You can really enjoy bringing a dog into your family as long as you care for it properly. The key to a healthy and happy dog is learning about their needs. Continue reading this article to learn what needs to be done if you want to have a good relationship with your dog.
Take your dog to the vet at least one time a year for checkups. Since dogs cannot talk, it’s difficult to know if your dog is in pain. Regular checkups will help you find these issues prior to them becoming a serious problem.
Make your home dog-proof. Don’t take a dog into your home without being sure that it is safe from top to bottom. Make sure all of the medicine is put away and the cleaning supplies are up and safe. Since some plants are very harmful because of their toxicity, it’s best to get rid of them or put them in an area that the dog cannot get to.
When you have to train a dog, your home and/or yard is the right place to do it. Don’t train them in any areas full of people. Too many people causes distractions, making it hard to train them.
When you take your dog with you on vacation, take a picture and save it to your phone. You’ll be prepared to take effective action in case your pet gets lost. You can use your recent photo to illustrate just what your dog looks like as well as to print up flyers, if necessary.
Talk to your vet about which foods you should be feeding your dog. If your puppy is very young, it might not be ready to consume specific brands, and feeding them to your pup can result in sickness. Be cautious about what types of foods you feed your dog.
Do not feed your dog “people food”. This will only teach him to beg constantly and also inhibit his appetite toward his regular food. Scraps from the table obesity, digestive problems, or other health issues in dogs. Resist the temptation and only give dog food to your pup.
Plenty of physical activity is one of your dog’s necessities. Dogs need physical activity and play time; it’s good for their physical and mental health. Whether you take a dog on an extended walk or toss a ball around, your dog and you will both benefit. This will create a great bond with your dog when performing these activities.
Take your new dog to a vet. Make a vet appointment right after the dog comes home. Your vet can make health recommendations, make sure that vaccinations are up to date and help with maintenance items like flea care and proper diet. Set up an appointment to have your dog fixed, too.
Take the time to train your dog on a leash. He needs to know to heel next to you, not behind you or in front of you. That way, your dog is safe and the walks are better for you as well. Even if you still use the loose leash walk at times, helping your dog to understand this command is a good idea.
Owning a dog is something special, and it can give a tremendous amount of joy to anyone who is around the pet. If you want to own a dog, you need to understand what it takes to do it right. Use what you learned here, and you can be a great and responsible dog owner.
