Check Out These Wonder Tips About Dogs In The Article Below
It is nice to own a dog, but not every dog. There is a lot that goes into owning a dog. The following tips will help you be an informed pet owner.
Your home must be dog-proofed. Don’t take a dog into your home without being sure that it is safe from top to bottom. Do not have any pills out in the open and put all supplies in cabinets. Certain plants are toxic, and it’s best to move them, too.
Avoid kisses and stick with hugs. It is unsanitary to be licked by a dog. Dogs root around in garbage pails, drink enthusiastically from the toilet bowl and love to lick and smell certain body parts of other dogs. It is folk wisdom that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a humans. This statement is most definitely not true.
Be sure to have your dog spayed or neutered. Research has shown that by doing this you can be sure your pet can have a longer life and not be at risk for things like cancer. Spayed and neutered dogs wander less often as well, so this reduces likelihood of your dog getting hit on the road or lost.
In addition to verbal commands, employ a variety of hand signals when training your dog. Your dog may have a better time understanding you when you use manual signals. Experiment with each way and determine what works.
Ask your vet about which foods he can eat. Some foods can cause sickness or an upset stomach. Be safe when taking care of your dog.
Whenever your dog performs a good action, such as sitting or staying, give it praise and rewards. Always make sure your dog knows when they perform a behavior you wish to see repeated. This will teach your dog that praise comes from good behavior.
If you have an outdoor pet, build a shelter for him or buy one that is ready to use. Exposure to extreme weather for long periods can cause health issues, particularly if the dog’s feet get wet. Protect your dog from wind and precipitation by giving him a shelter that has a dry floor and plenty of space.
Do not try to feed your dog something they do not like. If your dog doesn’t like the treat you’ve bought, don’t make him eat it. You need to find out what your dog does and does not like.
Help your dog to stay active mentally and help him to exercise enough. Train your dog to perform useful activities like fetching the newspaper. This will make him feel like an active member of the family.
Watch if your female dog is in heat if you do not want her pregnant. Males can smell a female’s scent from a full five miles away. As well as possibly causing a fight amongst male dogs in the area, she might actually get pregnant.
You might feel the urge to feed your dog a piece of your snack. You can do this with some foods, but not all. A few foods that you should not allow your dog to have include grapes, chocolate and caffeine. They won’t agree with your dog and could even cause him to become very sick.
It is important that you find out before you do this in your dog’s life. Sometimes, it is hard to resist the adorable face of a puppy or dog, but remember how much is involved in the proper care of a pet. Consider all options so that you know you have taken care of everything.
Did you know that vitamins could actually be harmful to your dog? Don’t give a dog extra vitamins. Too much of certain vitamins could cause damage to the blood vessels, bones and joints. Before giving your dog vitamins, speak with your vet.
A great dog owner is a well educated person. Bringing him home is only the start of the journey. You’ll have to be very responsible with your new dog. Use the tips you have learned in this article so you can enjoy your pet even more.