Whether you already have a dog or are just looking for one, it is likely that you are aware of the care required by dog ownership. This, because of the patience needed, can be hard on just about anyone. Review the information below to learn how to take great care of your dogs.
If you are looking for a great family pet, but are on a budget, consider rescuing an animal.You can get one at a local shelter for minimal costs and the dog will come with a clean bill of health and all his shots. If you are interested in a specific breed, contact a rescue group specializing in only those pooches.
Never hit your dog. There are better ways to train a dog without having to resort to violence. The best way to train a dog is to reinforce positive behaviors with treats and attention. Negative behavior should be handled with a stern and disapproving voice as opposed to striking the animal.
Never lose your temper or punish your dog if you find that they did something wrong. Negative reinforcement will simply make your dog scared, which will make it difficult for you to train them. Use positive reinforcement at all times to get your dog to cooperate when teaching him new things.
Avoid giving your pup table scraps. This will make your dog beg all of the time and also will make it not want to eat its regular food as much. Your dog may develop digestive problems and become fat if you feed it table scraps. Insist that your dog wait away from the table during family meals to avoid temptation on his part – and yours.
Train your dog in your backyard or home, as these are safe, convenient areas. Avoid training your dog in heavily occupied areas. It will be very distracting for your pup.
Avoid buying your dog bargain-based food. Generally, food that is less expensive is not as healthy for your pet due to preservatives and additives put into the food. You should contact an animal advocacy group or a consumer awareness program to get some recommendations for quality dog foods. Your dog will be much healthier if you feed it some healthy food.
Keep your dog warm during winter with the latest in canine fashion and accessories. You may think it’s just for show, but dogs need protection from the elements too! Keeping your dog’s paw-pads dry is essential to their health in sub-freezing weather, so invest in suede or leather footwear and pick him up a coat while you’re at it. Make them instead if you are creative!
Make sure that your dog is not kept outside your home all day long. It is important that your dog has interaction. If you don’t have more than one dog, the dog will get lonely when he’s not around you. Plan on bringing your dog inside when the weather is rainy, snowy, very hot, or very cold.
Just like people, dogs need plenty of exercise for optimum health. Dogs are naturally hunters and love to run by instinct. Take your dog to the park, play Frisbee with him and give him a daily walk. This will help keep him physically healthy but will also make him mentally healthier.
Check your dog for ticks and fleas daily once it gets warmer outside. Use a comb for fleas to get rid of them. There are a lot of available products that can control fleas and ticks on your dog. Speak with your vet about which choices are best.
Some people think it is cute to give their dog alcohol, but it is dangerous. In high doses, alcohol is toxic to humans and even more so for animals. In addition, it affects co-ordination, causing accidents, and can decrease a dog’s respiratory rate. Even small amounts of alcohol can kill a dog.
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.
If training your dog is more than you can handle, you should consider sending it to obedience school. Do some research to find out more about the different obedience schools in your area and talk to other dog owners to find the best school possible. It is best to send your dog to obedience school while it is still a young pup.
Be thoughtful about breeding your dog. Repeated breeding of a female can evetually lead to severe health problems for both the dog and the puppies that is born from her. If you plan to breed be sure to do your research first so that you can be sure that you are doing the right thing for your animals.
If you’re considering introducing trick commands to your dog, make sure that you have first covered all of the basic commands, such as sit, lay down, stay, and come. Although trick commands are fun and entertaining, having a well mannered dog is more beneficial. Having a dog “stay” when asked will be more fulfilling than having a dog “play dead.”
One if the keys to training your new dog is lots of practice. The repetitive and consistent training is the best way to teach your dog proper behavior and good long term habits. If you do not have the time to devote to training a dog, you should consider choosing a different pet.
Now that you know more about your dog, your concerns about providing good care may have eased. All you have to do is be patient and loving and you will know that your pet appreciates it. Conduct a bit of research and make sure that both you and your dog are happy.
