Don’t you love having a dog? Everyone seems to love dogs. They are active, enjoy having fun, and are affectionate. In short – they are wonderful companions. You need to be the right companion back to your dog and care for him or her properly. Here is how you can do that.

Getting a dog is going to cost you some money. Each dog needs quality food, medical care and general supplies. It can cost you around $1000 each year. A sick dog could cost you tens of thousands! Look into doggie health insurance!

Just like humans benefit from an annual physical, your dog should see the vet at least once a year. Because your dog is unable to speak, you may not know for sure when your dog feels sick or has an injury. Check-ups can reveal that and more.

Your dog cannot speak, so you have to interpret non-verbal cues. If you notice your dog is hesitant to meet a particular person or dog, don’t force it. This could lead to the other dog or person getting bit. So pay attention to your dog’s demeanor and make your judgement from these cues.

Table Scraps

Resist the urge to give your dog table scraps. This will make him beg more often, and he may gain a preference for human food. Table scraps can negatively affect the dog’s health and cause digestive issues or obesity. Keep the dog away from your table when you eat to avoid any temptation on both parts.

It can be really helpful to incorporate hand signals with verbal commands when first training your dog. Using hand gestures can help your dog to recognize commands quicker. Try both ways of giving commands to see what works best.

Before giving your dog a new dog food, talk to your vet. Puppies may lack the development needed to tolerate certain kinds of food without getting sick. Be cautious of what you feed your dog.

Which breed you need to buy depends on your lifestyle. For example, if you’re a jogger, get a type of dog that can run with you, not a toy-poodle. However, if you’re someone who stays mainly at home then seek out a small dog that loves to be adorned with lots of love while lounging around the house. Avoiding a mismatch means both of you will be happier.

Talk to your vet about how much to feed your dog. Sometimes the guidelines on pet food labels aren’t correct, and following them could lead to obesity. Your vet will know how much to feed your particular dog.

If you want to keep your dog outside, build him or her a small shelter. A dog can get ill if he is left out in rough weather, so make sure you have a warm, dry dog house where he can rest. Build a shelter yourself or purchase a kit from the nearest pet store.

You must be a good companion to your dog just like they are to you. Follow these tips to take the best possible care of your best friend. The article above surely has shown you how to have a wonderful life with the best friend of your life, your new wonderful dog.

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