Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Read This Article To Find Great Dog Ownership Ideas

By Sally Byrd


A dog is a wonderful pet and some say they make the best possible companion. That's probably true. If you're prepared for a pet, you can really build a great relationship. This article will give you some great advice on having a dog as your best friend.

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.

Anti-flea products are dangerous. A lot of the ones on the market have ingredients that are 1000 times more potent than what is considered safe by the EPA and it may be a cancer risk for children. Ask your vet for recommendations. Be sure to keep children away while you're applying any flea treatment.

Do not fall prey to the temptation to feed table scraps to your dog. This causes regular begging and will cause him to dislike his food. Scraps can be terrible for his diet and lead to obesity and other health problems. 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.

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.

Be sure to praise your dog freely and consistently whenever he exhibits a desired behavior. You need your dog to realize that you're proud of their behavior and want to see it more often. It teaches the dog that he gets praised when he does what you'd like him to do.

Offer rawhide rather than actual meat bones. Real bones can chip and become lodged in harmful place such as the digestive tract. Rawhide is much safer and also cleans teeth.

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.

The hair around a dog's paws can easily get matted, and should be trimmed on a regular basis. Straighten hair with a comb a bit before you trim it. If you don't feel comfortable doing this, then you'd probably have to hire a groomer who knows what they're doing.

It is very important that you put a lot of thought into whether or not you're ready to add a dog to your family. There is a lot that comes with dog ownership and one can quickly fall for the face of an adorable puppy. Make a thorough, honest evaluation of your preparedness and suitability before you agree to care for a dog.

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.

Take care with a female dog in heat, unless you want a lot of puppies. Males can smell a female's scent from a full five miles away. As well as possibly causing a fight amongst male dogs in the area, she might actually get pregnant.

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. A professional groomer may be a good solution if you are confident about trimming the hair yourself.

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.

Before committing to a dog, consider the kind of life you currently have, from how often you vacation to the sort of events you engage in. Many people romanticize having a dog, but the reality involves consistency, responsibility and commitment.

Socialize a new puppy as soon as you can. Your dog can get together with other dogs at the doggy park, at the groomer, or through play dates.

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.

Put your dog in a crate if you are not able to watch him. This will allow you to be sure that you're not going to come home to a bunch of damaged items. It also teaches the puppy not to go to the restroom inside.

Washing your dog's bowls should be done regularly. Your dog has no interest in dining from dirty bowls, nor would you. Each day, wash the bowls and make sure your dog has clean water and fresh food.

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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