Caring for your dog is a major responsibility. In a way, it’s almost as if you have a child, but your dog barks vs crying. However, with the right education and a lot of patience, this can be a rewarding journey. Carry on reading for plenty of excellent tips about caring for a dog.
It can cost a lot to take care of a dog. Food, vet care and supplies can add up quickly. Emergency care for animals can cost thousands of collars, so think carefully about getting pet health insurance.
If there are prescription and other medications within your home, keep them away from your dog. Swallowing just a few pills could lead to catastrophic health issues for your dog, including a seizure or heart attack. If your dog eats your medication, see a vet right away.
If you are teaching your dog, do it at home. You do not want to train your dog around a bunch of people. This can cause your dog to get distracted, which can make training them simple commands almost impossible.
If you’re training your dog, don’t just use verbal commands. Try hand signals as well. Your dog may pick things up much easier when they are given these type of signals. Try both ways of giving commands to see what works best.
Talk to your vet to learn which foods are appropriate for your particular dog. Puppies may lack the development needed to tolerate certain kinds of food without getting sick. Always exercise caution when it comes to your animal’s food.
If you’re trying to figure out what type of dog you might want to get, take a look at your lifestyle. For instance, if you love to run, get a dog that loves to run too, and leave the miniature breed for someone who is less active. If you are more of a homebody, a smaller, less active dog who enjoying being pampered is the better choice. Steer clear of a breed mismatch if you want to be a happy dog owner.
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. The vet will know what is best for your pet.
Don’t ever give your dog bones. Bones can fall apart and become lodged between teeth or digestive system. Rawhide is a great treat you can use in lieu of real bones.
Make sure your dog engages in sufficient amounts of exercise. Dogs need physical activity and play time; it’s good for their physical and mental health. Whether you decide to take the dog for a walk or if you’re just playing fetch, it will benefit both of you. It gives you exercise and helps develop a relationship that will last forever with your dog.
Your dog should not be left outside all the time. Understand that dogs need to interact with other people and animals. Your dog may be lonely outside if he is the only dog in your household. It’s especially important that your dog be inside if the weather outside is nasty.
Be sure your dog wears identification so it can always get back home. One thing a lot of people do to be sure they get their dog back is they fit them with a collar that’s breakaway and has an ID tag. This tag needs to have the dog’s name as well as a way to contact you. You can also opt to have a micro-chip inserted into your dog.
Stay politically active for the sake of your dog. Look for changes in the local laws that govern pet ownership in your area. That legislations is often motivated by certain breeds or certain dogs that have behaved badly. Be sure to voice your concerns in regards to dogs and dog owners by staying in touch with local officials.
Dog care is not something that should be taken lightly. The dog is similar to a child, in that you have to provide it with everything. There will be a lot of responsibility, but in the end, it is worth it. This piece is a great resource for helping you care properly for any dog.
