Regardless of your level of experience with dogs, it is likely that you know that there is a lot that goes into raising a new dog. It’s not something to be taken lightly. Look to this article for advice on properly caring for your dog.
It takes a lot of money to raise a dog. Good quality dog food and medical care can cost between $700-1000 a year. Getting emergency care from the vet is costly, so you may need to take a look at health insurance for your pet.
Avoid kisses and stick with hugs. Dogs lick dirty things you don’t even want to think about. Dogs tend to dig through garbage cans, drink out of toilets and explore the hind quarters of other animals. It is not true that a dog has a cleaner mouth than a person. This is not in the least bit true.
Speak with your vet to determine whether or not certain foods are okay to give to your dog. If your puppy is very young, it might not be ready to consume specific brands, and feeding them to your pup can result in sickness. Therefore, ensure you are cautious whenever providing your dog a new food.
Speak with your vet about how much food should your dog be eating each day. While some individuals give their dogs food by following the package, sometimes these guidelines are inappropriate for your dog. Speak with a vet to see what you should be feeding your dog according to its needs.
You shouldn’t make your dog do something it doesn’t want to do. If your dog doesn’t want it, don’t force him to eat it. When you have a dog, get to know his likes and dislikes.
Your dog’s nails need to be trimmed regularly. When they start curling under, the dog runs the risk of experiencing pain. Simply purchase a pair of clippers from the store. Can’t hack it? Take them to the groomer instead.
If you’d like to be a dog owner, but think you might not be able to handle the commitment, consider fostering dogs. The shelters are full of homeless pups and lack many resources because of the overcrowding. Fostering will help you become adapted to the life of a pet owner, and you will be making a difference in the life of a dog at the same time!
Some breeds have inherent health issues you need to watch for. Research the breed of your dog and take steps to ensure he does not get any infections or diseases. Your vet can also tell you how to give your dog the best odds for overcoming any conditions that are typical for his breed.
Pure Bred
Even if you seek a pure bred animal, you should not overlook the pound. Many pure bred dogs are abandoned at dog pounds or shelters when owners aren’t able to care for them. Paying a trip to your local shelter might help you to find the exact dog you have been searching for. You may save a poor dog’s life if you do this.
Love your dog! As is the case with most things in life, owners often pay more attention to the bad behavior than the good. This causes problems with dog behavior. 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.
Now that you’ve learned a little bit about dogs, it shouldn’t be hard to care for them. You just need some patience and love in order to have a happy, appreciative dog. Always keep learning – with dogs there is still so much to learn!