Taking care of a dog is a big responsibility. It’s like a baby, only they never really grow up. While this is a serious responsibility, you can care for them with knowledge and patience. Keep reading for terrific dog ownership advice.
Make your home dog-proof. Before bringing your dog home for the first time, make sure that the entire area is completely safe. Put up all of your cleaning supplies and medications, and be sure you put away any trash cans. Some house plants are poisonous, so keep them away from your dog’s reach or remove them.
Always have your dogs spayed or neutered. Statistics show that doing this can reduce your dog’s cancer risk, which can result in a longer life span. Dogs who have been neutered or spayed are also less likely to run or wander away from home.
When you take your dog on vacation with you, get a snapshot of them for your phone. This way, if you find out that your dog went missing along the way, you will have a recent picture that you can show to people when you go out to look for you pet.
If you have over-the-counter medication or prescription medication in your home, keep it in a place the dog can’t access it. Consuming even a single pill can cause serious health problems or your dog. Make sure you have your veterinarian’s number handy in case your dog does accidentally swallow your medicine.
Avoid giving your pooch table food. This will make your dog beg all of the time and also will make it not want to eat its regular food as much. Scraps from the table obesity, digestive problems, or other health issues in dogs. Make sure your dog does not sit near the table and beg, so you aren’t tempted.
Practice training your dog in your house or yard. It’s never good to try and train your pet when there are quite a few people around. Your dog could become distracted and will be tougher to teach.
Before giving your dog a new dog food, talk to your vet. A puppy’s stomach may not be able to handle particular foods, which may cause stomach issues. You should be careful when you are feeding your dog.
Think about your own lifestyle when considering the dog breed you want. If you love to run, seek out a pooch that will love to run alongside you. If you are a homebody, a small dog that lounges around a lot is a good fit. Avoid a mismatch if you want both of you to be happy.
Correct your dog’s bad behavior immediately. Ignoring it for a while can make it harder to correct later and you don’t know what may happen if you don’t. Not only will it be difficult to curb the bad behavior, he can pose physical harm to you or someone you love.
Taking proper care of your dog should be taken seriously. Just like having a baby, a puppy requires constant care. You can do a great job if you are motivated and want to provide the best environment possible for your dog. Use the tips from this article to take good care of your dog and get help from your veterinarian if you need to.