If you take good care of your dog, they can bring you a lot of happiness. You need to know what your dog wants to make sure they are happy. Keep reading to learn more about the many things you can do to keep your dog happy.
Make your home safe for your dog. Prior to bringing your dog into your home, be sure that it is entirely safe. Make sure chemicals, medications and any garbage is out of reach of the dog. Keep house plants out of his reach, especially if they could be poisonous.
To improve the dog training process, try using hand signals in addition to verbal commands. Using hand gestures can help your dog to recognize commands quicker. Give both methods a try, and see for yourself which your dog responds best to.
If your dog behaves properly, be sure it is praised and given affection. Let a dog know that their behavior is what you wish to see. He’ll learn that praise will come when he is good, too.
If you aren’t sure of the amount of food your dog needs on a daily basis, talk to your vet. Some people feed the dog based on their food package recommendations, but these can be wrong and cause them to be overweight. Ask your vet what the right meal plan is for your dog.
Don’t buy the cheapest food for your dog. The cheaper dog foods have tons of additives and preservatives which aren’t the best for your dog. Find a trusted group that offers a list of healthy dog food. Better food will be very beneficial to your dog.
Correct bad behavior the first time you see it from your dog. You should never ignore bad behaviors when they are puppies because this will make it a lot harder to correct down the road. Be sure to control and contain your dog to prevent problems with people.
When you get a new dog, it is best that you schedule a check-up at the vet right away. Make a vet appointment right after the dog comes home. The vet will give him a complete health check and set up a vaccination schedule. You should also speak to your vet concerning your dog being spayed or neutered because there is an overpopulation of dogs in shelters.
Keep trimming the soft hair near the paws of your dog to keep it from matting. Prior to trimming the hair, make sure the hair is straight by using a comb. Another option is to take your dog to the groomers and ask for this task to be performed.
If your dog seems lonely because you’re not home all the time, get him a little friend. The company could do your pet a lot of good. Match them carefully by energy levels and temperament so that they can enjoy themselves.
There is nothing quite like the joy a dog can bring into the lives of its owner. Still, you must understand how to be a good owner if you want your pet to have a good life. The tips you just read should help you choose the right dog and care for it properly.