You may already have a preconceived notion of what you expect from owning a pet store or pound.You might end up with something else entirely.No matter what happens it is now your responsibility to make sure the dog is cared for, you now have to learn how to care for your pup.
Since your dog cannot talk to you, you need to learn your dog's cues. If you notice your dog is hesitant to meet a particular person or dog, do not insist that they interact. This may cause your dog to get bit. Look out for your actions.
When you take your dog with you on vacation, use the camera on your phone to snap a quick picture. This will be helpful should he gets lost.
Be wary when it comes to flea treatments to use for your dog. A lot of them have ingredients that are 1000 times more potent than what is considered safe by the EPA and it may be a cancer risk for children. Talk to the vet about different forms of treatment that are safer for your dog.
Talk to your vet about which foods you might want to keep your pet away from. Always be cautious when it comes to your animal's food.
Your daily lifestyle should be a determining factor in the breed of dog that you choose. For example, if you love to run, you might want an active dog, and leave the miniature breed for someone who is less active. If you like to stay at home, seek out a small dog that loves to snuggle on the couch. You should find a dog that is complementary to your lifestyle.
Cold Weather
Your dog will need a dog house if it is going to be outside in cold weather. If his feet are wet during very cold weather, it can cause health complications. Keep your dog safe by building a shelter that keeps them dry and gives them room.
Don't try forcing anything into a dog. If your dog doesn't want it, don't make him eat it. Learn what he likes and dislikes when you first bring it home.
If you get a dog that was in a pound or shelter, it's important that you take it to see a vet immediately. Shelter dogs have numerous opportunities to be exposed to different viruses. You need to be sure that you get your dog gets their shots.
There are many less than fortunate dogs in homeless shelters who desperately need a forever home.
Trim any hair surrounding the dog's paws so it doesn't get matted up. A comb should be used first to straighten the dog's fur before you do any cutting. If you'd prefer, it would be a good idea for you to go and get it done by a professional groomer.
Some dogs are more prone to problems and you should know what to look out for in your dog. Research his ancestry and take steps for problems he might be prone to.
Everyone does things differently, and having multiple people trying to train a dog differently can leave it confused.
You might feel the urge to feed your dog a bite of your snack. This is true of some snacks, but other foods aren't healthy for dogs. Dogs should never be given caffeine, grapes, for instance. These food are very detrimental to your dog.
Don't let the temperature of your dog's nose feels. Your dog's nose may be wet and cold for many other reasons.Instead, monitor your dog's health through energy levels, bathroom habits, appetite and thirst. These are good indicators for how your dog's health is. You can also check your dog's temperature with a rectal thermometer.
You need to watch everything your dog's diet. Puppies can eat lots of calorie filled foods since they need to grow. If a high calorie food is fed to an adult dog, he'll quickly become overweight and unhealthy.
When you're adding a puppy to your family, you should begin socializing it.
Where is your new dog going to sleep? If you want your pup to be in a crate at nights, you shouldn't allow the animal to sleep in your bed at first. If you do want your dog to sleep with you, be sure you're going to want this to go on every night.
Your puppy may be cute when it starts nibbling slippers, but it will not be cute if it is something you really like and they are full grown. You need to be sure that you teach your dog not to do something about these habits right away. If your puppy engages in a behavior that you don't like, stop it right away. This can save you a lot of grief down the road.
With all of this great advice available to you, you would be a fool to ignore it. Use whatever you've learned and apply it and you should have the dog that you've always dreamed of owning. A dog that is happy will always love you, so be sure that you use this advice to your advantage!