Great Tips For Caring For A Canine Companion
Taking in a dog is a massive responsibility. You have to make sure you raise a happy and healthy dog. Knowing what to do comes from learning; read the article below to find out more.
Neuter or spay the dog. Research has proven that this can reduce your dog’s risk of cancer and make them healthier in general. Also, dogs that are fixed do not want to run away as much.
When you are training your dog, you should practice in your home or in your yard. Avoid training your dog in heavily occupied areas. Being around others can cause distractions, meaning it is more difficult for your dog to master basic commands.
Always give your dog lots of praise and hugs when it does something right. You need your dog to realize that you’re proud of their behavior and want to see it more often. He’ll learn that praise will come when he is good, too.
Don’t go for the cheap stuff when you buy dog food. Cheap brands usually contain ingredients that can be harmful to the health of your dog. Get a list from an animal advocacy or consumer awareness group of the highest recommended foods to give your dog. Your dog will be much better off.
Provide your dog with rawhide to chew on rather than actual meat bones. Genuine bones can chip, and the pieces may become stuck in your dog’s teeth or digestive system. In contrast, rawhide has health benefits for your pet.
Take time and correct bad behavior when you first see it. Ignoring it for a while can make it harder to correct later and you don’t know what may happen if you don’t. You don’t want to be the owner of a dog who hurts someone, so get a handle on it now.
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Trim your dog’s nails on a regular basis. If they get too long, they may start to curl under and cause your dog pain. Purchasing some nail clippers at your local pet store is a good idea. If you aren’t confident enough to do it yourself, take the dog to a local pet groomer.
Trim hair around a dog’s paws so that hair mats don’t form. Before you trim it, use a brush to get it as straight as possible. If you’re too scared, take him to the groomer instead.
For pure bred dogs, don’t discount local pounds to find one. There are often pure bred dogs at shelters and rescues, and they are desperately in need of homes. Call the pound to see what breeds they’ve got. This might save your dog’s life.
If your dog seems lonely or seems to have separation anxiety, leave the radio or a CD on when you leave the house. The noise will keep him company and make him feel a little more secure. This is a good way to keep your dog from feeling lonely.
Your dog needs both physical and mental exercise. Bring him outside and teach him how to fetch. This gives him a job to do and he’ll feel fulfilled as a result.
Annual vet check-ups are important. This will give your dogs the best chance to avoid life-threatening diseases. Annual physicals can save a lot of problems in the future.
This information is all yours, so use it to get started right away. Implement the tips included above, and you will be happy with the results. There is no reason to get a dog if you are not willing to do everything you can to make sure he has a good life.