Article written by-Cruz Kincaid
Owning a dog carries a lot of serious responsibilities. You need to ensure your dog is healthy and happy at all times. Knowing what to do comes from learning; read the article below to find out more.
Groom your dog regularly. A dog requires constant grooming to keep his coat in tip top condition. Make sure that your dog is completely relaxed before you start the grooming session; this is especially important if he is excitable. Keep the session quite short (5 to 10 minutes at most) until he is comfortable with the idea of being groomed. Most importantly - be sure to praise him and offer a treat after a successful grooming session!
Since you're not able to speak with your dog like a person, you should pay close attention to the dog's non-verbal speech. If when meeting a new dog or person you find your dog is filled with dread, remove him from the situation. That could lead to another person or dog being bitten. Look out for non-verbal hints so that the dog can guide your actions.
Keep your dog at a healthy weight. Plenty of dogs are overweight, and just like humans, this can lead to health issues. People tend to overfeed their dogs, and many also feed them table scraps. A dog doesn't need as many calories as most people think; talk to your vet about how much you should feed him each day, and what food is most suitable.
best fish based dry dog food will advise you based on his size, age and lifestyle.
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.
Pet boarding and day-care services are a billion dollar business, so make sure you get your money's worth if you have to leave home without your dog. Although kennels offer interesting opportunities to socialize, your dog will be happier with familiar surroundings. Thoroughly check references for a sitter-service and keep him in his own home if at all possible. Otherwise, put him in a reputable kennel and check up on him oft
If your female dog is in heat, be very careful with her around other dogs or she may become pregnant. It is possible for a male to pick up her scent from miles away. She might instigate problems with fellow dogs, as well as getting pregnant with an unknown mate.
Dogs love to eat grass and other plants. When you're outside, this may not be much of a problem, but if you maintain houseplants indoors, chances are they are poisonous to dogs. Before bringing a dog into the home, make sure all your houseplants are well out of reach of a dog who may be tempted by a green tasty treat.
When choosing a dog for your home, don't forget to estimate the size it will be as a full grown adult. This is especially true if you have small children at home. Although a small puppy will be cute, it may grow into a large, one hundred pound dog. Do some research on the average adult size of the breeds you are considering.
Before you have your dog fitted with a microchip, be sure and check the database of the company that will store his information. Not all of them are created equal and you want to know that you'll get a fast response if your dog is lost. Look for a large database that connects to shelters and vets near you.
Be prepared to have a lot of patience with your dog during potty-training. Much like children, dogs learn at different speeds and ages and your canine may be slow or stubborn. Have good resources at your fingertips to assist your efforts and remember not to get angry when your dog has "accidents" as that will only impede his progress.
When it comes to feeding your dog, make sure that you are using a reputable brand that contains enough nutrition. This is important because there are dog foods that contain an undesirable amount of filler in the food. You want to be sure that your dog is getting the amount of nutrients that it needs in order for it to be healthy.
Just like people, dogs need their exercise too. Playing a game of fetch or Frisbee is a great way to get your dog to burn some calories, while having fun at the same time. Dogs should also be walked everyday. Some dogs require more exercise than others, which is why it is so important to understand your dogs needs.
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If you have younger children in the home, make sure that you try to teach them what behavior is appropriate with your dog. Let them know the rules and what they are allowed to do.
Read the Full Guide are more tolerant of being jumped on, pulled on, and played with than other dogs.
Make sure that you buy an appropriate sized collar for your dog in order to ensure its health and safety. If the collar is too lose, it may become snagged on something. If the collar is too tight, it may restrict the dog's breathing ability. Allow for a two finger space between the dog and the collar.
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If you are in the market for purchasing a dog that has been breed you need to make sure that you have every stipulation in writting. For example, if the breeder promises to spay or nueter the pet, you must get that in your contract. Doing this will protect you from any conflict later on.
Dogs do not necessarily need vitamin supplements like humans. Don't give a dog extra vitamins. Excessive amounts of some vitamins can harm the bones, joints and blood vessels. Before you begin giving your dog any vitamins or supplements, make sure that you check with your vet first.
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If you are in the market for purchasing a dog that has been breed you need to make sure that you have every stipulation in writting. For example, if the breeder promises to spay or nueter the pet, you must get that in your contract. Doing this will protect you from any conflict later on.
The best reward you can give your dog when training is lots of affection and love. This will secure the bond between you and the animal and the dog loves it as well. Let them know they are a good dog and give them lots of praise when they act properly.
Do you feel better prepared to care for your dog? You now should know a few things that will make you sure that your dog is in good hands. Put the tips and advice you've read to good use as you make sure your family dog is well taken care of.