Most pet owners want to do their best, and caring for a dog has many challenges. Many pets seem to want affection and attention constantly. It is a major responsibility to provide ongoing care and comfort for your pup.
For first-time dog owners and experienced dog owners, how to care for a dog must consider a range of things about your dog’s behaviour, personality, breed, and unique preferences. Here are some useful tips for dog care to keep them healthy and happy.
Feed the Right Amount of Calories
Ensure you adequately breastfeed your dog. Obesity is common among dogs, with more than a third diagnosed as obese. Give your pup 1-2 meals a day, split evenly.
Have Clean, Fresh Water Available at All Times
Your dog should never be without clean and fresh water. Wash the dog’s water bowl regularly to avoid bacteria building up.
Have Safe Toys for Play
Ensure toys are safe to use. If a toy is prone to breaking, risks their digestion system, remove it. Be sure not to give them non-dog toys that could be toxic or risk their health. Having the correct dog toys for your specific dog’s needs is very important. For example, if your dog is chewing on everything in site and could ruin items in your home, you will want to have aggressive chewer dog toys. These will give your dog an outlet to chew safely while also protecting your furniture and home. You can also switch out toys so your dog won’t get bored with certain toys.
Provide Premium-Quality Dry Dog Food
Most dog food you provide will be dry kibble. Ensure the variety you choose has strong reviews and is well-balanced. Brands like Acana dog food are known for being premium.
Do Not Feed Them Too Much Non-Dog Food
You may be tempted to give your dog lots of treats, food from your plate that you don’t want to eat, and vegetables, fruits, or cheese. Ensure these foods are at most 10% of your dog’s total daily food intake on a given day.
Warm, Quiet Place To Rest
Your dog needs a warm, comfy place to rest. Ideally, this will be inside a training crate or dog bed, dressed with a clean blanket and pillow. Wash bedding often.
Trim Their Nails Calmly
Nail trimming is necessary. Not doing it can hurt the tendons and cause deformed feet. However, many dogs dislike trimming their nails. Be patient with them and stay calm. You may need to sit with some dogs twice or thrice to get all their nails done. It can help to learn how to correctly trim your dogs nails from a professional sourch.
Provide Them with Bouts of Exercise
Exercise burns calories and keeps your dog healthy. It also stimulates their minds and helps them avoid boredom, reducing destructive behaviours. Be sure to provide them with time to dig, herd, chew, retrieve, and chase for a full experience outside.
Regular Checkups at the Vet
Ensure your dog sees the vet for all routine checkups. Annual vet checkups are the norm. Preventative measures are often taken to prevent fleas and ticks, not to mention vaccinations and testing to rule out health issues that may present early or later in life. Be sure to complete all of these visits.
Lift Them Carefully
If you ever want to lift your dog into your arms, there’s a right and wrong way. For a small dog, place one hand underneath its chest and the other supporting the hind legs. Never grab it by the legs, tail, or neck back. If it’s a large dog, support its chest with one arm and lift it from the underside.
Brush and Check Them for Fleas
Brushing your dog will keep it clean and reduce shedding. If your dog sheds often, you may need to groom more often to keep up with it.
As you brush, you can check your dog for fleas and ticks. This is something you absolutely will want to do during warmer weather when they are more prevalent. Be sure to receive flea, tick, and heartworm preventative from your vet.
Take Them to a Groomer as needed
A dog will not need bathing more than a few times yearly. To do this, you should take it to a groomer, where its hair can be combed and trimmed.
Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
A dog’s dental care is often overlooked, but it is essential for their health to have their teeth brushed regularly. Regular brushing can prevent dental illnesses and diseases of the kidneys, liver, and other organs.
Always Clean Up After Your Dog
When you are outside and your dog poops, always clean it up. Please pick it up in a waste bag, tie it off, and drop it in the garbage.
Spay and Neuter Them
All dogs should be spayed or neutered by six months of age, eliminating their ability to reproduce.
Provide Them with a Collar and ID
Ensure your dog is licensed and has an ID tag or microchip on its collar. This way, it can be scanned and returned to you if lost or found.
Having a dog is truly a rewarding experience. They make excellent companions and will always be by your side as a loyal friend.
