Have Questions About Dogs? Get Your Answers Here
Have Questions About Dogs? Get Your Answers Here
Do you want a canine companion? Do you understand what you will be responsible once you take possession of your dog? There are many responsibilities which come with dog ownership, and they start the first time you bring your puppy home. This article will show you the ropes and get you ready for your new best friend.
Get your dog spayed or neutered. This helps reduce the probability of cancer and extends the life of your dog. Also, dogs that are fixed do not want to run away as much.
Your dog needs a stimulating environment if it is going to live a long and healthy life. Providing him or her with one is not really that hard. Simply make sure you take your dog for walks each day, and purchase a few toys that you and your pet can play with together.
Fight the urge to feed table scraps to your dog. That encourages him to beg and makes him not want his own food. Feeding table scraps to your dog could lead to digestive problems or obesity. To prevent temptation, have your dog separated from the area you eat in.
Schedule regular veterinary visits. Regular veterinary exams are extremely important for your dog's overall health - as with humans, it is important to catch any health problems early on. The vet will make sure that your dog is up to date on his vaccinations, and check for any other issues such as weight and dental problems or parasites.
If you are thinking about adopting a dog, try taking a couple of weeks off work so you can spend some time with your puppy and teach it a few good habits. Training your puppy and helping it get used to its new environment will be much easier if you are home.
Make sure your dog gets enough exercise. This is vital to the care of a happy dog. Many people don't bother to exercise their dog, thinking that walks are enough. Dogs are active creatures and need to play. Talk to your veterinarian about how much activity your dog needs, and make sure he gets it.
Proper leash walking is something that you should teach to your dog. He should be on your side, not behind or ahead of you, and he should know how to respond when told to "heel." If your pet is leash trained, it'll be safer, and you'll enjoy walks more as well. Even if your dog is sometimes walked on a loose leash, it should still know the command anyway.
No matter what kind of dog you may have, hang up a few "Beware of Dog" signs on your property. They are known deterrents to would-be burglars and can help protect you and your family. Just the sign alone indicates probable failure of any robbery attempt and a single bark will have them running away!
The knowledge you have gained from reading this article in full will prepare you to bring your dog to your home once and for all. Once you have everything you need and your home is puppy proofed, go and find yourself a best friend. You'll give them the life they deserve and provide yourself with endless hours of love.