Dog ownership isn’t easy. Dogs, just like children, need to be fed the right foods, exercised, groomed and cleaned, and taken to the doctor. Can you expect to be a responsible dog owner without educating yourself on the topic, though? You should go over this article for some useful tips that will help you become a better dog owner.
Owning a dog is quite a large financial commitment. Expect to spend from $700 to as high as $1000 in a year to pay for medical attention, food and other items needed. One huge expense you might encounter is emergency vet care, so you may want to think about getting health insurance for your pet.
When training a dog, practice in the yard or your home. You shouldn’t train your dog where many other people are present. They may get distracted and it will be more difficult to teach them even the most basic commands.
It doesn’t matter how good your dog is, you should never leave your property without keeping him or her leashed. He could easily get spooked by something and run off into harm’s way. Your dog is your responsibility.
It can be really helpful to incorporate hand signals with verbal commands when first training your dog. This is a very effective way to communicate with your dog. Give both methods a try to find out which works best for your particular pup.
Think about your own lifestyle when considering the dog breed you want. For instance, joggers may want dogs that can run along with them, instead of a toy breed that cannot. On the other hand, a cuddly small dog may be perfect for those who enjoy a quiet evening reading on the couch. You will be much happier when you make a choice that is complementary to your lifestyle.
Make sure that your dog’s nails are trimmed weekly. It can be quite painful for your dog if his nails start curling under. You can buy clippers in a pet store and do them yourself. If this idea makes you uneasy, a groomer can easily attend to them for you.
Now you have the tools you need and can use them each day. You now have some basic dog-care tips that can be quite helpful. A dog will love you virtually unconditionally, but your pet will be even happier if you make use of the knowledge you’ve received here.