Dogs can give companionship that humans cannot. With all the love and affection they give to their owners, dogs deserve to be treated with the utmost responsibility and care for their well-being. The article that follows is a great place to start.
Make sure your home is dog-proof. This should be done before the dog shows up at your home. Make sure anything toxic is put up. Keep house plants out of his reach, especially if they could be poisonous.
Since humans don't speak dog, we need to figure out how to communicate with our pets non-verbally. For instance, if your dog is hesitating, it is not a good idea to force him to approach a person or another animal. This may cause a human or the other canine to get bit. So pay attention to your dog's demeanor and make your judgement from these cues.
Use hand signals when training your dog along with verbal commands. This is a very effective way to communicate with your dog. Every pet is different though, so use a combination of both verbal and visual cues and then determine what works the best.
Don't force your dog to eat something. Some dogs won't love all treats, and you shouldn't push your dog to like something. Find out your dog's likes and dislikes and feed him accordingly.
Brushing your pup daily can do much more than reduce shedding in your home. Brushing your dog every day helps its coat become beautiful and shiny. Brushing distributes the natural oils of your dog's fur evenly and it promotes the health of his skin as well.
When you get a new dog, schedule a visit with a vet. As soon as you bring your new dog home, make an appointment with your vet. The vet is going to check over your dog to see if everything is okay, as well as set it up to get vaccinations it may need. Set up an appointment to have your dog fixed, too.
Properly teach your dog how to walk with a leash. He needs to know to heel next to you, not behind you or in front of you. Walking like this can keep them safe and help you enjoy walks too. Understanding that command is great, even if you choose to still walk with a loose leash periodically.
Do not keep your dog outdoors all day. Yes, people do this too often, but dogs require interactions with people and other dogs for their well-being. When your dog is the only one you have, leaving him alone will make him sad. In addition, during snowstorms and rainstorms, you need to bring your dog inside to avoid bad weather and extreme temperatures.
Follow instructions from the vet if the dog needs special attention or has medication. Dogs may resist wearing cones, but they are there for good reason. If your veterinarian recommends something, it's because it's what's best for your dog. If you ignore recommendations, your dog could have some major health issues.
When you train your dog, don't allow your efforts to be diminished by an excess of trainers. Having multiple people train your dog will only confuse him. One person should be the trainer, and everyone else can act to reinforce good behaviors.
Anytime your dog has an accident in your home, remove any trace of it. Utilize professional grade cleaners and odor removers as well. If you still smell dog waste, the dog could be emptied to return to the scene of the crime and repeat the actions.
You probably know that it takes a lot of work to own a dog now, but you can probably see that it is worth it. Still, most owners don't know exactly what to do to help their pet remain happy and healthy. What you learned here has provided you a wealth of knowledge that you can always use to your advantage.