Dogs have an uncanny ability to provide unrivaled levels of loyalty and friendship to their human counterparts, and are therefore a valuable part of the lives of many. The key, though, is for any dog owner to learn everything they can about what dogs need and what helps them live their best possible lives. The article that follows is a terrific resource for helping them do that.
Avoid insisting that your dog socialize nicely with every other passing dog. Experts recommend that your dog be able to tolerate introductions through sniffing and eying with another animal, but say forcing the issue can create problems. Accept your dog’s lead when meeting and greeting other animals and allow for natural interaction.
Much like people in the United States, many dogs are overweight. Having a few extra pounds on their frame can lead to a number of health problems, like cancer or diabetes. Many owners simply overfeed their pets. Talk to your veterinarian about how many calories your dog needs each day so you can adjust their meals accordingly.
Don’t give in to the urge to feed your dog food meant for humans. Doing so teaches it to beg and ruins its appetite for its regular food. Table scraps can be bad for his health as well, leading to obesity and digestive disorders. Make your dog stay out of the room when the family is eating.
Talk with a vet about which foods are good for dogs and which ought to be avoided. A lot of the time a dog might not want to eat some brands of dog food, this might make them sick. Choose dog food adapted to the age of your puppy and use common sense when determining which foods are healthy for your dog.
Do not overlook your dog’s bad behavior. The longer you ignore it, the more difficult it will be to correct it later, and the consequences could be dire. If your dog is not under control, he could end up hurting you or someone else.
Make sure that your dog’s nails are trimmed weekly. Long nails cause huge amounts of pain. You can trim them yourself with a pair of store bought clippers. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this on your own then you can hire a groomer to do it for a little bit of money.
Dogs love to eat grass and other plants. When you’re outside, this may not be much of a problem, but if you maintain houseplants indoors, chances are they are poisonous to dogs. Before bringing a dog into the home, make sure all your houseplants are well out of reach of a dog who may be tempted by a green tasty treat.
It is hard to dispute the critical role dogs play in the lives of countless individuals. From providing companionship to offering legitimate service for the disabled, dogs can do amazing things to improve the daily experiences of humans. The piece above has hopefully offered some useful insights as to how any dog owner can facilitate this type of beautiful relationship.