Dogs require more care than just feeding and petting. Dogs need a lot of attention. How can you be sure of what your dog needs? This article has lots of new information about dogs for you to learn.
It's good to give hugs, but avoid giving kisses. Dog kissing may be adorable, but dogs have awfully dirty mouths. Remember that dogs use their tongues to clean themselves, and they like to eat garbage and drink out of the toilet. It's a folk tale that dogs have cleaner mouths than humans. This is completely wrong!
Because dogs cannot speak to you, it is important to learn their non-verbal cues. If they seem hesitant upon meeting up with other dogs or people, don't force interaction. This can lead to a bad ending for your dog, the other pooch or the other person. Keep eye on non-verbal clues and look toward your dog for your next move.
When you have to train a dog, your home and/or yard is the right place to do it. This prevents some of the problems that are associated with training around a lot of other people. Being around others can cause distractions, meaning it is more difficult for your dog to master basic commands.
Rather than merely using verbal commands, it is wise to utilize hand signals when training your dog. This is a very effective way to communicate with your dog. Every pet is different though, so use a combination of both verbal and visual cues and then determine what works the best.
Do not buy cheap food items for your dog in an effort to save money. It is vital to give your dog the best quality food. This may mean that you have to pay a higher price, but you will know your dog is receiving all of the nutrients he needs.
Demonstrate plenty of affection to your dog. It's typical that dog owners will pay much more attention to bad behavior than good behavior. If that persists, your dog may begin to act inappropriately to get your attention. Try keeping track of how often you praise and scold your pet in a day. For every one negative thing, make sure you say five positive things as well. Dogs stand a much better chance of displaying good behavior if that is the case.
Make sure you are providing your dog with the opportunity for plenty of physical exercise as well as staying mentally active. Teach him to get the newspaper and do other helpful things around the house. Many dogs were originally bred to work, and will get frustrated if you do not give them a job to do.
When you train your dog remember that the end result might be ruined if too many people try to take charge. Your dog might become confused by different methods, different vocal commands and different ways of offering praise or punishment. One person should be the trainer, and everyone else can act to reinforce good behaviors.
Investing a little time in self-education can pay off big dividends during your time as a dog owner. Your dog deserves to be well taken care of and loved by a good owner. After all, if you were to become a dog, you'd probably want to have an owner that knew all about you.
