Article written by-Copeland Huff
Some say a dog owns you, you do not own a dog. Once you have a pup in your household, you are likely to agree. That said, your responsibilities in caring for the dog will be great. Read on to find out what you need to know about caring for your dog correctly.
It costs a lot to own a dog. You need to pay for high quality food, regular vet care, and various supplies. This can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars each year. Getting emergency care from the vet is costly, so you may need to take a look at health insurance for your pet.
Hugs are good, but kisses should be avoided. It is unsanitary to be licked by a dog. Dogs tend to dig through garbage cans, drink out of toilets and explore the hind quarters of other animals. Some believe the mouth of a dog is even cleaner than our own. This is not in the least bit true.
What Is Dog Food Made Of
Do you have a "wrinkly" dog, like a bulldog? If so, you have to be conscientious about the grooming process in order to help keep your pet clean. After you brush, take a baby wipe and use it to get in between the folds on their body. Make sure, though, to get them fully dry after doing so.
Be wary of the flea treatment you're going to use on your dog. Many of them contain ingredients that can put children at risk for cancer at a rate that is 1000 times more than what the EPA considers safe! Ask your vet for recommendations. Be sure to keep children away while you're applying any flea treatment.
Don't buy cheap dog food. Generally, food that is less expensive is not as healthy for your pet due to preservatives and additives put into the food. Find a trusted group that offers a list of healthy dog food. This will be very helpful to your dog's health.
How Much Food To Give A Dog
If your dog has fleas, and they fall off his coat onto your floor, vacuum them up. However, remember that
https://www.discoververmilion.org/vermilion-ohio-news/dog-days-of-summer are pretty good escape artists, so you need to throw out the bag immediately after you are finished. To be on the safe side, tape the bag completely shut before you take it out to your trash can.
Determine your dog's specific exercise regimen. Dogs have different fitness needs based their sex, overall health, age, breed mix, or breed. Every dog should have a couple 10-minute walks a day around the block. Dogs between 6 and 18 months, active breed or mixed breeds, terriers, hounds, and herding dogs will most likely require more fitness than others types of dogs.
Take the time to train your dog on a leash. They should walk by your side, instead of behind or in front of you, and they must respond to "heel." This ensures his safety and will make going for walks more enjoyable for you. By having
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dx4DrX6-_gitzJy5RAFrQWmsV8CuVmWG283YmqWNfVE/edit understand this command, it will be very helpful for most situations.
Not every dog is capable of going to the dog park. Some dogs will not do well around other dogs that they do not know. Get to know how your dog does around friends' or neighbors' dogs before you attempt to take him to the park. This way, you will know if he will be aggressive towards other dogs.
How To Make Dog Food
When you are finding out what kind of dog you want to get, you might want to introduce the prospective pet to your current pet. Dogs happen to be social creatures, but that doesn't mean they all get along. Finding dogs that like each other will save you headache and heartache in the long run.
Have a rotating schedule for dog-related responsibilities in your home. It's not fair for one person to always be taking care of him, and he'll feel more like a family pet if everyone pitches in. Kids often lose interest in a pet and leave the work to parents, but it's important that you teach them to keep up the commitment!
Make sure that you're feeding your dog a good quality food. Most dog foods available at your grocery store are mainly made up of grains or corn. Instead of this, you should try to find a dog food that is mostly made of meat. Foods that are high quality can provide you with many benefits, such as having a healthy pup, less vet visits, and your dog's coat will shine more.
When crate training a dog, be sure to allow it to stop making noise (barking, whining, crying) for at least 30 seconds before opening the crate up. This is important because otherwise the dog will believe that as long as it keeps making noise, you will come and open the crate. It can be hard to do this, but is necessary. Of course, always be sure that the dog is safe and not making noise for some other reason.
If you have dog that loves to chew, buy him a toy or some raw hide bones. Those items are made for dogs and will help to keep your dog entertained. Many are available at big box stores or your favorite pet store.
Be thoughtful about breeding your dog. Repeated breeding of a female can evetually lead to severe health problems for both the dog and the puppies that is born from her. If you plan to breed be sure to do your research first so that you can be sure that you are doing the right thing for your animals.
Consider spaying or neutering your dog. This simple operations increases the lifespan of your dog and will help you avoid many behavioral issues, including running away or aggressiveness. If you do not want to have your dog neutered, be responsible and do not let your dog go outside without supervision.
Pick up your dog's messes when you're out in public. There are still some dog owners who take their dogs on walks and don't bother to "poop scoop". This is not a wise thing to do for a number of reasons. Be a responsible dog owner and carry a little bag and scooper if necessary, so that you can properly dispose of the waste. Non-owners will thank you.
Time, energy and knowledge will make the living arrangement with a dog more enjoyable for everyone. Use what you have just learned to help the household adapt to the addition. Dogs can be great friends and companions if you take the time to train, love and care for them properly.