Do You Have Questions About Dogs? Get Answers Here
Are you a current dog owner or did you have one in the past? If this is you, then you’re aware of how incredible it is to be a dog owner. However, like with many other things, you can get a lot more out of owning a dog when you know what you’re doing. This article is going to go over some things that will help you become better with dogs.
It takes a lot of money to raise a dog. Every dog requires good quality food, general supplies and medical care; this can range in cost from $700 to $1000 per year. You should also look into purchasing a good pet health insurance policy to avoid high medical bills.
Be sure your house is dog-proofed. Prior to bringing your dog into your home, be sure that it is entirely safe. Secure the trash can, stow way all medications and put away your regular cleaning supplies. Certain plants are toxic, and it’s best to move them, too.
Do not feed your dog from the table. Not only will table scraps turn your dog off on their regular food, but it will also teach them to constantly beg. In fact, a steady supply of scraps may encourage your dog to gain unhealthy amounts of weight and set off serious digestive problems. To prevent temptation, have your dog separated from the area you eat in.
If you are teaching your dog, do it at home. Avoid training your dog in heavily occupied areas. Distraction ensues, and it is harder to get your dog to focus on basic commands.
If you’re training your dog, don’t just use verbal commands. Try hand signals as well. These signals will help you keep your dog under control in a noisy environment. Look at both options and see if one particular way works best.
Be sure to praise your dog thoroughly any time it behaves correctly, such as sitting when it is time to put their leash on. By rewarding your pup when it does the right thing, you’ll be teaching it to do these behaviors more often. It also teaches your dog that when he does the things you want, he will get praised.
Rawhide is a great alternative to the meat bones that most people feed dogs. Bones can chip and get lodged in the digestive tract or mouth. Rawhide is healthy and good for their teeth, so don’t share that T-bone no matter what faces they make.
Keep trimming the soft hair near the paws of your dog to keep it from matting. You ought to use a comb as a means to straighten it before trimming. Go to a professional groomer if you have a hard time doing this yourself.
If your dog seems unhappy and is alone a lot, consider getting a second dog. Dog’s love the companionship of others and enjoy another partner to play with. Choose another dog whose energy level and temperament matches your dog’s, and you should have a good match.
As this article discussed earlier, dog ownership can be a rewarding endeavor. This can be great if you know all there is to know about dogs! The article you just read has given you many valuable ideas to make your experience the best it can be. Use these tips and enjoy the time you have with your canine!