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Is your dog constantly misbehaving? Is their daily behavior cause for concern? This may be the time to instill some rules around the house. Take a few minutes to review this article and learn more about being a good dog owner.
Take the time to make sure your house is dog-proofed. Prior to bringing the pooch home, check that the whole home is safe. Cleaning supplies and medications should be locked away, and any indoor trash cans need to be put in a cabinet. Some houseplants are toxic and need to be kept out of your dog’s reach.
Hugs are good, but kisses should be avoided. Dog kissing may be adorable, but dogs have awfully dirty mouths. Dogs rummage through trash, drink toilet water and lick other dog’s body parts. Many people believe that dogs’ mouths do not have as much germs as humans’ mouths. This is not the truth!
Just like humans benefit from an annual physical, your dog should see the vet at least once a year. Your dog will not be able to express its concerns, so make sure that you get it a checkup periodically. Getting your dog checked up on annually will allow you to know if there are any problems.
Your dog cannot speak, so you have to interpret non-verbal cues. If your dog seems hesitant when meeting another person or dog, do not force them to interact. This could cause your dog to get scared and to bite. Watch for these non-verbal hints and let the dog guide your actions.
If you’re training your dog, don’t just use verbal commands. Try hand signals as well. Using hand gestures can help your dog to recognize commands quicker. Always associate the spoken command and the hand gesture at first and choose the system that works best later on.
Talk to your vet about what kinds of foods you might want to keep your pet away from. Puppies can’t eat adult food and vice versa. Be careful when it comes to what you feed your pet.
Become acquainted with dog food labels and avoid buying based solely on cost. Over the course of the dogs life he will be much healthier if you stick to high quality food with plenty of nutritional value. You’ll have to pay more, but you can be certain your dog gets the right vitamins and minerals from good sources.
If your welcome a new dog into your family, immediately schedule a check up for him. Don’t wait to long to make your appointment. The vet will examine your dog. Also, be sure to speak to the veterinarian about neutering or spaying your dog. There are plenty of dogs already in the shelter, and you don’t want to increase that problem.
If you wish to get a dog, but don’t know if you can commit to it, try getting a foster dog. Shelters are full of animals who need a loving home, and there’s not room to hold all of them. Fostering will help you become adapted to the life of a pet owner, and you will be making a difference in the life of a dog at the same time!
Avoid matting on your dog’s paws by keeping the hair on them trimmed. Straighten the hair with a comb slightly before you do any trimming. If you’re uncomfortable trimming hair, you should probably have your dog groomed by a professional.
Make sure that your female dog is contained well if she’s in heat. This will help to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Male dogs can tell your dog is in heat when they are five miles away. This could also lead to unplanned pregnancy, or cause other dogs in the area to fight.
You should be an activist for your dog. Watch local legislation that passes to see how it regulates or restricts the rights and behavior of dog owners. These sort of things typically happen because of a few dogs acting out, or popular opinions about a certain breed. Talk to your local officials on behalf of responsible pet owners worldwide.
It is not unusual for a dog to step on sharp objects that leaves it with cuts. If you notice a small cut on your dog, use antiseptic to wash it, and then put a bandage around it. If it is a very deep cut, you should take him to a vet.
Whenever your dog has a house-training accident, be careful to clean it very thoroughly. Use a cleaner with professional strength, followed by any odor remover. If you leave the scent of his excrement behind, the dog may repeatedly soil the same exact area.
Are you aware that vitamins can harm your dog? If you feed your dog a balanced diet, there is no need to give him extra vitamins. Too many of some vitamins can damage joints, bones, and blood vessels. Talk with your veterinarian prior to starting a vitamin regimen with your dog.
Positive reinforcement is the best method of training a dog. The promise of reward or praise will motivate your dog more quickly and pleasantly than domination or force. Using humane training tactics will be healthier for the dog and will be much more effective. Treat your dog well during training and you’ll have better results.
You no longer need to worry about your dog misbehaving. You don’t have to sit back and watch the dog destroy your home or growl at everybody. The dog’s good behaviors is in your hands. The information you have learned can help prevent bad behavior from happening.
