The Very Basics Of Caring For A Dog

Thought about getting a pet dog? Is there currently a dog in your household? If any of these apply to you, keep reading. You will find many pieces of information that can make owning a dog a wonderful experience for years to come.

When you are training your dog, you should practice in your home or in your yard. This allows you to control how many people are there while the training takes place. The more people there are, the more difficult training will be. This can cause your dog to get distracted, which can make training them simple commands almost impossible.

If you are not sure of how much to feed your dog each day, talk to your vet about it. Though some folks feed whatever the package recommends, those guidelines are not always appropriate and can lead to overfeeding. Ask your vet what the right meal plan is for your dog.

If your dog needs to be outside during cold months, buy him a house or build him one. Wet feet and cold fur can bring on health problems. Keep your dog safe from wind, rain and snow by providing it with a house with lots of room and a dry floor.

Make sure that your dog's nails are trimmed weekly. If you neglect your dog's nails, they will be in discomfort. Purchasing some nail clippers at your local pet store is a good idea. If you lack the confidence to do this job on your own, a pet groomer will usually do it at a low cost.

When you get a new dog, schedule a vet visit for soon after you've brought him home. As soon as you bring your new dog home, make an appointment with your vet. A vet will make sure the dog is healthy and also set up a future schedule of vaccinations. Also discuss the spaying or neutering process with your vet. This can help to eliminate unwanted animals and keep your dog happy and healthy for a longer period of time.

Properly teach your dog how to walk with a leash. Your dog has to understand the "heel" command and respond to it by walking beside you, not ahead of or in back of you. Your dog will be safer in this position, and you'll both enjoy your walks more this way. Your dog needs to get used to this.

Fostering a dog teaches you about the responsibilities of dog ownership. A lot of abused and homeless animals are in shelters waiting, but resources are slim. Fostering an animal will help animals and help you decide whether or not you would like to keep a dog of your own.

What types of health problems are typical for your dog? Research the kind of dog you have and see if there are any preventative measures you can take. Your vet will be able to tell you how you can help your pet prevent illness that it is prone to getting.

If your dog gets anxious and lonely when you leave, put some music on before you head out. The noise from the music will comfort the dog and that can help the animal to feel secure. It can help his anxiety as he waits for your return.

Make sure your let your dog know you love him. As with most things, owners tend to focus more on the bad behavior instead of the good. With dogs, this can lead to trouble. Instead make it a habit to praise your dog much more often than any scolding. Make it five times to any one. Your dog will be far more likely to try to behave properly.

Can you recall all of the great points made in the above article? If not, reread these tips again. You should know how to make sure your dog is healthy and happy. Use these tips daily for a well-balanced relationship with your furry pal.