Article created by-Reimer Overgaard
Anyone can go out and get a dog and bring him home. However, if you wish to properly care for your dog, you must know what you're doing. Pay attention to the following helpful advice so that you can make sure your dog has everything it needs in order to live and long and healthy life.
It can cost a lot to take care of a dog. Food, supplies and vet bills can add up to $1,000 or more per year. It can cost a lot of money to take your dog to the vet in an emergency, so you will want to investigate health insurance for your pet.
Never lose your temper or punish your dog if you find that they did something wrong. Negative reinforcement will simply make your dog scared, which will make it difficult for you to train them. Use positive reinforcement at all times to get your dog to cooperate when teaching him new things.
Research a particular breed of dog you may be interested in before bringing him home. Lots of people make the mistake of falling in love with a type of dog, then find out later that the animal isn't really for them. Chihuahuas, for example, are a trendy type, but very difficult to fully potty train, especially in colder climates!
You should never give table scraps to your dog. Feeding a dog from the table only reinforces begging. The dog will also be less likely to eat its normal food. Table scraps are also not nutritionally sound for a dog, and this might mean digestive problems, obesity, and other ailments. To prevent temptation, have your dog separated from the area you eat in.
Always give your dog lots of praise and hugs when it does something right. This will show that you appreciate what your dog is doing. Your dog is looking for ways to please you, and giving him your praise lets him know he has done just that.
When training your dog, consistency is everything. You must be consistent at all times. If your dog is not allowed to jump on people as they walk in, don't allow your dog to do it even if a person says they don't mind being jumped on. You should also make sure that everyone that's around your dog understands your rules and are consistent with them.
Keep your dog at a healthy weight. Plenty of dogs are overweight, and just like humans, this can lead to health issues. People tend to overfeed their dogs, and many also feed them table scraps. A dog doesn't need as many calories as most people think; talk to your vet about how much you should feed him each day, and what food is most suitable. A vet will advise you based on his size, age and lifestyle.
Some breeds have inherent health issues you need to watch for.
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/pets/a19685529/best-dog-food-brands/ and prepare for problems he might have. Talk to your vet about prevention, too.
Brush your dog's teeth every week. Use a child's toothbrush that is soft, some nylon pantyhose over your finger, or a gauze pad.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CTI63FmFpXuReDEgptEJ3HQBZqp3g_6Z/view?usp=sharing use regular toothpaste. Instead, try using a baking soda and water paste or toothpaste made for dogs. Clean their teeth one to two times a week.
When taking your senior dog to the vet for an annual visit, make sure to request senior blood work. A blood panel can help your vet to identify any kidney, heart or vascular concerns. If caught early, treatment is often minimally invasive and less costly. This is a great way to keep your pet healthy for years to come.
What Is In Dog Food
Be clear with your pet during training. The word "no" does not explain anything to your dog, other than that you are unhappy with something. Instead, explain which behavior you do want to see. For example, if your dog jumps on the furniture, tell him to get down instead of just saying the word no.
Keep your dog safe from dangerous chemicals. Similar to kids, cleaning chemicals and any car maintenance substances are harmful to them. These substances are poisonous, so if a dog gets any on them or ingests any, they could get burned, become very sick, or die. Store your hazardous chemicals in a place that your dog can't get to, or keep them in a closed area using a child-proof lock.
What Is Chicken Meal In Dog Food
Take the dog to see the vet often. You must keep up with vaccinations, heartworm testing and physical exams for your dog. With a puppy, you will need to visit your vet a little more often. If your dog appears to be hurt or sick, they need to be brought to the vet immediately.
When crate training a dog, be sure to allow it to stop making noise (barking, whining, crying) for at least 30 seconds before opening the crate up. This is important because otherwise the dog will believe that as long as it keeps making noise, you will come and open the crate. It can be hard to do this, but is necessary. Of course, always be sure that the dog is safe and not making noise for some other reason.
Why Won T My Dog Eat Her Food
If you have tried everything to get your dog to stop digging your garden to no avail, head to your kitchen. Mix up a batch of cayenne pepper (five tablespoons), hot sauce (also five tablespoons) and a quart of water in a spray bottle and spray it where he digs. It should discourage him quickly.
Never leave your dog inside your vehicle. Remember that your dog needs supervision and that it could become dehydrated very quickly, especially during the hot summer months. It is best to leave your dog at home for a few hours if you have to go somewhere and cannot take your dog inside.
If you are training your dog to not pull when on the leash, you should invest in a quality collar and leash. If you have a larger dog, the force of it pulling might be able to break basic collars and leashes. For this reason a good, strong collar is recommended when you are walking your pup.
Even if your dog seems to like it, never allow them to get into anything that has chocolate in it. There is a chemical in chocolate that is very poisonous to dogs. Allowing them to consume this may cause them to become very ill and it may even lead to death.
As was mentioned in the opening of this article, dogs make amazing pets. They are loving, loyal and protective. To be a responsible dog owner you must educate yourself on the best dog-care tips and advice. Apply the knowledge you've learned from this article to properly care for your pooch.