Anyone can go out and get a dog and bring him home. However, if you wish to properly care for your dog, you must know what you're doing. Pay attention to the following helpful advice so that you can make sure your dog has everything it needs in order to live and long and healthy life.
If you are thinking of getting a new dog for your family, be sure you are prepared for this commitment. Smaller dogs will require at least a 14-16 year commitment, and larger dogs will require at least 10 years. If you are not prepared to own the dog for its entire life, then do not choose a dog as a pet.
Avoid letting your dog walk without a leash outside of your property, regardless of how well he behaves. A wild animal could draw his attention and make him run off into danger, or an unexpected provocation could result in some unpleasant situation with other people and their dogs. Your dog's actions and safety is your responsibility.
If a dog does something correctly like sitting before you leash them, give them lots of praise and affection. By rewarding your pup when it does the right thing, you'll be teaching it to do these behaviors more often. Your dog is looking for ways to please you, and giving him your praise lets him know he has done just that.
Be careful around Christmas time with a dog in your home; it's the busiest time of year at 24/7 animal clinics! Things like hanging and tree lights pose a danger to your dog, as they could become tangled or gnaw their way down to raw wires. The loveliest of Christmas plants are also hazardous to a dog's health, so take extra care during holidays.
Plenty of physical activity is one of your dog's necessities. A dog needs to play and exercise on a regular basis so that it can be happy and healthy. From a simple walk to a vigorous game of fetch, both of you will find the time well spent. You can get a lot of much needed exercise and build a stronger bond with your dog.
Positive reinforcement is the best way to train your dog. You should congratulate your dog when it displays a good behavior, for instance by giving it a treat or petting it. Talk to your dog in a soft voice and make sure you praise it every time the good behavior is displayed.
Control your voice to control your dog. When he is a good boy, speak in a high-pitched voice and shower him with praise. When he misbehaves, use a very low and gruff voice to indicate your displeasure. Being consistent with this will help him learn faster, making training him much easier on you and him.
Does your dog chew a lot? This could be a sign that your dog is bored or anxious. You need to provide your dog with some toys that can be chewed and perhaps leave a shirt with your smell near your dog to avoid separation anxiety, especially if your dog is very young.
Be clear with your pet during training. The word "no" does not explain anything to your dog, other than that you are unhappy with something. Instead, explain which behavior you do want to see. For example, if your dog jumps on the furniture, tell him to get down instead of just saying the word no.
When the weather gets warm, start checking your dog for ticks and fleas. Use a type of flea comb to get rid of fleas you see. You should invest in some quality products designed to kills fleas and ticks. Ask your vet what they recommend.
Check you dog for parasites and take preventative measure. Flea and tick collars are important. Keep in mind certain collar work better in different seasons and geographic areas. In addition, check your dog's ears. Ear mites are common. Also, check the dog's stool to ensure he hasn't picked up worms in his digestive system.
Keep your dog hydrated. Similar to humans, dogs need plenty of fresh water to drink. If a dog doesn't get enough water, they can easily get dehydrated, sick, and possibly die. Provide them with a fresh water bowl every day. Always keep it filled and clean for them. Keep the bowl in single location.
Consider puppy training classes for your young pet. Puppies are eager to learn, and a class is a wonderful atmosphere to let them do so in. Classes are also often cheaper than individual lessons. This will teach your pup essential behavioral skills and allow the two of you bonding time too.
Train your dog using positive reinforcement. Rewards and praise make your pet learn faster than threats and violence. It's just a much better solution for immediate results and for the long term relationship too. Therefore, be kind when training your dog and enjoy the great outcome!
You should be giving your dog clean water regularly. Even if your dog does not drink too much water, you should still change his bowl twice a day. Also, if the tap water in your area isn't great, give him or her bottled water. When it comes to drinking water, your dog should have the same quality as you have.
Bigger is not better when selecting a dog house. Allow for room for growth, but do not go much bigger than what you will need for him to be comfortable as an adult. This will allow the entire house to heat from his body heat during the cold winter months.
Make sure that you spend adequate time on each thing that you try to teach your dog. Even though your dog might catch on to something, for example the "sit" command, it may not be mastered. You'll want to make sure that the command is done every time that you ask no matter what situation you are in before you move onto a new command.
