Caring for Your Dog

You just fell victim to puppy breath and puppy eyes and are head over heels in love with your new pet. But, do you know how to care for a puppy that will grow up to be a dog? It’s important to realize that your pet requires care and that you are their master. If you are willing to do the little bit of work it takes to keep your dog happy then you will be a wonderful dog owner. A couple of things to keep in mind, however, are that you should begin training your puppy from day one, always feed him dog food, and make sure he gets plenty of exercise each and every day.

First of all, when you come home with that sweet little puppy all you want to do is cuddle and love on him. If he poops on the floor you clean it up and don’t think twice about reprimanding your puppy. That may be ok the first day, but after that you need to begin training. If you wait until the puppy is a dog to train then you will have missed a lot of time and the dog will have many bad habits that you may not be able to break. So, as soon as you bring little Fido home make sure you are willing to train him. If he makes a mistake on the floor then put his nose in it immediately, say “No!” and take him outside. He will eventually put the two together and learn to go outside when he needs to use the bathroom.

The next thing you should keep in mind when it comes to dog care is to always feed him dog food. It is so tempting to give your dog table scraps or a little bit of whatever you are eating, especially when they give you those eyes! But, your dog needs a healthy diet and there are some human foods that could hurt him. Things like chicken leg bones, chocolate, and even garlic could send your dog straight to the vet so it is best to avoid all human food. Dog food is specialized for dogs and is just what he should eat.

Finally, dogs require a lot of exercise. If you aren’t willing to take your dog on a long walk at least once if not twice a day then find a different pet. It’s best if your dog has a big yard to enjoy playing in all day long. If you don’t walk your dog he will likely put on weight not to mention drive you crazy when you get home with his hyperactivity. So, focus on letting your dog get lots of exercise, which will help you stay in shape as well!

These are just a few tips to help you care for your dog and keep him as well as you as happy as possible.