Does your dog behave badly and have no manners? Do you find that your dog seems to gravitate to your favorite belongings as chew toys? Perhaps you need to learn what you can do to teach your dog not to do those things. In this article you will find the information you need to turn your dog into a well behaved family member.

Being a dog owner requires a financial commitment. You will have to spend between $700 and $1000 a year to cover food and medical expenses. You should also look into purchasing a good pet health insurance policy to avoid high medical bills.

Beware of flea treatments for your dog. A lot of these medications have ingredients that can be harmful to children and can cause cancer. Ask your vet about alternative treatments that are more family-friendly, and be sure to keep small children away during applications.

You need to ask your vet to make sure the food you are feeding them is good. Keep in mind that a young puppy’s stomach is not ready for certain foods. Never give your dog any food you are not sure of.

Ask your vet the amount of food your dog needs daily. The amounts on the label might not apply in your dog’s situation. Your vet will give you personalized advice.

Don’t force your dog to eat something. If your dog doesn’t want it, don’t force him to eat it. It’s important to take your pets likes and dislikes into consideration and to not push them into anything unnecessary.

Make sure your dog always has trimmed nails. 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 you lack the confidence to do this job on your own, a pet groomer will usually do it at a low cost.

Your vet will provide sound advice regarding medication or special needs for your pet, so ensure you pay heed to their words. There’s a reason dogs have to endure uncomfortable situations like a cone-collar! Recommendations that a vet makes are for the good of your pet and if you don’t adhere to these things it could be bad for your pet.

Let your dog feel the love that you have for him. Like a lot of things, people notice bad behavior more often that good behavior. Your dog will develop more behavioral problems if you adopt this attitude. Try keeping track of how often you praise and scold your pet in a day. For every one negative thing, make sure you say five positive things as well. Dogs stand a much better chance of displaying good behavior if that is the case.

Be careful with your female dog when she is in heat, if you don’t want her getting pregnant. Males can smell a female’s scent from a full five miles away. Your dog could cause some fights and you will be responsible for finding new homes for the puppies if your dog gets pregnant.

Make political decisions which will help your dog! Keep your eye on potentially-restrictive legislation regarding dogs. This is just motivated by some bad apples or a certain breed. Talk to your local officials on behalf of responsible pet owners worldwide.

When the weather gets warmer, begin checking your pup for ticks and fleas daily. If you find fleas, use a flea comb. If the infestation is bad, there are treatments available. Speak with your vet about which choices are best.

When you are snacking, it may be tempting to share with your dog. Certain foods are okay for this, but some foods are not good for dogs. Never give foods like grapes, chocolate or caffeine to a dog. These foods can hurt your dog’s health.

Before committing to a dog, consider the kind of life you currently have, from how often you vacation to the sort of events you engage in. You may want to get a dog, but there are lots of hard responsibilities that are involved in being a great dog owner.

Try to always be firm. Dog owners at times think it’s fine to let them destroy toys every now and then, or to sneak food to them sometimes. This happens even more with really cute dogs! However, if you’re firm with the animal, it won’t have as many accidents. For example, you might not care that your dog begs for food from time to time, but eventually that dog will think it can just jump on the table and start eating whatever is on it.

Remember, your dog isn’t a human. You may want to train him for a long time, but his attention span isn’t that long. Train for a couple of minutes at a time to ensure you don’t turn him off training.

Your dog should be as clean as you are. You don’t need to bathe your dog every day, but he needs to be cleaned weekly. This will help to prevent any skin issues, and will keep your home clean as well.

If you have kids, then you’re aware of how much their lives revolve around a routine. Dogs are similar to kids in this way. Pets tend to get crabby if they cannot predict or anticipate how their day will go. How they feel will affect how they behave. This is why they need time set aside to eat, romp and train.

Dogs don’t have to exhibit unacceptable behavior. No longer do you have to sit by and watch your dog destroy everything in it’s path or growl at everyone that comes it’s way. Your dog’s good behavior lies squarely at your feet. Apply what you now know and demonstrate proper behavior to your pet.