Owning a dog is like adding a child into the family. They need care, attention, love and discipline. If you do not prepare yourself for this addition, you may find difficulties in the months ahead. Take a few moments and read the tips below to learn the best advice for caring for your K-9 companion.
Keep on top of fleas. Not only can fleas cause infection in your dog, if one is swallowed, your pet can get tapeworms as well. Speak to your veterinarian about the best prevention method, but remember that this is not a one shot deal. You will have to continue your efforts over the life of your pet.
When you are trying to teach your dog new tricks, you should always be patient. Different dogs will learn things differently. If your dog isn't picking up a new trick right away, give him time. You could also try changing your teaching method. Your dog may respond better to a different approach.
Talk to your vet about which foods you should be feeding your dog. A puppy's stomach may not be able to handle particular foods, which may cause stomach issues. Be careful about which foods you feed your dog.
Not everyone is good at training dogs, so quit trying if you see things are not going as well as planned. Instead of beating yourself up about it, get in touch with a trainer in your area. Since they have more experience with dogs, it may be much easier for them to train yours.
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.
Pay attention to the nails of your canine. If they start to curl, your dog may feel a lot of pain. 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.
If your dog does something that you do not like, try to avoid just saying no. To your dog, no doesn't really explain what you want your pup to do. Instead of saying no if your dog is jumping, try to get your dog to sit or lay down. By doing this, you provide your dog with an instruction of what to do.
You can always choose to foster a dog for a few weeks if you're not sure about making the full commitment of dog ownership. Many homeless dogs are waiting for a home in shelters, where overcrowding is a major problem. You can give one a home for a while to help the cause and you can also keep it if you like it!
Dog Training
Dog training requires you to be consistent. Once you decide you want to establish a rule for your dog, do not make any exceptions. Make sure everyone at home helps you enforce the rule and encourage your guests not to let your dog jump on them or to not acknowledge your dog when it barks.
If you want to get a dog, you need to get it trained. You and your dog will have happier lives if the rules are set out and then enforced. Even though a puppy is easier to train, it is still possible to train an older dog.
Nothing happens overnight, so don't set unrealistic goals with your dog training. It will take time for your dog to pick up the right habits, so continue to persevere. The more effort you put into it, the faster he'll get the point, so repeat your training over and over again.
Once you are equipped with great advice about caring for your dog, you will be better prepared for the day to day life with him. You will be better capable of dealing with any issues that occur. Take notes and post them around your house so when you question what you are doing, you can get a quick reminder of what you should do.
