Make sure that your puppy gets neutered. Research shows that doing this can make your animal live longer and reduce their cancer risks. Puppies who have been neutered or spayed are also less likely to run or wander away from home.
If you have over-the-counter medication or prescription medication in your home, keep it in a place the dog can’t access it. If your dog has access to these pills, there can be fatal consequences. Make sure you have your veterinarian’s number handy in case your puppy does accidentally swallow your medicine.
Talk to your vet about which foods you should be feeding your dog. Some foods can cause sickness or an upset stomach. Use care when feeding your dog.
Do not buy your dog a particular brand of food just because it is cheap. Less expensive brands of dog food often contain artificial coloring, additives, preservatives and so on that can be very bad for your dog. Get a list from animal advocacy or consumer awareness group of the highest recommended foods to give your dog. Better food will be very beneficial to your dog.
You need to trim your dog’s nails regularly. If they begin to curl under, your dog could experience quite a bit of pain. Buy some clippers and do the job yourself. If you are worried about doing this, simply take him to a groomer – it doesn’t cost very much to get his nails trimmed.
Don’t leave your friend outside all day long.
This is done for various reasons, but your dog needs interaction with people. Especially if it’s only one dog, it can get very lonely. Also, they could be bitten by ticks, hurt by other animals or even abducted.
Trimming around the paws of your pooch will ensure your dog’s fur doesn’t get matted. Use a comb and a small pair of scissors for this task. If you have a hard time with this, enlist the services of a groomer.
Make sure you are providing your dog with the opportunity for plenty of physical exercises as well as staying mentally active. You can have him fetch things like the paper, or perform other household tasks. This will help your dog to feel like he is helping you out.
Our Best Friend often gets cuts from debris or pieces of glass. If your dog gets a cut, make sure that it is washed with antiseptic and then have a bandage wrapped around the wound. If the cut seems deep, visit your vet.
Take a long, hard look at your lifestyle to determine whether a dog is a good fit for you. Most people want dogs, but sometimes they cannot give the dog everything that they need.
“Positive reinforcement is a great tool when training a dog. Your dog will get a lot more out of rewards and praise than it’ll get out of aggressive behavior or punishment. Treating your dog humanely when training is what is most effective and what is best for him. So be sure to be positive in your training!”
Outdoor dogs need attention just like indoor dogs do. If you leave him by himself and without stimulation for extended periods of time, he might decide to dig holes, bark loudly and excessively or chew on wires, ropes, and hoses. He may also start acting aggressively. Give him lots of love and playtime to keep him happy.
Wash your dog’s water and food bowls regularly. You wouldn’t want to always eat from the same dirty plate, so why should you expect your dog to? Clean the bowl every day and refill with clean water and fresh food.
If you have very high expectations of your dog, lower them slightly when you begin training. Dogs don’t have long attention spans. Try to train him only a few minutes at any time to make sure he doesn’t end up disliking training and you don’t get too frustrated.
Just like a human, and best friend needs consistent cleaning.
You may not need to bathe your dog daily, but it should get a thorough cleaning once weekly. This can help to maintain a clean home and will help prevent your dog from having skin issues.
When you get a new puppy for your family, one of the best things you can do for the dog is to socialize it with other dogs as soon as possible. Your dog can be socialized in many ways, such as at the groomers, play dates, and the dog park.
The information you just read should help you get started. When you adjust your behavior to help your dog, you are going to see good results. You shouldn’t own a dog if you won’t put in the work to make it the best that it can be.