Owning a dog is a big responsibility. You're the one in charge of your pet's health and happiness. You need to educate yourself about caring for a dog in order to become a good owner. Start by reading this article for some useful tips.
Go on and hug your dog, but do not kiss him. While getting kisses from your dog may seem cute, your dog's mouth is extremely dirty. Dogs really get into everything, from toilet water to the neighbor's trash. It's an old wives' tale that a dog has a very clean mouth. This is absolutely a myth!
When you get a puppy, have him fixed at around two years old. Research has proven that this can reduce your dog's risk of cancer and make them healthier in general. Additionally, dogs who undergo this procedure are much less likely to wander off and maybe get into to an accident.
Use flea treatments with caution. Many of them contain ingredients that can put children at risk for cancer at a rate that is 1000 times more than what the EPA considers safe! Discuss any concerns with your veterinarian, and see if he has more holistic treatment options that might help to keep your pet free from fleas and your family safe.
Your dog deserves to have quality dog food. The brands that are cheaper have preservatives, additives, as well as other things that aren't good for your dog. Find a trusted group that offers a list of healthy dog food. Food that is healthy will benefit your dog.
Find out what is going on that is causing your dog to act out. Ignoring it can help your dog to establish lifelong bad habits. The longer you wait to address the problem, the worse the problem will become. You don't want to be the owner of a dog who hurts someone, so get a handle on it now.
A daily brush will do much more than prevent your dog from constant shedding. Brushing daily will give them a shiny, beautiful coat. When you brush your dog, the oils on their skins are spread, creating skin that is soft, shiny, and healthy.
Keep the nails on your dog trimmed. If you neglect your dog's nails, they will be in discomfort. Find some good clippers you can use to trim your dog's nails yourself. If this idea makes you uneasy, a groomer can easily attend to them for you.
If you have a lone dog think about getting another if he is feeling lonely. Dogs are, after all, pack animals; they usually like company that is like them. Match the two dogs by energy levels and temperament, and both dogs will be in heaven!
If your dog is a female and in heat, you need to be careful if you're not trying to get her pregnant. A male can pick up on her scent from as far as five miles away! There can be numerous problems, such as causing conflicts with neighbor's dogs, and getting impregnated with puppies that you don't know a lot about.
Get into pet politics! Make sure that you know all legislation that may be going through your local system. Some of it may be trying to regulate you as a dog owner. These legislatures generally arise from specific breeds or random cases of bad instances. Stand up for good dog owners and let local officials know your thoughts.
Remember that too many people training your dog can mess up the training. Different people do things different ways, and you can confuse your pup. You should have one person take charge of the training procedure, and then ask everyone else to follow their lead once the dog has learned a few simple commands. This allows for consistency that is least likely to confuse your pet.
Ensure you regularly wash water and food bowls. Your dog has no interest in dining from dirty bowls, nor would you. Make sure to wash out the bowls each day to disinfect them.
You have to keep your dog as clean as you are. They don't need to be bathed frequently, but they do need to be brushed daily. This keeps skin issues at bay, and also keeps your home clean.
If you have a dog in the house, you need to set aside a place it to relax and sleep. If your dog is in a crate during the night, do not let your dog in your bed. If you do let your dog sleep with you, be prepared to let him do it every night.
Consult with your veterinarian about the best brand of food to feed your dog. Certain dogs have health issues that point to a particular sort of diet. You want to ensure that whatever you feed your dog will not damage his health further. Your vet will recommend certain foods for feeding plans.
Your puppy might be cute when he eats your stuff, but it will not be cute if it is something you really like and they are full grown. The sooner you stop bad habits, the better. Reprimand your puppy right away so he learns what is not okay for him to do. This can help prevent future problems.
You now have some helpful information. Change your care habits to ensure that your dog is being properly taken care of. If you can't offer a dog the best life it can have then there really isn't a point in having a dog.