Do you have a dog that’s proving to be quite a handful? Some people tend to feel overwhelmed when it comes to a dog owner’s responsibilities. Others could have the feeling that they will never get their dog to behave. In the next few paragraphs, there are tips that can help you solve dog problems.
When you have medications of any sort, keep them where your dog cannot get to it. Just a few of your pills could literally kill your dog. If your dog gets to your medication, you should call your veterinarian right away.
Table Scraps
Fight the urge to feed table scraps to your dog. Doing so teaches it to beg and ruins its appetite for its regular food. Scraps can be terrible for his diet and lead to obesity and other health problems. Train your dog to sit far away from your dining room so that you and your family won’t be tempted to feed it table scraps.
In addition to verbal commands, employ a variety of hand signals when training your dog. These signals will help you keep your dog under control in a noisy environment. Always associate the spoken command and the hand gesture at first and choose the system that works best later on.
Whenever your dog performs a good action, such as sitting or staying, give it praise and rewards. This is to let the dog know that you want more of that behavior. It teaches the dog that he gets praised when he does what you’d like him to do.
Don’t ever give your dog bones. Real animal bones can chip and pose a danger to your dog’s digestive tract and mouth. Rawhide is healthy for their teeth and gums, so don’t share your bones, even if the dog wants it!
Take the time to correct bad behavior in your dog at the first sign of it. When you ignore this behavior, your dog thinks that it is okay. You need to make sure your dog is happy to keep them in control and so he does not hurt anyone.
You should always trim your nails. It can be quite painful for your dog if his nails start curling under. You can always do your own trimming with clippers from the store. If you lack the confidence to attempt this, take the dog to a professional groomer.
If you are going to get a dog from the shelter, make a appointment with the vet. Dogs from shelters might have been exposed to viruses or might already be sick. You need to ensure your dog gets their shots.
Be certain that your dog is getting sufficient exercise. Your dog has to be worked out to stay happy and healthy. You will enjoy the time you spend doing these things with your dog as well. This will create a great bond with your dog when performing these activities.
If you want to get yourself a new dog, but aren’t totally sold on the idea, you could try to get a foster pet. A lot of abused and homeless animals are in shelters waiting, but resources are slim. You can foster one to help out the cause and find out if you want to keep one!
You need to train the dog by yourself; more than one person might confuse him. Everybody does things differently, and a dog can be confused by having several commanders. Designate one person to be in charge of training and have others reinforce everything the dog learns by adhering to the same rules and respecting the process.
Stepping on sharp objects or glass is a common hazard for dogs waling outside. If you find a small cut on your dog, wash it with antiseptic fluid and bandage that area. If the cut seems deep, have a vet check it out.
Take your pet to the veterinarian regularly. He should visit once a year for tests, weighing and vaccinations. When you own a puppy, you may need to see a vet more often. Plus, you need to take immediate vet action if the dog shows any signs of injury or illness.
If you have a dog, your life may be busy. Looking after your dog is time-consuming but also very rewarding. However, you now have the information you need to get the job done. In a short period of time, your worries will be lifted.