Thinking About Getting A Dog? Read On For Excellent Advice!
Do you enjoy being a dog owner? Dogs can make great pets for most people for many different reasons. Dogs are affectionate, playful and enjoy being happy. Dogs make for some great companions. This is why you must be a great companion to your dog and give them the care they deserve. Consider the ideas presented here for enhancing your dog’s well-being.
You should not kiss your dog. Dog kissing may be adorable, but dogs have awfully dirty mouths. Dogs rummage through trash, drink toilet water and lick other dog’s body parts. Your dog’s mouth is not really any cleaner than a human’s mouth. This is absolutely a myth!
Your dog needs annual medical exams. Since your dog doesn’t talk, you may have difficulty figuring out if a tooth starts hurting or where arthritis is developing. A yearly checkup will help you find any problems before they become huge issues.
Be sure your dog is neutered or spayed. This helps reduce the probability of cancer and extends the life of your dog. Also, dogs that have been neutered or spayed stick closer to home, limiting their exposure to dangerous traffic and other hazards.
If your dog comes with you on vacations, you need to have an up-to-date picture of it on hand and in your phone. This allows you to have a photo of him if he gets lost.
Store your prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines in a safe place where your dog cannot get them. Just a few of your pills could literally kill your dog. Be sure to contact your vet if your dog swallows your medication.
Use hand signals when training your dog along with verbal commands. This is a very effective way to communicate with your dog. Look at both options and see if one particular way works best.
Rawhide is a great alternative to the meat bones that most people feed dogs. Bones can fall apart and become lodged between teeth or digestive system. Also, rawhide is better for the health of your dog’s teeth.
Schedule a visit for your new dog with your local veterinarian. As soon as your dog is brought to your home you should get an appointment scheduled with the vet. The veterinarian will set the dog up with the proper vaccinations and give it a routine health checkup. Talk with a vet about your dog being spayed or neutered. There are lots of homeless dogs and you don’t want to make the problem worse.
Keep the fur around your pup’s paws trimmed so that it does not get matted. First comb the hair, then give it a trim. If this process is something with which you are uncomfortable, have a professional groomer do the job.
If you have a dog with extreme separation anxiety, you can help reduce it by playing music or leaving the television on whenever you leave your home. The sound of music could help him feel more secure and keep him company. This is a good way to keep your dog from feeling lonely.
Ensure that your dog will come back after being lost by having some type of identification tag. It’s a good idea to fit your dog with a sturdy collar equipped with ID tags. Your dog’s name and your contact info should appear on the tag. Another option is to have a micro-chip put on your dog.
Be as kind to your dog as he is to you. Use these tips to care for your dog better. With this advice, you and your dog can live happy, healthy lives together.