Lots of folks have pets now, or have had them in the past. If you are contemplating dog ownership or already have a dog, there are many things you ought to know. This article will provide you with great tips on caring for your dog.
You must dog-proof your residence. Before you bring a dog into your home, you should be sure that the area you’re bringing it to is safe. Make sure anything toxic is put up. Make sure no toxic plants are in the vicinity of your dogs.
A physical is good for you, and a yearly vet trip is good for your dog. Since your dog doesn’t talk, you may have difficulty figuring out if a tooth starts hurting or where arthritis is developing. Annual checkups can catch these things before they become major problems.
Avoid giving your pup table scraps. This will encourage constant begging and reduce their appetite towards their own food. Your dog may develop digestive problems and become fat if you feed it table scraps. Keep your dog away from the family dinner table for training purposes and to avoid any temptation.
Speak with your vet about how much food should your dog be eating each day. Dog food packages provide guidelines, but they can be wrong for your particular pet and lead to obesity. Check with you vet to find out about the feeding guidelines for your particular dog.
Always make sure your dog understands how to walk correctly on a leash. Your dog should learn to walk by the side of you, teach them to ‘heel’. Having a dog that can properly walk on a leash will be more enjoyable for both you and your pup. This will also help to prevent your dog from choking themselves, when trying to pull ahead.
Certain breeds of dog are prone to certain health problems, and you should be aware of what’s typical for your type of dog. You should do some research on the dog breeds you are interested in to learn more about the health issues they are likely to develop. Ask your veterinarian what steps can be taken to prevent issues that are common with your dog’s breed.
There are many ways to show your dog how cherished he is. As it usually happens, many times owners focus more on bad behavior rather than good ones. This can cause issues later. You should mostly focus on praising and petting your dog when you notice a good behavior. This will make it more likely that your dog will behave well.
To prevent your female dog from getting pregnant, be on the lookout for the times she becomes in heat. It is possible for a male to pick up her scent from miles away. She might instigate problems with fellow dogs, as well as getting pregnant with an unknown mate.
There is a lot that goes into owning a dog as evidenced by this article. Apply what you’ve learned, and you can’t go wrong. This article describes everything you need to know about caring for dogs.