How To Take Proper Care Of Your Dogs

Posted on by

dogThere is more to having a dog than simply providing it with food and the occasional petting. Your dog needs love and care all day. Sometimes it is difficult to know what you should do when it comes to being a pet owner. This article provides you with a plethora of advice from top experts in the field, including your dog owning peers, so keep reading to pick up some new information.

Keep your medications out of paw’s reach. Swallowing just a few pills could lead to catastrophic health issues for your dog, including a seizure or heart attack. You should contact your vet right away if your dog swallows some medication.

TIP! You may know that chocolate is dangerous for dogs, but you may not know the specifics. Chocolate is dangerous because of the stimulants caffeine and theobromine.

Talk with your vet about the foods you should feed your dog. Following his advice on the different foods for different stages of your dog’s life can avoid sickness and stomach upset. Err on the side of caution when feeding food to your dog.

Be sure to address your dog’s bad behavior when you first notice it. If you ignore any issue with your pet then later on it’s going to be harder to train it to obey because it doesn’t know any better. Also, the dog may end up hurting someone, perhaps even you.

TIP! 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.

Daily brushing your dog has more benefits that just reducing shedding. Their coat will become shinier when they are brushed everyday. This is mainly due to the fact that brushing allows the oils in the skin to be distributed evenly. That keeps the skin soft, shiny, and healthy.

If your vet has given you medication or special instructions for your dog, make sure that you follow them. Dogs may resist wearing cones, but they are there for good reason. If you fail to listen to your vet, your dog may end up sick or injured.

TIP! Although the sound may be cute, your dog’s nails shouldn’t click along the floor when it walks. That’s a sign that the nails are too long.

What types of health problems are typical for your dog? You should do some research on the dog breeds you are interested in to learn more about the health issues they are likely to develop. Also, talk to your vet about things that can be done to increase the odds for your dog’s breed.

Be careful with your female dog when she is in heat, if you don’t want her getting pregnant. A male will be able to smell her from a far distance. Your dog could cause some fights and you will be responsible for finding new homes for the puppies if your dog gets pregnant.

TIP! You may be tempted to use your favorite hair shampoo on your dog, but this should not be done. Human shampoo can cause dog skin to dry out.

Having too many people trying to train one dog can cause problems. Many people do it differently than just having a few commands to give your dog. Designate one person to be in charge of training and have others reinforce everything the dog learns by adhering to the same rules and respecting the process.

Don’t skip your dog’s annual checkup. Having the annual exam is the only way to diagnose problems that arise. Giving your dog an annual physical can prevent unnecessary suffering to the animal and unnecessary expenses later on.

TIP! You should always trim your nails. If you neglect your dog’s nails, they will be in discomfort.

Take a long, hard look at your lifestyle to determine whether a dog is a good fit for you. Wanting a dog doesn’t mean you’ll provide the best environment for him.

When you first start to train your dog, you should give a number of reward systems a shot. The goal is to learn what type of reward motivates your dog the most. If your pet loves food, try giving it its favorite vet approved treat.

If you have a dog that likes toys, let the dog play tug of war after doing what it was told. Certain dogs respond well to petting and rubbing.

TIP! Make your own dog biscuits to provide your beloved canine with the healthiest treats. Most commercial products are over-loaded with chemicals that aren’t good for dogs, despite adding flavor and aroma.

As a responsible dog owner, you’ll want to pay careful attention to your dog’s food and eating habits. Puppies can eat lots of calorie packed foods because they are still growing. If an adult eats this food, he’ll quickly become overweight and unhealthy.

Be careful with your dog in the summer. Dogs are very susceptible to overheating. Provide them with a cool, shady area to hang out in during the summer months. Keep some cool (and clean) water around. Dogs can also be negatively affected from the sun, so speak with your vet regarding sunscreen for dogs.

TIP! If your dog does something that you do not like, try to avoid just saying no. To your dog, no doesn’t really explain what you want your pup to do.

Stick to your guns. Most dog owners think that letting it slide “this time” is okay, even for a major rules infraction. Don’t let that cute face fool you. However, there will be no accidents if you act firmly.

For example, you might give your dog table scraps after you have eaten, but your dog might think there is nothing wrong with jumping on the table and eating your entire meal.

The longer you spend studying about dogs, the better you’ll be at caring for them. Your dog deserves to be well taken care of and loved by a good owner. From a dog’s perspective, wouldn’t you want an owner that took time to learn more about you?