Owning a pooch is a huge responsibility. Dog’s are like children, with different noises and needs. Although being a dog owner can be a difficult task, it is possible to raise one with good knowledge and patience. Continue reading to learn some tips on how to care for your dog.
Make sure that your dog is spayed or neutered. A neutered dog will live longer and have less risks of developing cancer. It also keeps dogs from humping, running away from home or becoming violent at puberty.
If you’re taking your pup on a vacation, make sure that you take a picture of him for 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.
Try hand signals in conjunction with verbal commands when training your dog. When you give your dog these kinds of signals, he may learn faster. Try both methods to see which your dog prefers.
Your dog deserves to have quality dog food. Cheap brands are full of fillers, preservative and even chemicals. Check with an animal advocacy group for a list of foods you should be feeding your dog. Your dog will thank you for feeding him a better food.
Don’t force anything into a dog. If your dog doesn’t want it, don’t force him to eat it. It will take you a little while to figure out what your dog likes and what he doesn’t, but you’ll get the hang of it.
Follow through according to your vet’s suggestions if your dog needs something special or has medicine. He may not like wearing a cone over his head, but it’s prescribed for a reason! Your vet makes recommendations that will help your dog be happy and healthy, so you should follow your vet’s advice.
You need to make sure if your female dog is not fixed and is in heat that she doesn’t come into contact with a male dog so she does not get pregnant. A female’s scent can travel a very long distance. This can lead to aggression among other males, and you certainly don’t want to be left with an unexpected litter of pups.
Tag your dog with proper identification to make sure that you can bring him home if he is lost. Keep identification on your dog’s collar. Include your dog’s name and information on how to contact you. Having your vet equip your dog with a micro-chip is a good idea.
Make political decisions which will help your dog! Make sure that you know all legislation that may be going through your local system. Some of it may be trying to regulate you as a dog owner. That legislations is often motivated by certain breeds or certain dogs that have behaved badly. Take action and speak up on behalf of your pet by calling or emailing local officials.
If you are shopping for a new dog and already own another dog, it is a good idea to take your old dog along. Some dogs get along better with one another than others. Find a dog that your current dog gets along with.
You need to think everything through before you bring a dog home. It’s one thing to fall head over heels in love with a puppy. It’s another to provide a forever home for a dog. Take the time to consider everything first so that you can be confident that you are capable of managing it all.
When you commence the training process, try different reward methods. What does your dog like best? Pieces of sausage or tasty dog treats will work for a dog that is motivated by food. If a dog likes toys better, play a little tug o’ war with your puppy if you wish. Pet your dog if this is something he enjoys.
Don’t surrender to your dog’s whims. When some people own dogs they give them extra treats and allow them to misbehave. Regardless of how they look, you will need to stand firm. But, by staying firm on the rules, you can avoid issues. For instance, giving scraps to a dog may seem harmless, but if you keep doing it, the dog may think it is fine to jump on a table and take a whole course.
Your dog isn’t a superhero. Dogs have a much shorter attention span than humans do, so adjust your training time with your dog accordingly. Try to limit your training sessions to several minutes so your dog does not come to dislike the sessions and you can avoid a lot of frustration.
Teaching your dog to stay in a crate while you’re away is great for people that cannot be home all the time. This can help prevent damage to your home and unwanted urine or feces inside.
Ask your vet for advice on selecting a food for your dog. There are special dog diets available for dogs with diabetes, dogs with allergies and so on. If your dog is in this category, feeding him the wrong food could harm his health. Your vet will be able to tell you what to feed your pet.
The happiest dogs are busy dogs. Dogs get bored so easily. This can cause your dog to chew or have other negative behaviors. If your dog is tired, he won’t be destructive. So keep your dog busy to ensure he behaves properly.
If your dog whines, resist the urge to comfort it. It may be tempting to reassure them, but that would make your dog think that there is something that they should to worry about. Play a game that your dog enjoys, so he can forget his anxieties.
Dog care isn’t a simple thing. Owning a dog is almost like having a child in that you’re the one responsible for keeping your dog alive. It’s a big job, but you can do it. Use what you learned here and incorporate it into taking care of your own dog.