It takes more than feeding and petting to care for a dog. Your dog needs love and care all day. Want to get a better idea of how your dog needs to be cared for? The article below has the information you need to become the best dog owner ever.
If you are looking for a great family pet, but are on a budget, consider rescuing an animal.You can get one at a local shelter for minimal costs and the dog will come with a clean bill of health and all his shots. If you are interested in a specific breed, contact a rescue group specializing in only those pooches.
Take care to keep your dog cool while traveling during the summer by car. Even with your air-conditioning on, the dog may become over-heated in his pet carrier. A simple and low-cost countermeasure is freezing a few gallon jugs of water and placing them near him where he can curl up and cool off.
Brushing your dog’s teeth is important, but it is not easy. If your dog is resisting, once a day simply lift their lips and use your finger to rub their teeth lightly. Do it quickly at first, and then begin to draw out the time you spend performing this action. This will help them get use to the process. After that, you can begin using an actual brush and toothpaste.
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Keep in mind that dogs are expensive. Good quality dog food and medical care can cost between $700-1000 a year. Also, should an emergency arise, this can cost thousands so you might consider pet health insurance.
If you notice your dog gets dry skin in the winter, you probably need to brush him or her more often. Doing so will get rid of old fur and help get their oil glands working properly. Try brushing once in the morning and once in the evening to see if it makes a difference for your pet.
Solid leash training is a must for any dog. Your dog should walk beside you, not lag behind or run ahead, and should obey the command “heel.” Your dog will be safer in this position, and you’ll both enjoy your walks more this way. Even if you’re using a loose leash from time to time, you should still train your dog so that it understands when you issue that command.
Your dog needs healthy teeth and you should brush them regularly. This helps to prevent dental problems and gum disease, but also prevents other illnesses. Infections in the mouth can spread to other areas of the dog’s body, like the kidneys and the heart. Pet stores sell special toothpaste for dogs.
Take some time to learn about dog training and dogs in general so that you can master the subject. You can reward your dog’s loyalty by returning the love and being a great friend. Let’s say you were the dog–it would make you happy to know your owner has researched everything about you.