it may need. 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.
Don’t leave your dog outside all day long. Even though a lot of people tend to do this, a dog requires human interaction to feel good. A dog by himself tends to be lonely and not motivated to do anything. Plus, bad weather can be health and even life threatening to your pet.
Make sure the hair located on your dog’s paws is trimmed in order to prevent matting. A comb is a good tool to straighten the dog’s fur before trimming. If you’re uncomfortable doing this, you should get a professional groomer to do it.
Get into pet politics! Keep track of local laws which affect dog owners. This is just motivated by some bad apples or a certain breed. Make sure that your voice is heard on behalf of other dog owners.
Bring your dog to the vet for an annual check-up. The vet will be able to spot signs of diabetes, thyroid issues and kidney trouble a while before your dog shows any signs. Regular check-ups will keep your dog healthy, and may save you a lot of cash in the long run.
Make a careful selection when choosing your dog’s food. A number of dog foods are available, but you must choose one that suits your dog’s age and size. Feeding your dog leftovers is a good way to save money but provide your dog with a healthy diet is not easy if you feed it leftovers.
If you have a dog but are thinking of getting another one, try to get the two to meet. Most dogs enjoy another dog’s company, but some dogs do not get along. Finding dogs that like each other will save you headache and heartache in the long run.
Vitamins are not necessarily a good thing for your dog. Your dog doesn’t need a vitamin supplement if he is eating a well-balanced diet. Too much of certain vitamins could cause damage to the blood vessels, bones and joints. You should always speak to your vet concerning your dog’s vitamin regimen.
The temperature of your dog’s nose is not a good indicator of its health. Your dog’s nose can be wet and cold for numerous reasons, even when it’s sick. Pay attention to the amount of energy, type of appetite and the dog’s demeanor. These are more reliable signals of your dog’s health. If necessary, you can get a rectal temperature reading as well.
When you start to train your dog, try out various reward systems. This will make things more fun and enjoyable for your dog. Dogs will always respond to food as a treat, so see what types works best. Tug of war is a great game that you can play with your dog as a reward. Occasionally, a dog may just want to be petted for their reward.
You must pay attention to your dog’s water and food bowls. Just like you, your dog doesn’t want to use food and water bowls that are dirty. Wash bowls daily and fill them up with fresh water and food.
If you have a new dog, you need to determine where he will sleep. Putting the puppy in your bed if you intend to eventually crate him at night will lead to problems down the road. If your wants to sleep in your space, ensure you can handle it.
Ask your veterinarian about the best foods to give your dog. Certain dogs have health issues that point to a particular sort of diet. Certain types of food can be harmful for a dog with certain medical conditions. The vet will be able to make sound dietary suggestions.
It is said that you can understand dog emotions, and that is really no surprise considering a dog is man’s best friend. However, thanks to the tips in this article, you understand dogs on a number of levels. Your dog will be grateful.
