Many different types of dogs and different types of family situations exist. That means there’s a lot to consider when it comes to taking care of your dog. Continue reading if you want to be sure that you’re taking care of your pet properly.
If your young dog is teething and gnawing at everything, buy him a fun chew toy and keep it in the fridge. Not only does this provide him with a good alternative to your furniture, but the cold will help to make his gums feel better. Most younger dogs gnaw out of necessity, not poor manners.
Keep a leash on your dog at all times. He could easily get spooked by something and run off into harm’s way. You are the only one responsible for your dog’s safety and his actions.
Ask your vet about which foods he can eat. Puppies can’t eat adult food and vice versa. Use your vets advice and common sense to feed your dog properly.
Be careful if you’re searching for a new dog on Craigslist or other classified ads. Many people exaggerate the truth in order to unload problems or challenging training issues and you could end up with an impossible situation on your hands. Only talk to people who are verifiable through vet records and demonstrate positive handling experience.
When preparing to groom your pet, start the session off on the right foot by helping your dog relax. Spend a few minutes simply petting him, starting with the head and then rubbing the back, paws, belly and even tail. Once you feel your dog is happy and content, begin grooming him.
Schedule regular veterinary visits. Regular veterinary exams are extremely important for your dog’s overall health – as with humans, it is important to catch any health problems early on. The vet will make sure that your dog is up to date on his vaccinations, and check for any other issues such as weight and dental problems or parasites.
Try not to base your dog food choices on the price of the food. Cheap brands are full of fillers, preservative and even chemicals. Use an animal advocacy group or some kind of consumer awareness group to see if you can get a list of good foods that are professionally recommended. Your dog will be much healthier if you feed it some healthy food.
Daily brushing your dog has more benefits that just reducing shedding. Brushing every day will also help give them a gorgeous, glossy coat. When you brush fur, you’re also spreading around the oils that help keep your pet’s coat looking shiny and healthy.
Make sure your dog gets enough exercise. This is vital to the care of a happy dog. Many people don’t bother to exercise their dog, thinking that walks are enough. Dogs are active creatures and need to play. Talk to your veterinarian about how much activity your dog needs, and make sure he gets it.
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.
The hair around a dog’s paws can easily get matted, and should be trimmed on a regular basis. Prior to trimming it, straighten the fur using a comb. Go to a professional groomer if you have a hard time doing this yourself.
It is very common for objects to get lodged in the pads of your dogs paws. Check them regularly to make sure that nothing is in there. If you see something, be very careful about taking it out, or it may become lodged even deeper. It is a wise to use tweezers for this.
Before you have your dog fitted with a microchip, be sure and check the database of the company that will store his information. Not all of them are created equal and you want to know that you’ll get a fast response if your dog is lost. Look for a large database that connects to shelters and vets near you.
Do you feel relieved about caring for your dog right now? You now have all the necessary information, so you don’t need to worry regarding the care of your pet. Use these ideas to ensure that your dog is happy and well cared for.
