Content by-Lyhne McIntyre

Dogs can be big or small. They can be furry or furless. They can be black, white, brown, red, or grey, or even a mixture thereof. They can be happy or sad, and which they are often falls upon your shoulders. If you want a happy, healthy dog, read on to find out how it is done.

Consider teaching your dog hand signals along with verbal commands. Consistency and practice are key to teaching a dog these non-verbal commands. Many owners get frustrated and resort back to verbal commands, but a well-trained dog should understand both. Try using only verbal commands when the dog is out of sight range, but when close up, only use the hand signals.

Your dog has teeth just like you, so it makes sense that he needs proper dental care. Invest in a dog toothbrush and brush his teeth often. Simply allowing the vet to do it at his regular checkups is not enough. You can also purchase treats that are specifically meant to help with your pet's teeth.





Avoid giving your pooch table food. Doing so teaches it to beg and ruins its appetite for its regular food. In addition, table scraps are simply not good for your dog's health. They can cause obesity and other problems. Make sure your dog does not sit near the table and beg, so you aren't tempted.

Keep your dog�s nails trimmed. If you neglect your dog's nails, they will be in discomfort. You can do this yourself using a pair of dog clippers from the pet store. If you lack the confidence to attempt this, take the dog to a professional groomer.

Brush your dog often, even if he's got short hair. It's good for his coat and skin and can alert you of possible issues like fleas, tics and eczema. The dog will also enjoy the attention and brushing him regularly will keep more of his fur from flying around the house and landing on your furniture and carpets.

Avoid trying to force things into your dog. If your dog doesn't want it, don't force him to eat it. When you are a new dog owner, it may take a while to figure out what he does and doesn't like.

To protect your dog in the event he is lost or stolen, have a microchip surgically implanted by your vet. These handy chips store data that can be retrieved by a shelter or animal officer and used to contact you. They are painless to put in and offer peace of mind for the pet lover!

If you have a new puppy in the house that suddenly begins chewing things, do not fear. This could be a sign that your puppy is teething. To keep puppy from chewing on your belongings, make sure that you have provided him with plenty of chew toys of his own.

There are a lot of factors that go into owning a dog. It's not difficult to love a puppy when you see them for the first time. Always consider everything involved with becoming responsible for another life, and be sure you are able to handle it all.

If you are a very enthusiastic owner of a pure-bred dog, join your local AKC. They are an active social group where you can share your love for your dog, learn a lot and make new friends too. The experience can also help prepare you and your dog for entering contests and winning shows!

It is very common for objects to get lodged in the pads of your dogs paws. Check them regularly to make sure that nothing is in there. If you see something, be very careful about taking it out, or it may become lodged even deeper. It is a wise to use tweezers for this.

If you are not sure how your dog will react to other dogs, make sure you keep them on a leash during the first introduction. Rescue dogs especially can be unpredictable around other dogs. Keeping your dog on the leash will allow you to better control their behavior. Once you feel comfortable and your dog is adjusted, you can take them off the leash and let them play.

Use an olive oil spray to keep your dog's dish sparkling clean. Particularly if you feed him canned food, it can quickly cake-up and dry on the inside of the bowl, making it hard to wash later. As a bonus, the olive oil will help to keep his coat shiny too.

Never approach a dog you are unfamiliar with. Teach your children the same thing. An unfamiliar dog may look friendly, but he could have a vicious bite. Even if he is not a biter, he might jump on you, potentially causing harm. Always ask his owner for permission before approaching him.

If you are training your dog to not pull when on the leash, you should invest in a quality collar and leash. If https://sites.google.com/site/dogbreedsbernedoodle have a larger dog, the force of it pulling might be able to break basic collars and leashes. For this reason a good, strong collar is recommended when you are walking your pup.

Buy Recommended Looking at . Make sure that the leash is the proper size and strength for your dog. For example, a lightweight nylon leash would be suitable for a smaller dog but not strong enough for a larger breed such as a labrador. If your dog has a tendency to pull, a harness is a great way of correcting this instinct.

Keep your dog busy; this will keep him happy. Lack of stimulation is a leading cause of behavioral problems in dogs. This leads to chewing and other negative behaviors. Making sure that your dog gets a good amount of exercise each day will help to keep them a little calmer. The more exercise he gets, the better.

Dogs love to interact with people, so do not get one if you do not have time in your day to spend with a pet. A bored or agitated dog can do unbelievable damage to your home and furnishings while you are away. Make sure you allow your dog to expend excess energy every day.

After reading the above information you know that taking care of dog is not as hard as it may seem. While you might find it challenging to begin with, this article will put you on the right path. Take these tips to heart, and go forward confident in the knowledge that you are doing the right thing by your dog.