Article created by-Meredith Conrad
Some say a dog owns you, you do not own a dog. Once you have a pup in your household, you are likely to agree. That said, your responsibilities in caring for the dog will be great. Read on to find out what you need to know about caring for your dog correctly.
If your puppy or dog is constantly chewing up your furniture, invest in some chew-toys. Scatter them around the floor, especially around the legs of the sofa and end-tables. Be enthusiastic about your offers to play with the chewies with your dog to encourage frequent use. This should eventually deter him from chomping your furniture.
Take your dog to the vet regularly. This may seem like an added expense that you don't need, but when you take your dog to the veterinarian, he can screen your dog for diseases and make sure he is in the best of health. This of course prevents problems down the road.
You should only try to teach your dog one new command during each training session. Even if you think your dog is good at picking up on things and will have no issues with that, it is much less confusing for you and him if you focus on just one thing at a time.
Dog training requires you to be consistent. Once you decide you want to establish a rule for your dog, do not make any exceptions. Make sure everyone at home helps you enforce the rule and encourage your guests not to let your dog jump on them or to not acknowledge your dog when it barks.
Teach
Cat Food Without Grain to be trained, even if you don't plan on devoting a lot of time to special tricks. A dog needs to understand the basic hierarchy of the home and should be prepared to listen and learn throughout his life. Practice the basics like "sit" and "down" in the beginning and introduce something new every once in a while.
Always be prepared to pick up after your dog with a scoop and bag. Although most people think that this is simply a polite thing to do so that others don't step in it, your dog's excrement is actually hazardous!
It contains a bacterium that can contaminate local supplies when it washes through to ground water.
If your young dog is teething and gnawing at everything, buy him a fun chew toy and keep it in the fridge. Not only does this provide him with a good alternative to your furniture, but the cold will help to make his gums feel better. Most younger dogs gnaw out of necessity, not poor manners.
Not everyone is good at training dogs, so quit trying if you see things are not going as well as planned. Instead of beating yourself up about it, get in touch with a trainer in your area. Since they have more experience with dogs, it may be much easier for them to train yours.
Giving your dog a bath is essential to his health. Depending on his size and activity level, toss him in the tub weekly or monthly and always use a shampoo that is made for dogs and is pH balanced. Pets have different pH levels than humans and a good dog shampoo will leave your canine clean with a beautiful shiny coat.
It is very common for objects to get lodged in the pads of your dogs paws. Check them regularly to make sure that nothing is in there. If you see something, be very careful about taking it out, or it may become lodged even deeper. It is a wise to use tweezers for this.
Make sure that you trim your dog's nails on a fairly regular basis. You do not want them to get too long since it will make it uncomfortable for them to walk and they may develop health issues. They should be at a length that just about touches the ground.
What Dog Food Do Vets Recommend
Choose your dog's food carefully. Since there is
What Dog Food Is Killing Dogs of food choices available to dogs, you must select the one that matches the type and age of the dog you have. It's also tempting to feed your dog foods that humans eat, but your dog isn't human and needs dog food that contain the nutrients that a dog needs.
Don't rely on just a wet and cold nose to determine a dog's health. Your dog's nose could be wet and cold for many other reasons. You can keep track of your dog's heath by paying attention to it's appetite, demeanor, and energy levels. These are good barometers of the dog's health. If necessary, you can get a rectal temperature reading as well.
If your dog is always drinking out of the toilet, try changing how you provide him with water. Most prefer it cold and fresh, hence the attraction to the bathroom, so buy a fountain or thermally insulated dish to keep his water at a more appealing temperature. Also, add ice-cubes when it's hot out and he's panting
Keep in mind that some behavioral problems in your dog could be connected to health issues, especially if your dog is displaying a new behavior. Your dog might become aggressive when you touch it because of a pain and it might have a hard time with house-training because of an infection.
Make sure that you're feeding your dog a good quality food. Most dog foods available at your grocery store are mainly made up of grains or corn. Instead of this, you should try to find a dog food that is mostly made of meat. Foods that are high quality can provide you with many benefits, such as having a healthy pup, less vet visits, and your dog's coat will shine more.
What Is The Best Dry Dog Food
When you bring a new dog home, the first thing you should do is make sure they'll always be able to get back to you. Invest in a safe collar and a tag that contains both your name and phone number. Most lost dogs don't make it home, but with a good tag, you can be sure yours will.
You should have your dogs spayed or neutered before they reach the age of six months. Spaying before your dog is mature can cut their risk of developing breast cancer. Neutering prevents males dogs from developing issues that may affect the testes and prostate. The neutering process also stops several breeds of dogs from being aggressive.
Why Is My Dog Not Eating His Food
Caring for a dog can be extremely hard, but that doesn't mean it's not worthwhile. Thanks to the advice in this article, you can appreciate the best parts of being a dog owner without getting hung up on the bad. Take advantage of what you've learned here, and forge a better relationship with your pet.