Created by-Gottlieb Roach

Dogs make absolutely wonderful pets. They are faithful, loyal and provide unconditional love. They are also a ton of fun to play with. As a responsible dog owner, it is important that you educate yourself on proper dog care. Utilize Read This method outlined in this article to keep your pooch healthy and happy for many years.

Keep in mind that dogs are expensive. Dogs need good food, medical care and other supplies. This can add up to $500-$1000 a year. It can cost a lot of money to take your dog to the vet in an emergency, so you will want to investigate health insurance for your pet.

Always give your dog plenty of attention and affection. When your dog behaves properly, make sure you let the dog know you are happy and give them some affection. This will help reinforce the good behavior and the dog will try to behave in this manner for the positive attention..

Take care to keep your dog cool while traveling during the summer by car. Even with your air-conditioning on, the dog may become over-heated in his pet carrier. A simple and low-cost countermeasure is freezing a few gallon jugs of water and placing them near him where he can curl up and cool off.

Never take your dog away from home without a leash, even if he is well-behaved. A feral animal might catch their attention, causing them to pursue them, or an unplanned incitement might lead to a bad situation with other pet owners. It is your job to keep your dog safe, and to keep him from harming anyone else or causing anyone problems.

If you want to get a pet from a shelter, find a vet who can examine your new dog. A shelter is often a haven for kennel cough and other diseases. Make sure the new puppy gets their required shots before going home.

Take your dog to the vet regularly. This may seem like an added expense that you don't need, but when you take your dog to the veterinarian, he can screen your dog for diseases and make sure he is in the best of health. This of course prevents problems down the road.

Dog training requires you to be consistent. Once you decide you want to establish a rule for your dog, do not make any exceptions. Make sure everyone at home helps you enforce the rule and encourage your guests not to let your dog jump on them or to not acknowledge your dog when it barks.

Lift your dog properly. If you have a little dog or puppy, place your one hand under their chest and use your other hand for supporting their rump and hind legs. If you're lifting a big dog, lift them from their underside supporting their chest using your one arm and using your other arm to support their rear end. Never lift a dog by their back legs, tail, or the nape of their neck.





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.

Attention exercises must be practiced daily. list of dog breeds with pictures will help you gain your dog's attention when they are barking or being disruptive or destructive. Once you can gain your dog's attention, you will have less to worry about when you have him out of the house or when there is company over.

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.

Be consistent when giving your dog commands. This is an area where a lot of dog owners have a problem, especially when you won't feed your dog from the table but your spouse will. Make sure that everyone in your home understands what's acceptable so that the dog will receive a clear message. That will make him more likely to obey.

If you pick up a dog from a shelter, make sure that he has been seen by a medical professional. You don't want to bring home a sick dog unless you are aware of it, particularly if you have other dogs at home. Make sure to ask if the dog you have chosen has been around sick dogs in the past few weeks as well.

You should check your dog regularly to make sure that he does not have any ticks or fleas on him. There are combs you can purchase that can be used to help you locate them. To prevent fleas and ticks, you can purchase special collars from the pet supply store.

Always make sure your dog has fresh water available. Water is essential for the health of a dog. He can easily become dehydrated without it or look for unsafe water sources, such as puddles or contaminated ponds. Making sure your dog always has water is an easy way to keep him happy and safe.

If you already have a dog and want to get another one, allow your existing dog to meet the new one before you make your final decision. Though most are sociable, certain dogs are better able to get along with other dogs than others. Find a dog that your current dog gets along with.

Don't leave the dog alone for extended lengths of time. A lot of people have day jobs, which a dog can get used to, but other than that be aware of how much time he spends alone. Your dog might feel better if there is a tv or radio on. You should hire a pet sitter if you have to go away for long periods of time.

People say that you can tell what your dog is thinking by the way they look, this is true. Since you have read the above article, you know things about dogs you cannot tell from their body language. Your dog is going to be grateful for that.