Dogs are great pets to have and can be very loving if you make sure that you properly care for them. Having a healthy and happy dog depends on your ability to meet their needs. Continue reading to find out how to properly care for your dog.
It takes quite a bit of money to take good care of a dog. The costs associated with general and medical care along with high-quality food can be upwards of a thousand per year. Emergency vet care is very expensive, in some cases thousands of dollars, so you might want to consider purchasing pet health insurance.
Keep on top of fleas. Not only can fleas cause infection in your dog, if one is swallowed, your pet can get tapeworms as well. Speak to your veterinarian about the best prevention method, but remember that this is not a one shot deal. You will have to continue your efforts over the life of your pet.
If you are thinking of getting a new dog for your family, be sure you are prepared for this commitment. Smaller dogs will require at least a 14-16 year commitment, and larger dogs will require at least 10 years. If you are not prepared to own the dog for its entire life, then do not choose a dog as a pet.
If you are interested in providing your dog with the healthiest of diets and making positive contributions to the earth’s environment, make his food from scratch. You can buy locally grown organic ingredients and provide him all the proteins, carbs and fats he needs with no preservatives while reducing the waste from packaging as well.
Talk to the vet about which foods you should avoid giving the dog. In some cases, your pet may not be able to consume certain food brands without becoming nauseous. You should be careful when you are feeding your dog.
Don’t go for the cheap stuff when you buy dog food. Many of the cheapest brands contain additives, preservatives and other things that can compromise the health of your dog. You can get a list of veterinarian-recommended foods from your vet or from animal advocacy groups or consumer awareness groups. Your dog will appreciate your research.
If your vet gives you medication to take home and administer to your dog, be sure and ask for ideas on getting him to swallow it. Dogs differ in their tolerance of pills and badly-flavored liquids, so have a few tricks up your sleeve in case he resists. Getting a dog to take medicine is important, but often challenging.
Know the basics of pet first-aid if you have a dog in your family. Being able to react quickly in an emergency, such as your pooch being bitten by a snake, can mean the difference between life and death. Read a good book on the subject or ask your vet to brief you on the basics.
Always teach your dog to walk properly on a leash. Your pet shouldn’t be ahead of you, behind you, or anywhere that isn’t by your side. They should also answer correctly when you say “heel”. Having a dog that can properly walk on a leash will be more enjoyable for both you and your pup. Even if you practice a loose leash walk, it’s still important for your pet to know this command.
No matter what kind of dog you may have, hang up a few “Beware of Dog” signs on your property. They are known deterrents to would-be burglars and can help protect you and your family. Just the sign alone indicates probable failure of any robbery attempt and a single bark will have them running away!
When training your dog, consistency is everything. You must be consistent at all times. If your dog is not allowed to jump on people as they walk in, don’t allow your dog to do it even if a person says they don’t mind being jumped on. You should also make sure that everyone that’s around your dog understands your rules and are consistent with them.
Your dog should not be left outside in the yard by himself for the entire day. Yes, people do this too often, but dogs require interactions with people and other dogs for their well-being. A dog left alone outside will get very lonely. Also, they could be bitten by ticks, hurt by other animals or even abducted.
If you breed your dog, do so responsibly. The AKC advises all owners of pure-bred dogs to make an effort to advance the breed and discard all other motivations, such as money or experimentation. Consider the repercussions of your actions before allowing your dog to mate and create a litter of puppies.
Owning a dog is something special, and it can give a tremendous amount of joy to anyone who is around the pet. But, it is necessary to understand what must be done to have a happy, healthy pet. Hopefully this article has helped you learn more about caring for your dog.
Discussion about this post