Are you interested in adopting a dog, puppy or other pet from a shelter? Or are you looking at purchasing a show dog from a reputable breeder? Whether you are looking for a regular house dog or a show dog, either one will bring a lot of love into your life. It also comes with responsibility and you can learn about that in the following post.

Try to make your home as safe as possible for your dog. This should be done before you pick up your dog from the shelter or breeder. Put all of your medication and cleaning supplies away, and keep your indoor trash can inside a cabinet. Some common house plants that are toxic to pets should be removed from your home.

Your dog needs an annual physical exam from the vet, just as you need one from your doctor. Since your dog does not speak the human language, he simply cannot tell you if his tooth aches or his arthritis is making it difficult for him to walk. But you can pay attention to the way your dog is acting and take them into the vet for a checkup.

Be sure to have your dog neutered or spayed. Research has shown that by doing this you can be sure your pet can have a longer life and not be at risk for things like cancer. Not only that, but neutered and spayed dogs feel less need to wander away from home, so they are not as likely to be hit by a vehicle or become lost.

Don’t let your dog out of your property without wearing a collar and leash, regardless of how well he behaves. He can be scared away by some wild animal, or an unforeseen provocation with another dog can result in an unpleasant situation. You’re responsible for their actions and safety.

Talk to your vet to learn which foods are appropriate for your particular dog. Puppies may lack the development needed to tolerate certain kinds of food without getting sick. Use your vets advice and common sense to feed your dog properly.

Positive reinforcement is very important in training your dog. This is to let the dog know that you want more of that behavior. In this way, your dog will learn that desired behavior brings praise.

Properly teach your dog how to walk with a leash. Your dog has to understand the “heel” command and respond to it by walking beside you, not ahead of or in back of you. Your dog will be safer in this position, and you’ll both enjoy your walks more this way. By having your dog understand this command, it will be very helpful for most situations.

However, if you are walking somewhere it is safe to let your dog explore a little bit away from you while still on the leash then let them do so. They want to smell and check out the area and enjoy the walk. If you can do this a retractable leash is a good choice. This way you can keep them close by or let them wander a little bit. If you walk late in the evenings or early morning hours it would be good to get one of the reflective collars for them so that drivers can see you and your dog easier.

If your dog is undergoing a course of treatment with medication or therapy, make sure you follow your veterinarian’s instructions precisely. The dog may hate that cone on its head, but it’s there for a very good reason! Recommendations that a vet makes are for the good of your pet and if you don’t adhere to these things it could be bad for your pet.

Now that you know how to take great care of a dog or puppy, it’s time for your new companion to come home with you! Always be open to new information about dog ownership, and learn from your dog as well. You can even find online discussion groups where other dog lovers meet. Learning takes a lifetime, so don’t stop!

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