Do you currently own a dog or have you owned one in the past? If you've already experienced the joy of dog ownership, you know how great its benefits can be. But like everything else in life, having a little bit of knowledge can go a long way to make owning a dog more rewarding. The following article breaks down the different techniques that you must learn.
Consider the situation before allowing a dog to kiss your face. Kisses seem nice, but dogs have very dirty mouths. Dogs go through garbage cans, toilet bowls, and love smelling and licking specific body parts of some other dogs. There is a belief that the mouth of a dog is cleaner than that of a human. It certainly isn't the truth.
When you get a puppy, have him fixed at around two years old. Statistically speaking, dogs who are "fixed" live longer lives and are less prone to cancer. It also keeps dogs from humping, running away from home or becoming violent at puberty.
It's a good idea to have your regular dog training sessions in your own yard or at home. This prevents some of the problems that are associated with training around a lot of other people. This will make it more difficult for your dog to pay attention.
Ask your vet what kinds of foods you should feed to your dog and what to stay away from. Following his advice on the different foods for different stages of your dog's life can avoid sickness and stomach upset. Use care when feeding your dog.
Carefully consider what your home is like when deciding on a breed of dog. If you jog a lot, buy a dog that likes to run, and not something like a toy poodle. If you are more of a homebody, a smaller, less active dog who enjoying being pampered is the better choice. By selecting the right dog breed, both you and your dog will be more content.
A dog that spends a lot of time outside should have a warm and safe shelter in case it is needed. If your dog happens to get his feet wet for a long period of time in cold temperatures, it can cause health complications. Make certain your dog house has a good floor that keeps your dog up off the ground and dry.
Correct your dog's bad behavior immediately. If you ignore any issue with your pet then later on it's going to be harder to train it to obey because it doesn't know any better. This could lead to huge problems down the road.
You need to trim your dog's nails regularly. If they start to curl, your dog may feel a lot of pain. It is easy to keep nails trimmed with simple implements available at pet stores. If you'd prefer, you can have the groomers trim your pup's nails.
As the beginning of this article discussed, owning a dog is very rewarding. It can be even better when you are well informed about dogs. After reading the previous article, you now should understand better the joys of dog ownership. Use the tips given so you can enjoy all your time with your canine friend.
