No Matter What Your Dog-related Question, We’ll Answer It
When going to a pet store or pound, you may think of getting a sweet dog that will sleep all night and follow you around the entire day. What actually happens could be completely different. No matter what, you have the job of taking care of your dog, and the piece below shows you how.
Your dog cannot speak, so you have to interpret non-verbal cues. Avoid forcing your dog to interact with others if he doesn’t want to. That could lead to another person or dog being bitten. So pay attention to your dog’s demeanor and make your judgement from these cues.
If you bring your pet on vacation with you, keep a picture of him with you, particularly on your phone. That way, if he happens to get separated from the family, you have an up-to-date picture of him that is easily accessible for showing people or can be downloaded for printing up “lost” flyers.
Ask the vet about how much the dog should eat each day. It is important to follow guidelines for the sake of your dog’s health. Ask your vet for some recommendations if you are not sure which brands are best for your dog or need help with quantities.
Buy or build a home for the dog if they need to stay outside when it’s cold. Wet feet and cold fur can bring on health problems. Keep your dog safe by giving him shelter.
Make sure your dog engages in sufficient amounts of exercise. Exercise keeps your dog healthy, both physically and mentally. Whether you take a dog on an extended walk or toss a ball around, your dog and you will both benefit. This doesn’t just entertain and exercise your dog, it helps you form a bond.
When it is time to buy dog food, avoid buying the cheapest brand. In the long term, it’s crucial to feed healthy, high-quality food to your dog. Though this may cost you a bit more, you can rest easily knowing that the dog is eating properly.
If you have to leave your dog alone for a whole day, leave a radio or a TV on. That helps the dog feel like someone is around. This may help ease the dog’s fears and calm him down just enough so he isn’t going crazy while he awaits your arrival.
Really show your dog some love. Make sure you don’t only focus on the negative things that your dog does. With dogs, this can lead to trouble. Praise your dog at least 5x more than you discipline him. Your dog will more likely showcase proper behavior when you do that.
If your dog has to listen to many people, he may end up confused. Everybody does things differently, and a dog can be confused by having several commanders. Have one person in charge of their training and let the others reinforce what they’ve learned by respecting their methods and using the same rules.
It’s not that unusual for dogs to cut themselves after stepping on discarded debris or broken glass. If your dog has a tiny cut, use an antiseptic to wash it with and then bandage the area. If the cut seems unusually deep, take your dog to see the veterinarian.
Take the dog to see the vet often. Your dog requires an annual checkup and testing for heartworm, and the vet can ensure that your dog has had all the necessary vaccinations. It’s important to go more often if it’s a pup. If your dog seems ill or becomes injured, you must take it to a vet immediately.
When you are snacking, it may be tempting to share with your dog. There are certain human foods that should not be fed to a dog. A few foods that you should not allow your dog to have include grapes, chocolate and caffeine. There are many foods that can harm your dog’s health.
There’s an abundance of advice in this article, and you should take full advantage of it. Use it for all that you do to watch your dog become the dream companion you’ve always wanted. Happy dogs give unconditional love, and that is what you should strive to achieve.