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We all love dogs. They are adorable and some of the best friends a person can have. That is why it is important that you look after them and understand what that means before getting one. Here is a quick guide to help you understand what having a dog means.
Regular De-Fleaing and De-Worming
Nobody likes fleas or worms, least of all a dog. It best to preemptively stop these things before they start to cause a serious problem for your dog. Fleas bites can hurt and can get infected causes more serious health condition, and worms can cause all kinds of damage inside a dog. Both of these can also be passed onto humans, and the last thing you want is for your family to get worms and have flea bites – especially if you have young children. Fortunately, there is an easy fix. You can buy de-fleaing and de-worming products from your local pet store, and all you need to do is use them regularly, and your dog should be worm and flea free. Another great way to help prevent worms is the prevent them from eating strange things when taking them out and about.
Check-Ups
One of the first things you should do if you get a dog is registered with a vet, just in case something bad happens. However, you should also visit the vet regularly for check-ups. This ensures that the pet is fit and healthy and can help to spot illnesses early meaning your dog will stand a fighting chance.
Walks
Dogs need to be taken on regular walks. The walks needs to be long enough that the dog can run and be out of breath. They need a lot of exercise and love to run around and stretch their legs. This doesn’t need to be a chore and should be one of the best things about having a dog. You can take a ball and throw that for the dog and play fetch in the park, or you can take them hiking through the hills and let your dog run ahead of you. The exercise will be good for both you and the dog. The dog will be happier if it gets enough exercise each day and it will help you bond with the dog and have a fun day out. You can bring the entire family or spend an afternoon with just you and the dog; the choice is yours. Different dogs need a different amount of exercise, and you should research online or consult your vet for further advice.
Training
Not enough dogs get proper training. Dogs enjoy being trained in the same way children actually enjoy having boundaries. You don’t need to take your dog to training classes – although that might be the easiest and most effective way to train them. Instead, you can buy a training book or follow an online guide. Whatever you choose you should make sure to properly train your dog. Otherwise, it won’t return to your when you take it out for walks, and it might run in front of cars which is dangerous to both the dog and the driver. A well-trained dog makes a brilliant family pet as it will be much nicer to have around children and will respond to commands better.
Food
Every dog breed needs a different amount of food and type of food, so you should check online or the dog’s food packaging or consult your vet for more details. However, you need to make sure not to feed a dog too much or too little. Dogs naturally don’t feel full, so if you try to feed your dog until it can’t eat anymore, then you are going to make it fat. An overweight dog suffers from similar health issues to an overweight person. It will also be less happy as it will struggle to run a long way or be able to enjoy its walks. An easy way to ensure you feed your dog the right amount is not to feed it table scraps, get a scoop that fits the food measurement for your dog and feed them at the same time each day. This will help the dog get into a routine and will train them to only want that specific amount of food at that time of day. It will be better for both you and the dog.
Treats
Dogs deserve treats. They are also a great way to help train and reward them for good behaviour. It also a nice way to treat a dog in the evening and give them something to chew. Most dogs will want to chew things naturally and giving them a healthy chew rather than something else is good for their behaviour and their health. Somewhere like Betsy Farm provide healthy dog treats that are 100% natural and won’t damage their health, teeth or your furniture. You should also use dog treats when training a dog as they will be more likely to perform a command if they know there is a treat at the end of it. This is especially true at first, and gradually they will start to do the command regardless of the treat.
Teeth
Dogs, like humans, need their teeth brushing. They can get tooth decay and gum diseases just like we can, so you should regularly brush your dog’s teeth. If you start doing this when they are a puppy, then it will be much easier as they grow up. However, if a dog is reluctant to let your brush their teeth, then another option is to buy dental sticks. These dog sticks help to clean their teeth while also being a healthy treat for the dog. They help make sure a dog’s teeth stay in good condition and can become part of their routine by giving them one each night.
Water
Dogs need water. This is simple. You need to make sure they always have access to a bowl of water and aren’t dehydrated. This is especially true on hot days and after walks. Just having a bowl around the house and keeping it topped up should be enough, but you might always want to bring some water for the dog on your walks, too.
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