Owning a dog is a serious matter. It is up to you to provide a healthy and loving environment for your dog. By learning all that you can about being a good dog owner that knows what they're doing, you can be sure that things go well for you and your dog.
Being a dog owner can be very costly. Every dog is going to need supplies, good food, and will also need medical care. After all is said and done this could cost about $800 or more. Emergency vet care is very expensive, in some cases thousands of dollars, so you might want to consider purchasing pet health insurance.
Be careful of the ingredients in many flea treatments. Several have cancer causing ingredients, and they can be especially harmful to young children. Talk to your veterinarian about the safest options, and don't let your kids near the dog while you're doing a treatment.
Keep your dog on leash any time he leaves your fenced yard, regardless of his gentle nature and good behavior. Wild animals could grab their attention, causing them to run into dangerous territory, or they may have an unpleasant situation involving other dogs and people. Your dog's safety and behavior are your responsibility.
Talk to your vet about what kinds of foods you might want to keep your pet away from. Depending on the type and age of dog, if you purchase the wrong kind of food it may upset their stomach. Use care when feeding your dog.
Carefully consider what your home is like when deciding on a breed of dog. If you are very active, think about getting a dog that will run with you. When you prefer to stay home, choose a small dog who doesn't need much outdoor time. Getting the right fit for you will give you both much more joy.
Your dog deserves to have quality dog food. The cheaper brands actually contain a lot of preservatives, additives and other ingredients that can compromise your dog's health. Use an animal advocacy group or some kind of consumer awareness group to see if you can get a list of good foods that are professionally recommended. Your dog will appreciate your research.
Offer rawhide rather than actual meat bones. Giving them actual bones may cause them to fall apart and become lodged in the digestive tract or oral cavity of your dog. Rawhide is very healthy and will help your dog develop some strong teeth. Never ever give him a real bone!
Do not force your dog to eat things. If your dog doesn't like a particular treat, don't make him eat it. When you have a new dog, take time to learn what they do and don't like.
These tips are meant to be used, so go do so! Make more of an effort to attend to your dog's health and happiness and you'll see a big improvement very soon. It makes no sense to get a dog if you do not plan to offer it a happy and healthy lifestyle.
