Owning a dog can bring a lot of happiness to your life, but that is not true of every dog. You’ll need to know a few things if you want to have fun with your dog. This article will provide you with great tips to help you be a great pet owner.
Be careful with canine flea treatments. A large number of them contain high doses of carcinogens and other hazardous ingredients. Talk to your vet about safer options, especially when there are kids around.
Make use of hand signals when training your dog versus relying only on verbal commands. Dogs tend to respond better with these additional types of signals instead of always relying on voice commands. Try both ways of giving commands to see what works best.
Talk to the veterinarian about the proper amount of food for your dog. Many people look at the guidelines on the dog food bag; the problem with this is that some of the recommendations may be inaccurate and could cause your dog to gain weight. Ask your vet what the right meal plan is for your dog.
Avoid the bargain brands of pet food. Cheap brands usually contain preservatives such as sodium and other additives that can be dangerous for your dog’s health. Try using animal advocacy groups or consumer awareness to get a list of great dog foods that have high professional recommendations. Your dog will appreciate your research.
Find out what is going on that is causing your dog to act out. When you ignore this behavior, your dog thinks that it is okay. Neglecting your dog’s behavior can lead to injuries.
Be certain that your dog is getting sufficient exercise. Dogs need consistent physical activity to ensure they are physically and mentally fit. Get out and do something with your dog. Go for a walk or play fetch. You can get a lot of much needed exercise and build a stronger bond with your dog.
When you get a new dog, it is best that you schedule a check-up at the vet right away. Do this as soon as your dog arrives at your doorstep. Your vet will provide a full check up and establish vaccination dates. You should also have your dog neutered or spayed to cut down on pet overpopulation.
If you have to go out, leave the TV or radio on when you leave. The sound will help him feel more secure and not as alone. It could be the right trick to help relieve your dog’s anxiety.
Make sure that you show your dog affection at all times. Owners tend to focus on the bad times, not the good. This could cause lots of problems for you. Dogs need to be praised five times more frequently than scolding. This increases the chance that your dog will repeat the good behavior rather than the bad.
If you want to a great dog owner, you have to know certain things. You can’t just pick the cutest puppy at the store and live happily ever after. Owning a dog requires a person to be responsible when caring for it. Use the tips you just read to properly train your dog and make sure it is happy.