Many kinds of dogs exist, as do many kinds of families. Taking care of a dog requires a big responsibility and its decision that should not be taken lightly. Read on to learn what it takes to care for your dog the right way.
Give your dog hugs, but don’t kiss him. Dogs lick dirty things you don’t even want to think about. Dogs dig in trash cans, drink from toilet bowls and sniff and lick various body parts on themselves and other dogs. It’s just a myth that your dog’s mouth is just as, or cleaner, than yours. Definitely do not believe that!
Take your dog to the vet at least one time a year for checkups. Since your dog doesn’t talk, you may have difficulty figuring out if a tooth starts hurting or where arthritis is developing. A checkup every year can make sure that issues are caught before he is suffering too much.
Hand signals are great when they are paired with verbal commands. Dogs tend to respond better with these additional types of signals instead of always relying on voice commands. Not every dog will learn the same, so try different techniques with your dog.
Allow your lifestyle to dictate the type of dog you adopt or purchase. For instance, if you love to run, get a dog that loves to run too, and leave the miniature breed for someone who is less active. Also, if you like to stay at home, find small dogs that prefer sitting on laps and being stroked. Finding a dog that matches your personality will make both of you happy.
When the dog does something right, be sure to lavish praise on him or her. After all, your goal is for your dog to know when it is doing something good. Your dog will quickly understand that the praise is connected to a certain action.
Let your dog have rawhide rather than bones from the meat you eat. Real bones can splinter and can get caught in your dog’s mouth or digestive tract. It has been proven that rawhide is healthy for your dogs teeth, therefore avoid giving your dog natural meat bones.
Try not to force your dog to eat things. If your dog doesn’t like a treat you give him, let it go. When you have a new dog, take time to learn what they do and don’t like.
As soon as you notice your dog engaging in bad behaviors, immediately try to correct them. Ignoring it can help your dog to establish lifelong bad habits. The longer you wait to address the problem, the worse the problem will become. The dog may harm somebody, even you, so control them.
After reading the above article, are you now more aware of what is required to care for a dog? You now should know a few things that will make you sure that your dog is in good hands. Make use of these great tips to ensure you properly take care of your dog.