Being a dog owner can bring you a lot of happiness, but it can also bring you a lot of stress. To get the most out of your relationship with your dog, you’ll need to know a few things. This article will tell you all about dog ownership.
Make your home safe for your dog. Prior to bringing your dog into your home, be sure that it is entirely safe. Do not have any pills out in the open and put all supplies in cabinets. Some houseplants are toxic and need to be kept out of your dog’s reach.
You should not kiss your dog. A dog has a very filthy mouth. Dogs root around in garbage pails, drink enthusiastically from the toilet bowl and love to lick and smell certain body parts of other dogs. There is an old wives’ tale that says that the mouth of a dog is cleaner than that of a human. This is absolutely a myth!
Take your dog to the vet at least one time a year for checkups. Because your dog is unable to speak, you may not know for sure when your dog feels sick or has an injury. Annual checkups can catch issues before they develop into something serious.
Spay or neuter your dog. A neutered dog will live longer and have less risks of developing cancer. It also keeps dogs from humping, running away from home or becoming violent at puberty.
If you have medication is your home, even if it is just over-the-counter medication, place it where your dog cannot access it. Many medicines that benefit you can be harmful or fatal to your dog. If, by chance, a dog does eat some of your pills, contact the vet right away.
Make use of hand signals when training your dog versus relying only on verbal commands. Your dog might learn commands more easily using this approach. Give both methods a try to find out which works best for your particular pup.
There is a lot to being a good, responsible dog owner. It’s not as easy as picking out a cute puppy and having it be the perfect companion. It requires responsibility on your own part too. Improve the quality of your pet’s life (and your own!) by making use of the handy advice you’ve received here.