Want A Dog? Read This First!
Your dog might scratch his bowl if he’s hungry. When your dog needs to go to the bathroom, they might scratch at your back door. Your dog might stare at you and look longingly if it needs affection. Unfortunately it is not always easy to read what a dog is looking for.
It’s good to give hugs, but avoid giving kisses. Dog kisses are adorable, but your dog’s mouth is really dirty. Dogs rummage through trash, drink toilet water and lick other dog’s body parts. There is an old wives’ tale that says that the mouth of a dog is cleaner than that of a human. This is completely wrong!
A physical is good for you, and a yearly vet trip is good for your dog. Even the best dog owner will find it difficult or impossible to detect the first signs of health troubles, like a tooth infection or arthritic joints. Regular checkups will help you find these issues prior to them becoming a serious problem.
Since dogs cannot talk, you’ll need to learn about your dog’s way of communication. If you notice that your dog is timid around strangers or other dogs, you shouldn’t attempt to force its interaction with them. This could cause your dog to get scared and to bite. Always be on the look out for non-verbal hints. If you see them, allow your dog to guide you in the next action you will take.
Keep your dog on leash any time he leaves your fenced yard, regardless of his gentle nature and good behavior. He can be scared away by some wild animal, or an unforeseen provocation with another dog can result in an unpleasant situation. You are the only one responsible for your dog’s safety and his actions.
If you are not sure how often you should feed your dog, ask your vet. While some people follow the direction on the back of the dog food packaging, they are sometimes incorrect and may make your dog overweight. Speak to the vet about what makes sense for your dog.
You may need to trim hair that grows near the dog’s paws to help keep it from matting. Clean and comb the hair before you trim it. Another option is to take your dog to the groomers and ask for this task to be performed.
Follow instructions from the vet if the dog needs special attention or has medication. He might not want to wear that cone on his neck and head, but it’s there for a real reason! It is always best to follow the recommendations shared by your veterinarian.
Stepping on sharp objects or glass is a common hazard for dogs waling outside. If you spot a cut on your dog’s paw, clean it using an antiseptic before bandaging the cut. If you think the cut is fairly deep you should see a vet.
When you are nibbling on a snack, you might be tempted to let your dog have a taste. Be careful, because some foods are harmful to dogs. Grapes, caffeine, and chocolate are just some things that dogs aren’t supposed to eat. Foods such as these can do a lot of harm to your dogs health.
Were you aware of how harmful vitamins can be to your pet? If you are feeding your dog a well-balanced dog food, specific to his age, weight and health needs, additional vitamins can do damage. Do not give your dog too many vitamins as this can get them sick. Speak to a vet before beginning any dog vitamin regimen.
Use different reward systems to find out what your dog prefers. Trying different techniques can help you find one that really clicks with your dog’s learning style. If you are giving treats, try crumbled egg or ground turkey which has been cooked. If play is what he wants, choose one favorite toy to play with him with as a reward. Some dogs are even driven by being rubbed and petted.
Given the close ties between humans and dogs, it is not surprising that many people seem to have the ability to read dogs’ facial expressions accurately. However, now that you’ve read this, you can understand that dogs are deeper than just body language. Your new knowledge will certainly make for a happy dog.