Are you unsure of what to feed your dog? If you give your dog the wrong food, it will show. Your dog will either be underweight or overweight depending on its diet. Table scraps are not good enough for the dog. Give your dog a proper diet using the following tips.
Groom your dog regularly. A dog requires constant grooming to keep his coat in tip top condition. Make sure that your dog is completely relaxed before you start the grooming session; this is especially important if he is excitable. Keep the session quite short (5 to 10 minutes at most) until he is comfortable with the idea of being groomed. Most importantly – be sure to praise him and offer a treat after a successful grooming session!
Avoid insisting that your dog socialize nicely with every other passing dog. Experts recommend that your dog be able to tolerate introductions through sniffing and eying with another animal, but say forcing the issue can create problems. Accept your dog’s lead when meeting and greeting other animals and allow for natural interaction.
If you are in the market for a new puppy, make sure you will have enough time to devote to his training. On average, you need to take a young dog outside to do his business eight times a day and that can take a lot away from your schedule. Training takes more time and patience than most people realize.
Never lose your temper or punish your dog if you find that they did something wrong. Negative reinforcement will simply make your dog scared, which will make it difficult for you to train them. Use positive reinforcement at all times to get your dog to cooperate when teaching him new things.
Take your dog to the vet regularly. This may seem like an added expense that you don’t need, but when you take your dog to the veterinarian, he can screen your dog for diseases and make sure he is in the best of health. This of course prevents problems down the road.
Don’t force your dog to eat something. If you got them a treat and they aren’t interested in it, don’t make them eat it. Find out your dog’s likes and dislikes and feed him accordingly.
Don’t be upset if your dog does not want to get dressed up. It’s becoming more popular to dress your dog in dog clothes, but some dogs just don’t like the feeling of having clothes on. If your dog does not relax after the clothing is on, you should remove the clothing to avoid your dog trying to remove it by itself.
If you’re on a tight budget at home, think carefully before getting a dog. They actually cost hundreds of dollars annually, but many people don’t realize this until they’ve actually forked over the money. Depending on the size and regular maintenance requirements of your new dog, you could be getting in way over your head and forced to part with him later so make sure beforehand.
Teach your dog the proper way to walk while on a leash. To properly walk your dog, he must remain directly at your side instead of behind or in front of you. Following this tip can make walking safer for your pet, and it can also make walks more enjoyable for both of you. This will also help to prevent your dog from choking themselves, when trying to pull ahead.
Take some time to trim your dog’s paw beds during every grooming session. This can help prevent mats. Before you trim it, use a brush to get it as straight as possible. If this process is something with which you are uncomfortable, have a professional groomer do the job.
Groom your dog frequently. Keep them clean and reduce the amount of hair they shed by brushing them frequently. When the weather warms up, start checking them for ticks and fleas daily. Dogs generally require a few baths a year. Before you give your dog a bath, make sure to cut or comb out mats and tangles. Rinse their coat thoroughly to avoid dirt sticking to any soap residue.
Dogs, like humans, can develop health problems, and because of this they should be taken to see their vet at least once eat year. This can help to diagnosis any health issues early on, reducing both the extremity of the illness and the cost to fix it. Do whatever you can to follow this rule of thumb strictly.
If your dog seems unhappy and is alone a lot, consider getting a second dog. Dogs are pack animals by their very nature and usually prefer the company of their own kind. Choose another dog whose energy level and temperament matches your dog’s, and you should have a good match.
It is a common occurrence for a dog to get a cut after stepping on glass or other debris. Wash the cut with antibacterial soap, dry it thoroughly, and leave it to air dry unless it is bleeding or the dog is licking it. See a vet if they have a deep cut.
Make sure that you buy an appropriate sized collar for your dog in order to ensure its health and safety. If the collar is too lose, it may become snagged on something. If the collar is too tight, it may restrict the dog’s breathing ability. Allow for a two finger space between the dog and the collar.
Keep your dog safe from dangerous chemicals. Similar to kids, cleaning chemicals and any car maintenance substances are harmful to them. These substances are poisonous, so if a dog gets any on them or ingests any, they could get burned, become very sick, or die. Store your hazardous chemicals in a place that your dog can’t get to, or keep them in a closed area using a child-proof lock.
Having read this article, you should now have an idea of what your dog should be eating. Dogs are different from humans, and must have a diet that is specialized for their body and their needs. When your dog eats the right kinds of food, it will be happy and healthy.