There is little out there that’s like getting a dog when you want loyalty and love. A dog makes a great family pet, or a companion for someone who lives alone. To take great care of your animal, use the tips that follow liberally.

Owning a dog takes a bit of money. The costs associated with general and medical care along with high-quality food can be upwards of a thousand per year. Emergency visits to the vet can cost thousands, so you may want to invest in health insurance for your dog.

You must dog-proof your residence. Before you bring a dog into your home, you should be sure that the area you’re bringing it to is safe. Make sure all of the medicine is put away and the cleaning supplies are up and safe. Keep house plants out of his reach, especially if they could be poisonous.

Do not feed your dog “people food”. This will encourage constant begging and reduce their appetite towards their own food. A dog fed on table scraps will be prone to unhealthy weight gain, disruptive digestive problems, and other health issues. Insist that your dog wait away from the table during family meals to avoid temptation on his part – and yours.

In your backyard or in your house itself is the right place to start training your dog. Training in busy areas with lots of people around should be avoided. Distractions occur, making it difficult to get your dog to focus on basic commands.

If the dog is doing something right, like sitting before he is leashed, lavish him with praise and affection. By rewarding your pup when it does the right thing, you’ll be teaching it to do these behaviors more often. This is called positive reinforcement.

Ask the vet about how much the dog should eat each day. Though some folks feed whatever the package recommends, those guidelines are not always appropriate and can lead to overfeeding. The vet will know what is best for your pet.

Do not buy the cheapest dog food you can find. When you look at the big picture, it is good for your dog to consume nutritious, good quality food. Although the food may cost more, you know that your dog is receiving the correct nutrients from quality food.

Your dog should not be left outside for the entire day. Understand that dogs need to interact with other people and animals. A dog by himself tends to be lonely and not motivated to do anything. In addition to the socializing need, you should not leave a dog to fend for himself in heavy rainstorms or very cold weather. Bring the dog indoors until the inclement weather passes.

Caring for a dog takes a lot of work. There is more to it than taking him for walks and giving him food. It’s important to understand the right choices for caring for any dog. If you do, your dog will live a long and happy life.

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