Raising a dog is a big undertaking and long term commitment. The responsibilities that come along with owning a pet are numerous, however so are the rewards. This article aims to provide you with a few useful tips to help you with the different aspects of owning and caring for a dog.
Never hit your dog. There are better ways to train a dog without having to resort to violence. The best way to train a dog is to reinforce positive behaviors with treats and attention. Negative behavior should be handled with a stern and disapproving voice as opposed to striking the animal.
Yearly physicals help you and yearly vet checks help your dog. Your dog will not be able to express its concerns, so make sure that you get it a checkup periodically. Check-ups can reveal that and more.
When giving your dog a bath, make sure that you only put on shampoo that is intended for canines. Using lukewarm water, get the entire body wet and then begin applying the shampoo to their face, working your way down their body. Wait a few minutes and then take a washcloth and wipe off the suds from your pet's face. Wash off the rest of the shampoo as well.
If your dog behaves badly, correct the behavior immediately. The longer you ignore it, the more difficult it will be to correct it later, and the consequences could be dire. Neglecting your dog's behavior can lead to injuries.
Brushing your pup daily can do much more than reduce shedding in your home. Brushing daily can ensure your dog's coat is shiny and healthy looking. This is because the motions you go through while brushing evenly distributes the skin's oils and helps keep the skin healthy, shiny and soft.
Keep your dogu00c3u00a2u00efu00bfu00bdu00efu00bfu00bds nails trimmed. The nails can cause the dog discomfort if they start to curl under. It is easy to keep nails trimmed with simple implements available at pet stores. If you aren't confident enough to do it yourself, take the dog to a local pet groomer.
You may be tempted to use your favorite hair shampoo on your dog, but this should not be done. Human shampoo can cause dog skin to dry out. Instead, find a quality shampoo that is made for dogs. When you bath your dog, make sure to rinse all of the residue out of his fur.
If your dog has long hair, make sure to take the time to trim the fur around his feet. If you allow your dog's hair to grow too long, they can get things stuck in their fur. This could lead to injuries between the pads of the feet and around the nails.
To ensure that your dog is safe, you should try to make your home as dog-proof as possibly. This includes making sure that only safe play toys are within your dogs reach. If you have a problem with your dog getting into your kitchen trash or the things on your counter, you could consider getting a baby gate to prevent your pup from entering the kitchen.
Getting a dog on a whim is rarely a good idea. You need to make sure you can afford to feed a dog and cover medical expenses before getting a pet. Research different breeds to figure out which dog would be best for your family, your lifestyle and the size of your home.
Keep in mind that the pads on a dog's foot are very similar to the skin at the bottom of a human foot. This means that they have a hard time withstanding extreme heat and cold. If you have to take your dog out in extreme weather, make sure that you cover their paws, or you don't have them out for very long.
It is important to train your dog as soon as you get him or her. Behavior that might seem cute as a puppy, can develop into bad habits as your dog matures. It is essential that your dog understands and obeys simple commands. Not only for your safety, but the safety of your dog as well.
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.
If you have a new dog in the house, be careful with how much freedom you give him or her initially. The freedom to have access to all areas of your home needs to be earned. If you allow your pet to roam too soon, you may have to deal with damaged furniture and other issues. Use baby gates to help restrict your dog's movements, and house him in an appropriately sized crate when you cannot watch him.
Bigger is not better when selecting a dog house. Allow for an article to How Many Toys Should A Puppy Have for growth, but do not go much bigger than what you will need for him to be comfortable as an adult. This will allow the entire house to heat from his body heat during the cold winter months.
Make sure there is one policy in your home for giving your dog table scraps. While some owners do not give their dog any table food at all, yet others wait until the family meal is done. This causes less confusion on the part of your dog, and makes meals much easier for your family.
If you are trying to teach your dog some basic commands, one of your first ones should be a recall. help forming a How Many Toys Should A Puppy Have wants their dog to return to them when called for. If making a How Many Toys Should A Puppy Have have a solid recall for your dog, you will not have to worry about chasing your dog down it manages to get outside. It should come back to you when you use your recall word.
Dogs make great pets. To be a great pet owner, however, does require some work on your part. Take time to educate yourself on all of the latest doggy-care recommendations. Apply everything you learn, including the hot tips from this article, to ensure that your loyal pooch lives a healthy and very happy life.
11 Dog Breeds That Get Along with Pit Bulls
If you want to bring a pit bull into your home or another dog to accompany your pit bull, you should consider which breed to opt for to ensure friendliness and compatibility between the dogs. Take a look at a few dog breeds that get along with pit bulls.
German Shepherd
Originating in Germany, the German Shepherd is an active, loyal, brave and adaptable dog breed. These dogs are generally large in size with a height of 22-26 inches and a weight of 50-90 pounds. They are highly strong and easily trainable dogs.
Being playful and affectionate, the German Shepherd is a good consideration to have when it comes to pit bulls. Since both these breeds tend to be intelligent, loyal and energetic, you will be able to make them get along well as long as you provide vast amounts of training to both.
Generally, it would be a good idea to get a breed of the opposite sex to minimize aggression. Make sure both breeds are neutered as well to prevent issues.
Bringing in a puppy would be easier in terms of training, but either way, you should carefully watch over both dogs during the initial introduction phase to ensure that they do not get into major displays and fights of aggression.
Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniels are much smaller in size than pit bulls, measuring around 15 inches and weighing around 20-30 pounds. Their place of origin is the United Kingdom, where they were initially mainly used as hunting companions.
They are friendly, affectionate, adaptable, flexible and trainable. They have high levels of energy that can match that of a pit bull well. Cocker Spaniels are also playful and friendly with other dogs, making them suitable companions for pit bulls.
While it might take time and caution for them to start getting along, they will soon be on friendly terms as they settle in with each other. It is important to make sure that both dogs are well trained and socialized so that too much aggression does not set in.
You must also always be there to intervene in case there are any fights.
Apart from this, their other needs and traits such as mental invigoration, exercise, training and barking are more or less similar.
English Foxhound
The English Foxhound was originally bred for hunting. These dogs are medium to large in their size, weighing up to 75 pounds with 25 inches in height. They are usually friendly, affectionate, gentle, energetic and playful.
With high trainability, adaptability and physical or mental exercise, you can easily provide proper socialization to these dogs at a similar level as pit bulls.
English Foxhounds are more prone to barking as compared to pit bulls, but when it comes to other dogs, they are extremely tolerant and friendly. This can be attributed to their pack mentality that comes from their hunting origins.
A combination of an English Foxhound and a pit bull can result in making your household a lot more active and energetic. Like all other breeds, however, it is important not to leave the pit bull alone with this dog for too long.
If possible, you or someone should always be around them to keep them in check.
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