A dog needs a lot more than just food and attention. It needs constant attention throughout the day. How can you learn more about how to care for a dog? The following information will teach you what you need to know to properly care for your dog.
Getting a dog is going to cost you some money. Good quality dog food and medical care can cost between $700-1000 a year. Getting emergency care from the vet is costly, so you may need to take a look at health insurance for your pet.
When you have medications of any sort, keep them where your dog cannot get to it. Your dog could have a heart attack or a seizure if it swallows some pills. If your dog does ingest some of your medication, get in touch with your veterinarian immediately.
Make use of hand signals when training your dog versus relying only on verbal commands. Dogs tend to respond better with these additional types of signals instead of always relying on voice commands. Try using both ways with your dog to see which works best.
Think about your life and then find a dog breed that will fit in well with your habits. For example, if you live an active lifestyle it is probably best for you to find an active dog instead of a little dog. Similarly, if you’re quiet and stay at home, small dogs might be better suited to you. Getting the right fit for you will give you both much more joy.
If you want to get a pet from a shelter, find a vet who can examine your new dog. Dogs from shelters might have been exposed to viruses or might already be sick. Have your dog checked over and given vaccinations as soon as possible.
Plenty of physical activity is one of your dog’s necessities. Dogs require metal and physical exercise to ensure a happy puppy. Whether you decide to take the dog for a walk or if you’re just playing fetch, it will benefit both of you. Besides just getting some exercise, you’ll be creating a bond between you and your dog.
If you want a dog but don’t know if you can handle the responsibility, start out as a short-term foster home. There are plenty of animals sitting in homeless shelters who desperately need a home due to over-crowding and limited shelter resources. Fostering dogs will give them a wonderful home – who knows, maybe you will decide to be a fulltime dog owner!
You might find a pure breed dog at the pound. Unfortunately there are many people out there who simply cannot care for their dogs anymore and they end up at the local pound. Call the pound to see what they have available. It could mean you save a dog in the process!
Give your dog a lot of love. As it usually happens, many times owners focus more on bad behavior rather than good ones. This could lead to trouble down the line. Give your dog positive reinforcement every time they do something right. Your dog is going to behave much more if you do that.
Your dog needs exercise and entertainment. You can have him fetch things like the paper, or perform other household tasks. This gives him a job to do and he’ll feel fulfilled as a result.
The more you know about your dog, the better off you’ll both be. This means that you will give your dog the life he deserves for being a loyal friend. If you were in his position, wouldn’t you like your owner to invest time into learning about you?
