Do you enjoy your dog? Dogs are the number one pet in America; there is a reason for good reason. You need to be the right companion back to your dog as he is to you. The following tips will help you.
Take the time to make sure your house is dog-proofed. Before bringing your dog home for the first time, make sure that the entire area is completely safe. Make sure all of the medicine is put away and the cleaning supplies are up and safe. Some plants in your house may be toxic to your dog, so they should be kept where your dog cannot reach them.
Be sure to have your dog is neutered or spayed. Research has proven that doing this small thing can give extended life to your animal live longer and reduce their cancer and make them healthier in general. Also, dogs that are fixed lose their desire to stray from the home, limiting their exposure to dangerous traffic and other hazards.
Since humans don’t speak dog, you’ll need to learn about your dog’s way of communication. If your dog gets stressed when meeting a new dog or person, don’t force it. This might lead to the other dog or person getting bit. Look out for non-verbal cues and follow what the dog can guide your actions.
While it’s great to show your dog affection, you shouldn’t kiss them. While those sloppy kisses may be cute, be aware that your dog’s mouth is apt to be crawling with germs and bacteria. Dogs really get into everything, from toilet water to the neighbor’s trash. Keep in mind that an animal’s mouth is full of germs. This is absolutely a myth!
If you decide to take your dog with you on a trip, make sure that you take a picture of him for on your phone. This will be helpful should he gets lost.
Be wary of the ingredients in many flea treatments. A lot of these medications have chemicals that can be harmful to children and can cause cancer. Talk to the vet about safer alternatives.
It doesn’t matter how good your dog is, you should never leave your property without keeping him or her leashed. A wild animal may set your dog off and send it running into traffic, or someone could provoke your dog and get injured by accident. Ultimately, you’re the one who’s responsible for your dog’s safety, as well as its actions.
Don’t give in to the urge to feed your dog. This will encourage constant begging and reduce their appetite toward his regular food.
Your dog can figure out things up much easier when they are given these signals. Try using both ways with your dog to see what works best.
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. Always make sure your dog knows when they perform a behavior you wish to see repeated. This will teach your dog that praise comes from good behavior.
This communicates to your dog that the behavior he is exhibiting is just what you are looking for. Your dog will soon understand that the praise is connected to a certain action.
Take time and correct bad behavior in your dog at the first sign of it. Your dog could hurt somebody, or you, so take steps to control him early on.
Ask your vet how much food your dog should get every day. While some people feed their dogs according to the dog food package guidelines, these guidelines can be incorrect and lead to an overweight dog. Ask your vet what the right meal plan is for your dog.
If you get a dog that was in a pound or shelter, make a appointment with the vet. Shelter dogs could be sick or exposed to harmful bacteria and viruses; these can result in dangerous illnesses. You need to be sure that you get your dog gets their shots.
Make sure that your dog often. Dogs need routine activity and play time; it’s good for their physical and mental health.Whether you take a dog on an extended walk or toss a ball around, it will benefit both of you.
Always make sure your dog understands how to walk correctly on a leash. Your dog has to understand the “heel” command and respond to it by walking beside you, not ahead of or in back of you. Walking this way will help to keep your pet safe, and it will make it easier for you to enjoy walks too. This command will be very useful if you walk your dog while keeping the leash very loose.
Do not buy the cheapest dog food. It is vital to give your dog greatly if he is fed food that is nutritious and high in quality. Although it will cost you more, you know that your dog is receiving the correct nutrients from quality food.
Always teach your dog understands how to walk properly on a leash. This ensures his safety and will ensure that your pet is not too far ahead or behind you.Even if you still use the loose leash walk at times, it should still know the command anyway.
If you’ve been considering adopting a dog but still aren’t sure, you could try to become a foster owner first. There are plenty of animals sitting in homeless shelters who desperately need a home due to over-crowding and limited shelter resources. Fostering a dog will both help the cause and allow you to test drive the responsibility involved with pet ownership.
A lot of dog owners leave their dogs to the city pound when they can no longer keep their pet for whatever reason. Just call your local humane society to see what breeds they may have available. You can save the life by doing so!
If your dog seems unhappy and is alone a lot, consider a friend for him. Dogs are animals that love to be with other animals. Match them on energy and temperament.
Avoid keeping your dog outdoors all day, every day. It is important that your dog has interaction. If there is only one dog, he may become lonely. In addition to the socializing need, you should not leave a dog to fend for himself in heavy rainstorms or very cold weather. Bring the dog indoors until the inclement weather passes.
Be sure your dog can be returned to you by giving him some identification. A good way to ensure your dog gets back home safely is to make them use a breakaway collar that has an identification tag to his collar. This tag needs to have the dog’s name as well as a way to contact information. You may also opt to have a micro-chip implanted.
You must be a good companion to your dog just like they are to you. Using the tips in this article to help you, you can take even better care of your dog. The article above surely has shown you how to have a wonderful life with the best friend of your life, your new wonderful dog.
Keep the fur around your pup’s paws trimmed so that it does not get matted. Comb the tangles out before you start trimming. If you’d prefer, you could have a groomer do this for you.