The Best Way To Choose The Right Dog For You
You cannot take owning a dog lightly. It is up to you to provide a healthy and loving environment for your dog. The more you learn, the better, so continue reading this article.
Be wary of the flea treatment you’re going to use on your dog. A lot of them can cause cancer in children. Speak with your vet to see if there are any alternatives that are healthier choices for your pet and your family.
If you’re training your dog, don’t just use verbal commands. Try hand signals as well. Hand signals can really help your dog. Find out the way that your dog prefers and use it.
Which breed you need to buy depends on your lifestyle. A good example would be if you are a runner. A dog that can keep up with you while you run would be a good choice. If you are a homebody, a small dog that lounges around a lot is a good fit. Steer clear of a breed mismatch if you want to be a happy dog owner.
If your dog does something the correct way, such as sitting before you put the leash on, make sure that you give it tons of affection and praise. This is to let the dog know that you want more of that behavior. In this way, your dog will learn that desired behavior brings praise.
Genuine meat bones may be tempting, but it’s best to stick to rawhide. Real animal bones can chip and pose a danger to your dog’s digestive tract and mouth. It has been shown that rawhide bones are safe and great for their teeth, so be sure to not give your dog that ham bone next time.
If you have an outdoor pet, build a shelter for him or buy one that is ready to use. Your dog could get sick if he is left outside in the cold or if the ground is wet. Keep your dog out of the wet weather and the wind by building a shelter that keeps them dry and gives them room.
Should you visit a shelter to adopt a dog, take the animal to the vet as soon as possible. Animals from shelters sometimes have viruses or might have already been sick when taken in by the shelter. Make sure the new puppy gets their required shots before going home.
Take your new dog to the vet. Make the appointment when you buy your dog. The vet will provide a full health check and create a vaccination schedule. Also, be sure to speak to the veterinarian about neutering or spaying your dog. There are plenty of dogs already in the shelter, and you don’t want to increase that problem.
Never leave any dog outside for long durations. Understand that dogs need to interact with other people and animals. If there is only one dog in your household, he may feel lonely outdoors. Not only that, but during heavy rainstorms and snowstorms, it is imperative that you bring your dog indoors as well, to avoid the inclement weather and temperatures.
Some dogs are more likely to suffer from health problems and so you should know what to look out for in your dog. If you don’t know the type of dog he is, research it so you will know the type of problems your dog could have. Speak with your vet about the positive steps you can take to help your dog avoid these sorts of breed related problems.
Your dog needs to have mental stimulation as well as ways to become physically active too. Teach your dog to retrieve the newspaper or perform chores in your home. They’ll feel like a useful family member and the constant reinforced training will maintain their sharp thinking skills.
The information is at your fingertips, so delay no longer. Use what you learned and you can have a great pet. There is much joy in dog ownership when you take the care to do things right.