Common Sense Advice For Caring For Your Dog
Are you a former or current dog owner? If you answered yes, then you know how great it can be to own a dog. However, those rewards are increased through knowledge and responsibility. The information below can help you.
You will pay a lot to take care for your dog. You need to pay for high quality food, regular vet care, and various supplies. This can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars each year. Getting emergency care from the vet is costly, so you may need to take a look at health insurance for your pet.
Take the time to make sure your house is dog-proofed. Make sure any area your dog will be in is safe. Cleaning supplies and medications should be locked away, and any indoor trash cans need to be put in a cabinet. Research the toxicity of plants you own, and move or remove anything that might be an issue.
Spay or neuter your dog. This helps reduce the probability of cancer and extends the life of your dog. Also, dogs that have been neutered or spayed stick closer to home, limiting their exposure to dangerous traffic and other hazards.
Don’t take your dog off of your own property without a leash, no matter how well-behaved he is. You never know when something might spook him or distract him, leading to devastation. Your dog is your responsibility.
Don’t buy your dog cheap dog food. The cheaper brands actually contain a lot of preservatives, additives and other ingredients that can compromise your dog’s health. Try using animal advocacy groups or consumer awareness to get a list of great dog foods that have high professional recommendations. Your dog will get good benefits from the right kind of food.
You shouldn’t make your dog do something it doesn’t want to do. If you purchase a treat your dog doesn’t appear to like, just try another brand rather than making him eat. Find out your dog’s likes and dislikes and feed him accordingly.
Keep dogs mentally active by giving them many opportunities for physical exercise. Teach him to get the newspaper and do other helpful things around the house. This gives him a job to do and he’ll feel fulfilled as a result.
ID your pet. A good way to ensure your dog is returned if he is lost is to attach an identification tag to his collar. This tag should include your contact information and your dog’s name. Micro-chipping your dog is another option.
Get into puppy politics. Look for changes in the local laws that govern pet ownership in your area. This is just motivated by some bad apples or a certain breed. You can be a great help by showing the local officials that responsible owners should have rights.
Don’t let too many people train your dog. Be sure that each person working with the dog uses the same commands and responses. Pick a single person to be responsible for all training, and let others support the decisions made by demanding the same standards of behavior from the dog.
After reading the above information you now see what a great experience being a dog owner can be. It can be made even more pleasant when you are armed with good information about dog ownership. Now that you’ve read this information, you should understand dogs pretty well. Use the tips given so you can enjoy all your time with your canine friend.