Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Simple Solutions About Dogs That Are Easy To Follow

By Sally Byrd


Caring for a dog is a lot of work and you should not underestimate the responsibilities of being a dog owner. You probably will not master this on the first day. To increase your knowledge, take a look at the tips below.

Just like humans, dogs should go to the vet for a checkup yearly. 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. Annual checkups can catch issues before they develop into something serious.

If you have medication is your home, even if it is just over-the-counter medication, place it where your dog cannot access it. Your dog could be seriously injured or killed by ingesting a couple of small pills. If your dog does ingest some of your medication, get in touch with your veterinarian immediately.

It is a great idea to put hand signals in use when you are training your pet; use them in conjunction with words. Signals like these help your dog learn things quickly. Test out both methods to see which works for you.

Fight the urge to feed table scraps to your dog. You will spoil him and his appetite and set up begging behavior. Table scraps can negatively affect the dog's health and cause digestive issues or obesity. You can keep your dog healthy and avoid any temptation to feed it from the table by teaching it to spend dinnertime well away from your family.

It's important to make sure that your pup's nails stay trimmed. Long nails cause huge amounts of pain. Buy some clippers and do the job yourself. It is best to take your dog to the groomer if you do not want to do it yourself.

Your dog needs plenty of affection. Like a lot of things, people notice bad behavior more often that good behavior. This can only lead to future difficulties. Instead, make sure you pet or praise your dog five times more often than you scold him. Your dog will probably show proper behavior more if this is done.

Avoid pushing things that your dog dislikes onto him. If your dog doesn't like a particular treat, don't force him to eat it. Learn about your dog's various likes and dislikes when you first bring it home.

If your pup has an accident in your home, be sure to clean it up properly. Use some professional strength cleaners and a good odor remover that works. If your dog can still smell it, he may repeatedly defecate in that area.

Some dog breeds are more likely than others to develop certain health issues. Research the heritage of your pup and learn how to prevent any common problems. You can also speak with your vet about any precautionary measures you can take to help your dog avoid the problems associated with his breed.

If you're adopting a dog through a local shelter, try scheduling a vet appointment right away. Animals from shelters sometimes have viruses or might have already been sick when taken in by the shelter. A full check-up, a clean bill of health, and a full complement of the necessary shots is the best way to start off your relationship with your dog.

Think over what you have to do every day, including vacations and anything else before you get yourself a pet. No matter how much you may want a furry friend, you may realize that you aren't ready for that kind of responsibility.

Be firm with your rules. When someone owns a dog they sometimes think that they should sneak the dog a snack or allow it to break things in the home. Cute dogs get away with even more. But, when you're tough on your dog, less accidents will occur. For instance, giving scraps to a dog may seem harmless, but if you keep doing it, the dog may think it is fine to jump on a table and take a whole course.

Make sure that you show your dog affection at all times. A lot of owners focus on correcting bad behaviors rather than displaying affection for their dog. This may eventually cause problems. Try keeping track of how often you praise and scold your pet in a day. For every one negative thing, make sure you say five positive things as well. Your dog will more likely showcase proper behavior when you do that.

Your canine friend needs to be cleaned regularly. They don't need to be bathed frequently, but they do need to be brushed daily. This stops skin irritation and shedding.

During the warmest months of summer, it is especially important to care for your dog properly. Dogs have great difficulty dealing with extremely high temperatures. Be sure your dog can cool off in the shade during the summertime. Give him water, too. Also, dogs can suffer from the effects of the sun, so see if the vet recommends sunscreen.

When you're picking out another dog to live with the one you already have, your current dog should meet the new one first. Dogs are quite social, though not all get along well. You can prevent future problems if you are able to get a dog that is compatible with the dog you already have.

A regular schedule is very important for your dog. Dogs are quite similar to children in this respect. If the dog isn't sure of what to expect as it goes about its day, it could become cranky. Their mood and behavior go hand-in-hand. That is why they need set times for training, meals, and play.

Keep up with pet food news, especially the news about products that have been recalled. There are recorded cases of lethal pet food in stores. An excellent way to ensure you stay informed on recalled products is visiting online message boards. They get you the information quickly.

A pet dog can be very rewarding. The more knowledge you have, the better your relationship can be. The advice above has given you a wealth of knowledge, and if you take advantage of it, you and your pet can live in harmony. He will become your best friend for life.




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