Having a dog is a great joy, but this isn’t so with every dog. You’ll need to know a few things if you want to have fun with your dog. The following tips give you a good idea of the responsibilities you will have.
Getting a dog is going to cost you some money. Food, supplies and vet bills can add up to $1,000 or more per year. Pet health insurance can help; although you will pay a monthly or yearly fee, you will often be covered if a big medical emergency occurs for your pet.
Be sure your house is dog-proofed. It is important that you try to foresee any problems your dog might run into prior to bringing him home. Make sure all of the medicine is put away and the cleaning supplies are up and safe. Certain common house plants are toxic, so remove them or keep them out of reach.
Even if your dog is well-behaved, never leave home without putting him on a leash. There are a number of distractions that could cause your dog to run off into a dangerous situation. Your dog’s actions and safety is your responsibility.
Try using hand signals when training a dog instead of just using verbal commands. It may be easier for your dog to learn commands if they see a visual signal. Try both ways and see which is best for your dog.
If you’re trying to figure out what type of dog you might want to get, take a look at your lifestyle. Joggers should get a high energy dog, for example. If you are a homebody, a small dog that lounges around a lot is a good fit. Avoid a mismatch if you want both of you to be happy.
If you are not sure of how much to feed your dog each day, talk to your vet about it. It is important to follow guidelines for the sake of your dog’s health. Speak to the vet about what makes sense for your dog.
The daily brushing of your dog’s coat is beneficial, in more ways that just stopping constant shedding. Brushing every day can also help your dog to have a shiny and beautiful coat. When you brush the coat, oils from the skin are distributed throughout, and this is makes the coat soft and silky.
It’s very important for your dog to get the correct amount of exercise. Your dog has to be worked out to stay happy and healthy. Regardless of the activity you choose, whether it is a game of fetch or a walk around the neighborhood, both of you will benefit. This will create a great bond with your dog when performing these activities.
Being a good dog owner calls for a careful mixture of wisdom, insight, and patience. It’s not a simple task choosing a puppy and it magically becomes that great loving companion. You have to do your part, too. Improve the quality of your pet’s life (and your own!) by making use of the handy advice you’ve received here.