Dogs may be man’s best friend, but that doesn’t mean they’re always easy to live with. From fleas to barking, from bedtime issues to toilet troubles, there are a number of problems that dogs can cause. Thankfully, the tips in this article will help you to take top notch care of your dog.
While hugging your dog will make both of you feel great, refrain from kissing him. It is unsanitary to be licked by a dog. Dogs rummage through trash, drink toilet water and lick other dog’s body parts. Many people believe that the human mouth has more germs than that of a dog – this isn’t true. This is not in the least bit true.
Always give your dog plenty of attention and affection. When your dog behaves properly, make sure you let the dog know you are happy and give them some affection. This will help reinforce the good behavior and the dog will try to behave in this manner for the positive attention..
It’s a great idea to keep a snap-shot of your dog handy (a digital pic on your phone is ideal) whenever you’re traveling with him. This will be helpful should he get lost.
If your young dog is teething and gnawing at everything, buy him a fun chew toy and keep it in the fridge. Not only does this provide him with a good alternative to your furniture, but the cold will help to make his gums feel better. Most younger dogs gnaw out of necessity, not poor manners.
It can be really helpful to incorporate hand signals with verbal commands when first training your dog. Your dog might learn commands more easily using this approach. Look at both options and see if one particular way works best.
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. He’ll learn that praise will come when he is good, too.
If you are struggling to get your pet to behave during a grooming session, apply positive reinforcement. With your words and your tone, praise your dog for anything little thing that he or she does well during the time you are working with him. Give him a treat when you are finished, so he begins to associate grooming with something good. You should turn your dog’s behavior around in no time!
When choosing a dog for your home, don’t forget to estimate the size it will be as a full grown adult. This is especially true if you have small children at home. Although a small puppy will be cute, it may grow into a large, one hundred pound dog. Do some research on the average adult size of the breeds you are considering.
When it is time to buy dog food, avoid buying the cheapest brand. After a while it’s good for the dog if it has been eating nutritious and high quality food. This may mean higher costs for a better brand, but your dog will get great nutrition from proper sources.
Providing foster care for a homeless dog can be a great way to see if you are suited to care 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 a dog could help the cause as well as find you a new companion you cannot bring yourself to return.
Send your dog to school! He will feel more comfortable knowing exactly what is expected of him and obedience school will help him learn that. It will also boost his self-confidence, and of course, make a more well-behaved pet of him. Call around locally and see if you can sign him up for a trial class and take it from there.
Prove to your canine friend that your love for him is true. Like many things in life, many owners pay much more attention to bad behavior than good behavior. That could mean trouble later with your dog. Instead, make sure you pet or praise your dog five times more often than you scold him. Dogs stand a much better chance of displaying good behavior if that is the case.
Although some dogs do well on the recommended amount of food to be given each day, some dogs need more or less. Instead of just going by what your food says to feed your dog, try to keep an eye on your dog’s body. If you notice that your dog is gaining a bit of weight, cut the food intake back a bit.
Shop carefully for a dog before you get a new one. Make sure that you have taken the time to research the breed and know how much exercise and grooming a new dog will need. If you take the time to choose carefully, you’ll find that you are naturally a better match to the dog and both of you are happier.
Make sure that you’re feeding your dog a good quality food. Most dog foods available at your grocery store are mainly made up of grains or corn. Instead of this, you should try to find a dog food that is mostly made of meat. Foods that are high quality can provide you with many benefits, such as having a healthy pup, less vet visits, and your dog’s coat will shine more.
If you are thinking about getting a dog, it is crucial that you choose a bread wisely. For instance, if you have children, large vicious dogs may not be a good idea. Or, if you live in an apartment, smaller breeds may be better. Pick a dog that works well with your lifestyle.
Caring for a dog can be extremely hard, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile. Thanks to the advice in this article, you can appreciate the best parts of being a dog owner without getting hung up on the bad. Take advantage of what you’ve learned here, and forge a better relationship with your pet.