It is not easy to own a dog. You will need to give them the right foods, take them out and care for them daily. What does it take to care for your dog properly? You will understand a lot more after you read these tips.
It's important to keep in mind that your dog is a dog, not a human. Your dog's attention span is relatively short. Try training your pet little by little. Don't try to teach it too many things all at once, and be patient. This will help you to be sure that your dog doesn't associate training with being punished.
Correct bad behavior the first time you see it from your dog. Turning a blind eye to it just makes it harder to fix down the road. Not only will it be difficult to curb the bad behavior, he can pose physical harm to you or someone you love.
Regularly brushing your dog's fur won't just stop your pet from shedding on your furniture. It'll also give them a very beautiful and shiny coat. The brushing motion encourages distribution of the skin's oil, leaving the coat healthy, soft and glossy.
If your dog does something the correct way, such as sitting before you put the leash on, make sure that you give it tons of affection and praise. You want to reinforce your dog's good behaviors. Your dog is looking for ways to please you, and giving him your praise lets him know he has done just that.
Talk to your vet about how much to feed your dog. While there are those that feed their dog whatever it says on the package, this may not be good for your dog and can make it overweight. Talk to your vet about what is acceptable and what your dog's particular needs are.
Do not buy your dog a particular brand of food just because it is cheap. Cheaper brands have tons of additives, preservatives, and ingredients that can harm a dog's health. Looking at a pet advocacy group website can give you recommendations of the best food for your dog. The higher quality food will benefit your dog profoundly.
Make sure that there is someone to watch your dog when you leave town. Pet sitters visit your home on a time schedule determined by you. They attend to exercise, feeding and toileting needs while they are there. Having one allows your dog to stay in comfortable surroundings while also getting good care.
Dogs don't talk so you should learn his non-verbal language. If they seem hesitant upon meeting up with other dogs or people, don't force interaction. This might lead to a bite to another dog or even to a person. So pay attention to your dog's demeanor and make your judgement from these cues.
If you are going to taking your dog on vacation, take a pic of him on your phone. If he is ever separated from you, it will be easy to show people what he looks like or print out flyers with a recent picture showing that you are looking for him.
Dog ownership is a long and complex adventure, and you never know when some of the advice you've just reviewed will come in handy. This information provides a good foundation for dog ownership that you can build on in years to come. Your reward will be a long and loving relationship with your canine companion.
