Solid Advice For Taking Care Of A Dog
When seeking a new dog, you are sure to want a gentle companion who will keep your feet warm at night. What you get could be very different. Even so, you are now responsible for caring for the dog, so learn the ropes from the article that follows.
Keep in mind that dogs are expensive. Every dog requires good quality food, general supplies and medical care; this can range in cost from $700 to $1000 per year. A sick dog could cost you tens of thousands! Look into doggie health insurance!
Know about what could go wrong with flea treatments if you have a dog. They contain carcinogens proven to cause cancer in kids. Talk to your veterinarian about safer alternatives.
Keep table scraps to a minimum. That encourages him to beg and makes him not want his own food. In fact, a steady supply of scraps may encourage your dog to gain unhealthy amounts of weight and set off serious digestive problems. Insist that your dog wait away from the table during family meals to avoid temptation on his part – and yours.
Keep your dog on leash any time he leaves your fenced yard, regardless of his gentle nature and good behavior. There are a number of distractions that could cause your dog to run off into a dangerous situation. Your dog is your responsibility, so treat him right.
When choosing a dog, make sure you consider your lifestyle. For example, if you’re a jogger, get a type of dog that can run with you, not a toy-poodle. When you prefer to stay home, choose a small dog who doesn’t need much outdoor time. Avoid a mismatch if you want both of you to be happy.
Talk to your vet about how much to feed your dog. Sometimes the guidelines on pet food labels aren’t correct, and following them could lead to obesity. See what your vet recommends and adapt that to how your dog responds.
Give your pooch rawhide bones instead of those from real meat. Real bones can chip or break and are dangerous for the dog. In contrast, rawhide has health benefits for your pet.
If your dog has to stay outside during cold weather, give him a dog house. If his feet get wet, being exposed to extreme weather can cause health issues and stress. Your dog needs a space that is dry and provides him with adequate shelter.
If you get your dog from the pound, make sure you have a vet check him out right away. Illness is common in shelters, and your new pet could be at risk or already nursing an ailment. Therefore, you should have the animal looked at prior to taking it to your house.
If you wish to get a dog, but don’t know if you can commit to it, try getting a foster dog. A lot of shelters that take in homeless or abused animals have a way to let you adopt them for a while. Fostering dogs will give them a wonderful home – who knows, maybe you will decide to be a fulltime dog owner!
Do not keep your dog outdoors all day. Dogs need to interact with people and other dogs. If there is only one dog, he may become lonely. Also, they could be bitten by ticks, hurt by other animals or even abducted.
If separation anxiety plagues your dog, or you want your dog to feel less lonely, play some music while you are at work. That noise will help your dog feel more secure, and it will help him feel he’s not alone. It could be the right trick to help relieve your dog’s anxiety.
Now that you have gone over this fantastic advice, you should make sure you don’t ignore any of it. Use it all, and soon you may see that your dog is responding in just the way you’ve always dreamed of. Happy dogs love their owners unconditionally, and you can make that happen.