Handy Tips About Correctly Caring For Your New Dog

TIP! Spay or neuter your dog. Research shows that taking this simple action can help your pet live a longer life, as it can reduce the risk of cancer.

Dogs are one of the best kinds of pets to have. They can give you love and happiness. Although, it is best to gain as much knowledge and understanding about dogs in order to give them the best possible care. This article can provide you with a great start for your growing canine knowledge.

TIP! Make sure you are informed of what flea treatments you are using for your dog. Many have ingredients that may put kids at risk for various cancers over 1000 times what the EPA may consider to be safe.

Make sure your home is dog-proof. It should be perfectly safe before you bring a dog in. Make sure anything toxic is put up. Some houseplants are toxic and need to be kept out of your dog’s reach.

TIP! Training your dog should be done in your yard or inside your home. You shouldn’t train your dog where many other people are present.

Give your dog hugs, but don’t kiss him. In theory, giving a dog a kiss is cute, but realize that the mouth of a dog is generally very dirty. Dogs root around in garbage pails, drink enthusiastically from the toilet bowl and love to lick and smell certain body parts of other dogs. It is an old wives’ tale that dogs have cleaner months than humans. This couldn’t be farther from the truth.

TIP! No matter how nicely your dog behaves, never take it off your property unless it is on a leash. Wild animals can get his attention and cause him to run out into the street, or a provocation could startle him and cause unpleasantness with other dogs or people.

Always neuter or spay your pet. Research has proven that this can reduce your dog’s risk of cancer and make them healthier in general. Additionally, dogs who undergo this procedure are much less likely to wander off and maybe get into to an accident.

TIP! Your dog deserves to have quality dog food. The cheaper dog foods have tons of additives and preservatives which aren’t the best for your dog.

Be wary of the flea treatment you’re going to use on your dog. Some treatments contain dangerous ingredients that may put your kids at risk for diseases like cancer. Find out about healthy treatments that can keep you and your pet safe.

Table Scraps

TIP! If your dog spends time outside, he should have a good house. You can purchase one or build one yourself if you are handy.

Resist the urge to give your dog table scraps. You will spoil him and his appetite and set up begging behavior. Your dog may develop digestive problems and become fat if you feed it table scraps. Insist that your dog wait away from the table during family meals to avoid temptation on his part – and yours.

TIP! Avoid pushing things that your dog dislikes onto him. If your dog doesn’t want it, don’t force him to eat it.

Train your dog indoors or in the backyard. Avoid training your dog where many people are present. Being around others can cause distractions, meaning it is more difficult for your dog to master basic commands.

TIP! Make sure that your dog’s nails are trimmed weekly. Once they get to a length where they are curling under, this is likely to cause your dog some pain.

Talk to your vet about which foods you should be feeding your dog. Sometimes you’ll find that a puppy can’t eat certain brands of foods because it will make their stomach upset. Use care when feeding your dog.

TIP! Should you visit a shelter to adopt a dog, take the animal to the vet as soon as possible. You never know what condition the dog might be in.

Talk to your vet about your dog’s food portions. Though some folks feed whatever the package recommends, those guidelines are not always appropriate and can lead to overfeeding. Speak with a vet to see what you should be feeding your dog according to its needs.

TIP! To prevent the hair around a dog’s paws from matting, you should keep it trimmed. Before you trim it, use a brush to get it as straight as possible.

Make sure you provide your dog with affection on a regular basis. Most of the time you are paying attention to the very bad things they do and overlooking the good. This can cause issues later. You should ensure you give your dog positive reinforcement. This increases the chance that your dog will repeat the good behavior rather than the bad.

TIP! Certain dog breeds are prone to particular health issues, so find out what is typical for the type of dog you have. Research the heritage of your pup and learn how to prevent any common problems.

Get your dog spayed, and if you have a female in heat, take extra care that she does not become pregnant. A male canine might sense her from a distance of five miles. This can lead to aggression among other males, and you certainly don’t want to be left with an unexpected litter of pups.

TIP! You need to make sure if your female dog is not fixed and is in heat that she doesn’t come into contact with a male dog so she does not get pregnant. Males can pick up the scent of a female dog in heat, and this can even happen from several miles away.

ID your pet. A popular way to ensure your dog gets back home safely is to make them use a breakaway collar that has an identification tag. This tag needs to contain all of your relevant contact details and the name of your dog. If a tag doesn’t feel like the right option for your dog, consider a microchip.

TIP! Be sure your dog wears identification so it can always get back home. A common way to find a lost dog is to ensure it has a collar with an ID tag.

Dogs provide people with lots of love that is simply impossible to match. However, in order to maximize your relationship with your dog, it’s necessary to know all you can about them. This piece has provided useful tips for dog owners everywhere. Use these tips to ensure you reap all the benefits of dog ownership.