Owning a dog carries a lot of serious responsibilities. You have to make sure you raise a happy and healthy dog. As with many other life skills you want to cultivate, solid education is the key to being a successful dog owner. Check out the tips below and expand your fund of canine care knowledge.
Your dog needs annual medical exams. 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.
In addition to verbal commands, employ a variety of hand signals when training your dog. Your dog may have a better time understanding you when you use manual signals. Find out the way that your dog prefers and use it.
Your daily lifestyle should help guide your choice of dog breed. If you jog a lot, buy a dog that likes to run, and not something like a toy poodle. If you much prefer to be at home, a small dog that enjoys a lot of inside time is an ideal choice. Avoiding a mismatch means both of you will be happier.
Do not force your dog to eat things. If your dog doesn’t like a particular treat, don’t make him eat it. You need to find out what your dog does and does not like.
Teach your dog the proper way to walk while on a leash. He ought to be next to you rather than ahead or behind. He should also respond to the “heel” command. This will ensure that your pet is not too far ahead or behind you. Understanding that command is great, even if you choose to still walk with a loose leash periodically.
If you are considering a dog but aren’t sure, why not trying providing a good foster home for a dog? Thousands of animals are living in shelters, which is less than ideal for many dogs, while they wait for a chance to be adopted. 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!
Make sure that your dog is not left alone outdoors all day. Dogs are social creatures and need interaction with others. If there is only one dog, he may become lonely. Also, they could be bitten by ticks, hurt by other animals or even abducted.
The information here is for you to put into practice, so get started! Make an effort to provide your dog with a good environment, quality food and plenty of affection. There is no point in owning a dog if you’re not willing to make their life the best it can be, after all.