Dog ownership is never easy. Owning a dog is a bit like raising a child: they need love and kindness, but also food, shelter, exercise, hygiene, and health care. Where can one go for information on handling all these issues? Read on to find out.
Hugs are good, but kisses should be avoided. Dog kisses may be seen as cute, but their mouths aren’t all that clean. You don’t know where your dog’s tongue has been, and you’re better off not knowing. Your dog’s mouth is not really any cleaner than a human’s mouth. This statement is most definitely not true.
You need to take your older pet to the vet at lease once a day. Your dog is not able to talk, so it is not easy to know when he’s got arthritis or an aching tooth. Bringing your dog to the vet each year can help stop these health issues from becoming a huge problem.
Since your dog cannot talk to you, you have to learn how to listen to your dog’s non-verbal language. If your dog is fearful or shy, do not insist that they interact. This could lead to the other dog or person getting bit. You need to keep your eyes open for these signs.
If you have medication is your home, even if it is just over-the-counter medication, place it where your dog cannot access it. If your dog ingests your medications, it could be fatal. Be sure to contact your vet if your dog swallows your medication.
Do not fall prey to the temptation to feed table scraps to your dog. This will only teach him to beg constantly and also inhibit his appetite toward his regular food. Your dog may develop digestive problems and become fat if you feed it table scraps. Make your dog leave the room if he begins to beg, or train him to spend mealtimes in another room entirely.
Rather than merely using verbal commands, it is wise to utilize hand signals when training your dog. When provided with signals of this type, dogs tend to pick things up faster. Always associate the spoken command and the hand gesture at first and choose the system that works best later on.
If your dog must be outside, build him a house. If your dog’s feet get wet, then the continued exposure can lead to stress and other health issues. Give him a place that has dry floors and a lot of room.
Do not force your dog to do anything. If your dog doesn’t want it, don’t force him to eat it. Upon initially bringing a dog into the home, spend some time discovering its likes and dislikes.
Find out what is going on that is causing your dog to act out. If you ignore any issue with your pet then later on it’s going to be harder to train it to obey because it doesn’t know any better. Also, the dog may end up hurting someone, perhaps even you.
Put a leash on your dog at all times when walking him. They should walk by your side, instead of behind or in front of you, and they must respond to “heel.” If you do this, your dog will be safe, and it will be easy for you to handle. Even if you’re using loose leashes for walking here and there, make sure the dog understands this command.
Now that you have learned more about caring for and enjoying your dog, you are ready to apply your knowledge. You are ready to be an expert dog owner. As long as you use what you have learned, your dog will thank you for your efforts with love and affection.