Are you concerned about your pet? Many people are overwhelmed by the amount of responsibility that comes with owning a dog. Others could have the feeling that they will never get their dog to behave. The tips that follow will help you will all aspects of your dog’s care.
You will pay a lot to take care for your dog. Food, supplies and vet bills can add up to $1,000 or more per year. Pet health insurance can help; although you will pay a monthly or yearly fee, you will often be covered if a big medical emergency occurs for your pet.
Avoid giving your dog scraps from your table. If you feed from the table, he’ll become a beggar and stop eating his own food. Table scraps can negatively affect the dog’s health and cause digestive issues or obesity. Make your dog leave the room if he begins to beg, or train him to spend mealtimes in another room entirely.
When your dog is good, praise him immediately. Make your dog understand you are pleased with the behavior and expect to see it again. Your dog will quickly understand that the praise is connected to a certain action.
When you have medications of any sort, keep them where your dog cannot get to it. Your dog could be seriously injured or killed by ingesting a couple of small pills. Make sure you have your veterinarian’s number handy in case your dog does accidentally swallow your medicine.
Avoid giving your pooch table food. This can make your dog not want to eat his dog food, and it will promote begging. “People food” can also make dogs sick and contribute to obesity. Insist that your dog wait away from the table during family meals to avoid temptation on his part – and yours.
You should always trim your nails. The nails can cause the dog discomfort if they start to curl under. It is easy to purchase a pair of clippers and attend to these yourself. If this idea makes you uneasy, a groomer can easily attend to them for you.
Correct bad behavior the first time you see it from your dog. Turning a blind eye to it just makes it harder to fix down the road. You don’t want to be the owner of a dog who hurts someone, so get a handle on it now.
If you’re adopting a dog through a local shelter, try scheduling a vet appointment right away. Shelter dogs have numerous opportunities to be exposed to harmful bacteria and viruses; these can result in dangerous illnesses. Error on the side of caution and get your dog all its shots.
If you’re the owner of a lone, lonely dog, you should consider getting a second pooch. Dogs like to be around their own kind. By choosing another dog that matches your pup’s energy level and temperament, you’ll ensure that your dogs will be great companions for each other.
You will be able to master dog training if you invest a lot of time. Give your dog the long life he deserves. If the roles were reversed, you would expect your owner to know how to properly care for you.