Want to rescue a dog? Or, would you prefer a pure bred dog from the breeder? Whether you are looking for a regular house dog or a show dog, either one will bring a lot of love into your life. Along with the love comes responsibility, so read through the article below to get an idea of what you are in for once you bring your new friend home.
It can be quite costly to own a dog. You need to pay for high quality food, regular vet care, and various supplies. This can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars each year. Getting emergency care from the vet is costly, so you may need to take a look at health insurance for your pet.
Be sure to keep all medications out of the reach of children and pets. Dogs can have very negative side effects from even small amounts of medications intended for humans. Call your vet as soon as possible if your dog swallows any pills.
Look into the flea treatments. Some medicines can put your children in harms way. Ask your vet for recommendations instead, and keep children away while you’re applying flea treatments.
Never take your dog away from home without a leash, even if he is well-behaved. You never know when something might spook him or distract him, leading to devastation. You will be responsible for your dog’s actions and safety.
If you want to keep your dog outside, build him or her a small shelter. Your dog could get sick if he is left outside in the cold or if the ground is wet. Keep your dog safe from precipitation and winds by providing him with a place that is spacious, with a dry floor.
Stop trying to force your dog to do things. If you have food or treats your dog does not like, leave it alone. Upon initially bringing a dog into the home, spend some time discovering its likes and dislikes.
Do not try to save money by choosing the cheapest dog food. After a while it’s good for the dog if it has been eating nutritious and high quality food. Although you may have to spend more money, you will ensure your dog’s diet is as healthy as possible.
Schedule a vet appointment for the new dog. As soon as your dog is brought to your home you should get an appointment scheduled with the vet. The veterinarian will set the dog up with the proper vaccinations and give it a routine health checkup. Unwanted puppies are a tragedy, so make sure your dog gets spayed or neutered.
Make sure that your dog is not kept outside your home all day long. 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.
If you have your heart set on a purebred dog, realize that the city pound may be somewhere to look. A lot of people give their dogs to the pound because they can no longer keep their pet for whatever reason. All you have to do is give your local shelter a call, and you can find out which breeds they have. This could help you save the life of a dog.
Be sure your dog wears identification so it can always get back home. One thing a lot of people do to be sure they get their dog back is they fit them with a collar that’s breakaway and has an ID tag. This tag needs to have the dog’s name as well as a way to contact you. Having your vet equip your dog with a micro-chip is a good idea.
Get politically active for your dog! Watch to see if there are any laws passed that affect your situation as the owner of a dog. Breed-specific laws are typically the result of media hype. You can be a great help by showing the local officials that responsible owners should have rights.
You can tell about your dog’s health by feeling is nose, but there are other factors, too. It is certainly possible for your canine’s nose to feel cold or wet even if an illness is present. Keep an eye on your pet’s health by monitoring their mood, appetite levels, and how much energy they have. These are the best ways to know how the dog is. A dog’s temperature is checked using a rectal thermometer.
When you start to train your dog, try out various reward systems. This will make things more fun and enjoyable for your dog. Use food as a positive reward when you start. Tug of war is a great game that you can play with your dog as a reward. A lot of dogs love to be petted and loved on.
Just because you have an outside dog, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t require the same attention as a dog that’s inside. If you leave him by himself and without stimulation for extended periods of time, he might decide to dig holes, bark loudly and excessively or chew on wires, ropes and hoses. The result might even be an aggressive pet. Give him lots of love and playtime to keep him happy.
You should now know what taking care of a dog entails, so get ready to take that purebred or mutt home! There will always be things you don’t know, so don’t stop learning. Think about joining online forums to talk about dogs with other dog owners. You will be learning throughout your life, so keep it going.
