Article written by-Vance Shelton
Are you concerned about your dog? The many responsibilities of dog ownership can be overwhelming to a lot of first-time owners. Some think they will always have a misbehaved pooch. The tips that follow will help you will all aspects of your dog's care.
You may know that chocolate is dangerous for dogs, but you may not know the specifics. Chocolate is dangerous because of the stimulants caffeine and theobromine. Baking chocolate is the most dangerous, with a high amount of stimulants. White chocolate contains the least amount of stimulants. Take you dog to vet if he ingests chocolate.
Talk to your vet about what foods are best for your dog. A lot of the time a dog might not want to eat some brands of dog food, this might make them sick. Use
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If your dog is still getting used to the grooming process, only work with him or her in short bursts. Groom for about five minutes and then stop and move on to another activity. Eventually, start adding on two or three minutes to your total grooming time until your pet is able to handle a full session.
When preparing to groom your pet, start the session off on the right foot by helping your dog relax. Spend a few minutes simply petting him, starting with the head and then rubbing the back, paws, belly and even tail. Once you feel your dog is happy and content, begin grooming him.
Your lifestyle can help determine what dog breed is a good match for you. If you love to run, seek out a pooch that will love to run alongside you. Likewise if you spend quite a lot of time at home you may want to get a dog that likes to be pampered a lot. Selecting the right dog will make you both happier.
Teach your dog to be trained, even if you don't plan on devoting a lot of time to special tricks. A dog needs to understand the basic hierarchy of the home and should be prepared to listen and learn throughout his life. Practice the basics like "sit" and "down" in the beginning and introduce something new every once in a while.
Teach your dog the proper way to walk while on a leash. He should know the "heel" command, stay close to you and not veer far ahead or drag behind. Doing this will not only be easier on you, but it will also keep your dog safe. When you dog understands the command to heel, you can relax occasionally and walk with a loose leash without having your arm pulled off.
Don't forget to trim your dog's nails regularly. Long nails can make him uncomfortable, cause injury to his feet and will ruin your floors. If he makes a "click" sound when he walks on hard wood or linoleum, that's a good indication it's time for a trim. Ask your vet to do it if necessary.
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Keep your dog in comfortable housing. They should be able to rest off the floor and away from drafts.
hop over to this website is a good choice or any covered shelter outside. Try placing a dog bed inside that has a warm blanket or a pillow inside. Wash the dog's bedding frequently.
The pads of your dog's feet can become dry and cracked, so make sure that you moisturize them regularly. Ask your veterinarian for advice on which product to use. Avoid using moisturizers that are intended for humans, because they can make the pads too soft and your dog may get hurt.
To discourage your dog from chewing everything in the house, combine equal parts of water, white vinegar and apple-cider vinegar in a spray bottle. Gently mist things like shoes and umbrella handles and this should repel your dog. If not, dab a little minty muscle ointment on the things he's prone to chomping and that should work for sure.
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It is very common for objects to get lodged in the pads of your dogs paws. Check them regularly to make sure that nothing is in there. If you see something, be very careful about taking it out, or it may become lodged even deeper. It is a wise to use tweezers for this.
Be careful to not over feed your dog. Obesity is a huge problem for animals these days due to the fact that many dog owners allow the animal to determine how much it eats each day. For the best results, and health of your dog, you should follow the instructions of your vet when it comes to feeding habits.
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Don't try to make your dog too many things at once. When you train your dog, remember his attention span isn't like yours. Try to train him only a few minutes at any time to make sure he doesn't end up disliking training and you don't get too frustrated.
Don't bathe your dog after you have applied a flea or tick medication. Some medications tout that they are waterproo, but they only mean against rain or swimming. They will largely wash away with a dog shampoo, rendering the treatment ineffective. If you must bathe the dog after a treatment, use a soap free shampoo.
Give some serious thought to the food you feed your dog. As in most things, some brands of dog food are much healthier than others. Interestingly, the best foods do not always cost a lot more than others. Your vet can advise you about the right food for your dog, taking his age, breed, and health into consideration. A good diet will help your pet live longer.
If your dog is kept outside, he still needs your attention as much as a dog that is kept inside. When left by himself all the time, he may pick up negative habits, such as biting, chewing, and barking. It can also lead to aggression. Your dog needs lots of play and love to ensure his happiness.
Since you asked for advice, and now have received it, the next step is to put it to use. That means truly implementing what you have learned and then enjoying the rewards it brings. When you see your dog sleeping peacefully, bliss on his face, you'll appreciate putting in the effort.