A dog can provide you with loyalty, love, and affection. They are great pets for children and show compassion for adults. If you’re wanting to care for your dog better, the tips that follow can help.
It is fine to hug your dog, but avoid those wet kisses. Kissing a dog might seem cute, but they have dirty mouths. You don’t know where your dog’s tongue has been, and you’re better off not knowing. Your dog’s mouth is not really any cleaner than a human’s mouth. This is not the truth!
When bringing dogs on vacation, it pays to take a photo of them to keep on your phone. By doing this, in case your dog gets lost, you can provide others with a picture and easily put up flyers, which will assist in finding your dog.
Talk to your vet to learn which foods are appropriate for your particular dog. Some puppies take longer to develop, and some types of food may be too rich, leading to an upset belly or vomiting. Never give your dog any food you are not sure of.
It is important to use your lifestyle as a guide to what breed of furry friend you should get. For example, if you live an active lifestyle it is probably best for you to find an active dog instead of a little dog. Likewise if you are quiet home-body, look for a smaller dog that enjoys pampering and living it up on your sofa. You will be much happier when you make a choice that is complementary to your lifestyle.
Don’t ever give your dog bones. Bones can chip and hurt your dog if sharp fragments are ingested. Rawhide bones are tested and veterinary approved, and they can benefit your dog’s teeth and gums too. Treat your dog to one regularly.
If your dog behaves badly, correct the behavior immediately. Ignoring it for a while can make it harder to correct later and you don’t know what may happen if you don’t. You don’t want to be the owner of a dog who hurts someone, so get a handle on it now.
If your welcome a new dog into your family, immediately schedule a check up for him. When you bring them home, schedule a vet appointment. The vet will check him over and prepare him for vaccinations. Speak with a vet about getting your dog neutered or spayed since there is a massive dog overpopulation problem that you don’t need to add to.
If your dog isn’t happy or is lonely, consider buying a second dog. Dogs are known to be pack animals and enjoy the company of other dogs. Get one that is similar in energy level and temperament and your dog will be in heaven.
Get your dog spayed, and if you have a female in heat, take extra care that she does not become pregnant. A male is able to smell her from as much as five miles in the distance! She might instigate problems with fellow dogs, as well as getting pregnant with an unknown mate.
It is important that your dog is equipped with some kind of ID. It’s a good idea to fit your dog with a sturdy collar equipped with ID tags. This tag needs to contain all of your relevant contact details and the name of your dog. Additionally, you can put a micro-chip on your dog.
Clean up completely if your dog uses the bathroom on your floor. Make sure that you clean up the mess quickly and thoroughly. If you do not clean up the mess well enough, your dog might just go again in the same spot.
When the weather gets warm, start checking your dog for ticks and fleas. Comb your dog with a good flea comb to eradicate fleas. There are a lot of products that can assist you with fleas and ticks. Talk to your vet if you are not sure which products should be used.
Choose the food your dog eats very carefully. There are many options, but you should match your dog to food that was made for his age and size. You might think that you can save money by feeding your dog table scraps, but this is very unhealthy.
You are probably tempted to give Fido a bite of whatever you’re having. Keep in mind that some foods are unhealthy for dogs. Some foods you cannot give your dog are chocolate, grapes, or any caffeine. These types of food are very detrimental to your dog’s health.
Just because a dog is outside doesn’t mean they need less attention than indoor dogs. He is likely to begin barking, digging holes or chewing if you do not give him enough attention. Also, he may develop aggressive tendencies. Spend some time with your dog and take the time to train it properly.
Your dog needs to be protected in the summer time. It does not take much for dogs to become overheated. You need to have a place for them to get out of the sun in the summer months. Keep some cool (and clean) water around. Additionally, the sun can affect your dog, but you can get doggie sunscreen.
There’s a lot that goes into looking after a dog. There is more to the task than simply walking and feeding it. It’s important to understand the right choices for caring for any dog. The more you learn the better your chances are at having this wonderful companion with you for a very long time.
