Bringing a dog into the home is a decision that should not be taken lightly. If you are considering, or have already extended your family to include a dog, there are things that you should know. Below, you will find a list of quality tips to use to help the transition easier for you and your dog.
Groom your dog regularly. A dog requires constant grooming to keep his coat in tip top condition. If he is excitable, make sure that your dog is completely relaxed before you start the grooming session this is especially important. Keep the session quite short (5 to 10 minutes at most) until he is comfortable with the idea of being groomed. Most importantly – be sure to praise him and offer a treat after a successful grooming session!
When training your puppy or dog, keep the sessions short! Experts say that a dog has the attention span of a small child, sometimes less, and that longer sessions will actually cause him to forget everything you’ve learned together. Use positive reinforcement and limit your training sessions to no more than 15 minutes.
Do you have a “wrinkly” dog, like a bulldog? If so, you have to be conscientious about the grooming process in order to help keep your pet clean. After you brush, take a baby wipe and use it to get in between the folds on their body. Make sure, though, to get them fully dry after doing so.
Having fresh and clean water available to your dog at all times is a must. Dogs become dangerously dehydrated in a matter of days, so its very important to always have water ready. Dogs will also appreciate water that is clean. Be sure to provide your dog with the same high quality water if you find it necessary to drink filtered or bottled water because of the quality of water from your tap.
Ease your dog into knowing a new baby that comes into your home. Dogs can be very jealous and you need to continue to show him plenty of love an affection, even though you’ve got a brand new bundle of joy in your life. Talk to the dog as you handle the baby and keep him in the loop.
If you want a dog that behaves well you must take the time to properly train it. You will almost surely be dealing with behavioral problems for the length of the dog’s life if you do not do this. Training is the only way that you can prevent this from happening.
Make sure that you understand that it will not happen overnight if you’re trying to break one of your dog’s unwanted habits. Breaking a habit takes time and patience. Don’t get discouraged and give up if it seems like your pup isn’t making progress. Keep at it and maybe try changing your approach to the training. Sometimes this can be the boost that your dog needs.
It is very common for objects to get lodged in the pads of your dogs paws. Check them regularly to make sure that nothing is in there. If you see something, be very careful about taking it out, or it may become lodged even deeper. It is a wise to use tweezers for this.
energy, knowledge and Time will make the living arrangement with a dog more enjoyable for everyone. Use what you have just learned to help the household adapt to the addition. If you take the time to love, train and care for them properly, dogs can be great companions and friends.