Dogs have been part of households for a very long time. The relationship seems reciprocal, with both dogs and humans benefiting from the arrangement. It is your responsibility to care for your dog. Here are several tips that will help you keep your dog healthy.
Since humans don’t speak dog, we need to figure out how to communicate with our pets non-verbally. Hesitant dogs need to be taken out of fearful situations. This can lead to a bad ending for your dog, the other pooch or the other person. Look for non-verbal cues and follow what the dog is telling you.
If you have medication for you or a family member, be certain your dog cannot reach it. Getting into those pills could seriously impact your dog’s health and even cause death. If the dog does consume some medication, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Be wary when it comes to flea treatments. Several have cancer causing ingredients, and they can be especially harmful to young children. Discuss family-friendly alternative flea treatments with your vet. Be sure to store all flea treatments out of the reach of children.
When you begin training your pup, start in your yard or home. Training a dog in a very populated area is never a good idea. This may distract your pet which will make it a lot harder to teach it even basic things.
It can be really helpful to incorporate hand signals with verbal commands when first training your dog. When you give your dog these kinds of signals, he may learn faster. Try both ways and see which is best for your dog.
Try not to force your dog to eat things. If you offer him a treat he doesn’t seem to like, do not make him eat it. Get to know your dog better to figure out how you can make it happy.
If you decide to adopt a dog from a shelter, you should schedule an appointment with a veterinarian right away. Dogs from pounds are exposed to more illnesses than others. It is best to make sure your new puppy gets all the shots needed before you bring it home.
If your dog is lonely, consider a friend for him. Dogs are usually in packs by nature and this means they enjoy being around one another. Get dogs of similar energy levels and temperaments for the best results.
If your female dog is in heat, be very careful with her around other dogs or she may become pregnant. A male dog is able to smell her from up to five miles away. This may cause a fight or impregnation if a male dog spots her.
It is important that your dog is equipped with some kind of ID. 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 identification tag needs their name and your own contact information. The dog could also get a micro-chip implanted in it.
Take great care of your dog. Apply the tips you just read to make sure your dog is happy and in good health. Just implement a few of these tips into your household plan, and you will see some serious improvements in your dog very quickly.