It's never going to be easy all of the time when you own a dog. Owning a dog is a bit like raising a child: they need love and kindness, but also food, shelter, exercise, hygiene, and health care. Can you expect to be a responsible dog owner without educating yourself on the topic, though? Reading this article is a great start.
Yearly physicals help you and yearly vet checks help your dog. Even the best dog owner will find it difficult or impossible to detect the first signs of health troubles, like a tooth infection or arthritic joints. You need to go to the vet every year to get a check up.
Your dog can not tell you what is wrong, so just listen to his body language. Don't force interaction with other pets or people if your dog is showing reluctance. It could end up with someone getting bit. Always be on the look out for non-verbal hints. If you see them, allow your dog to guide you in the next action you will take.
When you take your dog on vacation with you, get a snapshot of them for your phone. If they're separated from you, then you'll have a current photo that you can easily access and show others or to download for "lost" flyers.
If you have an outdoor pet, build a shelter for him or buy one that is ready to use. If his feet are wet, extreme temperatures can be stressful and bad for his health. Give your dog a shelter that is spacious and dry, and your dog will be protected from the hard winds and dampness.
Always correct any bad behavior you see in your dog as soon as you see it. The longer you ignore it, the more difficult it will be to correct it later, and the consequences could be dire. You don't want to be the owner of a dog who hurts someone, so get a handle on it now.
Speak with a vet as soon as possible if you are adopting a dog. Dogs from pounds are exposed to more illnesses than others. Error on the side of caution and get your dog all its shots.
Avoid matting on your dog's paws by keeping the hair on them trimmed. Try to comb the hair to straighten it before trimming. If you lack the confidence to attempt this, take the dog to a professional groomer.
Be certain a lost dog can be returned to you by giving him some identification. One way to do this is to always have your dog wear a collar, and ensure that the collar has an identification tag attached. Make sure that a current telephone number and the dog's name are included on the tag. Another good thing to do would be to have a micro-chip put in your dog.
Now you have this amazing advice in your head, ready to use. Cultivating a solid base of knowledge on the subject will make you into a more responsible, reliable dog owner. Put these tips into practice, and you and your dog will be better off.
