A dog can be a fantastic member of the family. They are great with children and can teach a lot of valuable life lessons in their own way. In fact, a dog becomes like another child, one you take care of just the same way. And your children will love it just as much as you do. However, dogs are very different from children and require different things in life. So, you need to ensure that you are doing the right thing for your dog. Otherwise, it may cause health issues and suffering as a result. So, to help you out, we have come up with a few ideas to get you started in looking after that canine family member.
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Training
Training is essential for dogs. If you have children, then this is even more of a requirement. An untrained dog can be dangerous. And the last thing you want is to have to put the dog down; what kind of lesson is that to your children? If you have never had a dog before, or have never had a breed like the one you have now, then you may need to get some advice in training. Ensure you start training from a puppy, too, don’t leave it until it is too late. You may even be better off taking it to an obedience school. If you are struggling, then a muzzle is a much-needed accessory. Training can prevent your dog from getting repetitive strain injuries, such as getting over-excited and hitting its shoulder on the dog every time you open it. Training enables your dog to go out ion to the world and explore more. An untrained dog becomes a sort of pariah, and that is good for no one.
Exercise
Dogs not only love walks, but they need them. They have to get out of the house usually twice a day to get some exercise. When it comes to your breed, you should read up and get advice on how much exercise your breed needs. Dogs are not all equal. Without adequate exercise, your dog can become overweight and even depressed. Yes, depressed.
Nutrition
Food is obviously essential. But you need to make sure you are giving your dog a varied diet. You may not believe it, but dogs are actually omnivores. They do not eat just meat. They eat a range of foods, including vegetables. When it comes to offering the right nutrition, perhaps have a word with your vet to ensure that you are providing the right mix of vitamins and minerals. Read the label of the food you buy. Some dog foods offer cheap meat substitutes that do not have the right amount of protein in them. The first ingredient should be the sort of meat that is in the dog food. So, be aware. Also, do not offer your dog too many treats, and avoid giving it human food. Some foods are actually harmful to your dog, like onions. So beware.
Vaccinate Your Dog
Like humans, dogs can be vaccinated against a range of preventable illnesses. You should get yourself registered with a vet and ensure that your dog is up to date with its vaccinations. Also, ensure that you regularly treat your dog for fleas and worms. Another thing to check for is ticks. You can buy ointments that prevent them from burrowing into your dog. But you need to check anyway. Buy a simple tick removal tool just in case they do burrow in. If you catch it early enough, you may prevent Lyme disease or other illnesses from being transferred. Another thing to consider is if you don’t check for ticks, and you have a family, ticks can walk off your pet and then bite one of your family members instead!
Listen to Your Dog
No dogs can’t talk, but they have their own way of communicating with us. If you want to take the best sort of care of your dog, then you need to become aware of its noises, habits, and moods. This is generally one of the quickest ways to realize that something is wrong. If they suddenly start making different noises from usual or use different combinations of sounds, like growling and whimpering, then your senses should be alerted to some issue. Additionally, take note of how your dog scents. If they start changing their habit here, then this is another indication that something is amiss. It is up to you to take care of your pet and grow accustomed to its forms of communication.
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Last Updated on 6 months by Lavania Oluban