Dogs are terrific, as they are loyal companions until the end. However, a new dog needs to be trained as soon as you adopt it. Training them, working on behavioral issues and caring for them properly all go a long way toward helping to ensure they are welcomed family members and companions. Start by reading this article for some useful tips that will help you take good care of your new dog.

It’s very important to make sure that your home is safe for a dog. Take the time to tour your home with an eye for safety before you introduce your dog to your home. Medicine and cleaners should be stored, and indoor trash should be placed in a cabinet. Some plants that are usually kept in the home are poisonous to pets, so move them where your dog cannot get to them, or put them out of your home completely.

It’s good to give hugs, but avoid giving kisses. Dog kisses are cute, in theory, but understand a dog’s mouth is typically very dirty. Dogs root around in garbage pails, drink enthusiastically from the toilet bowl and love to lick and smell certain body parts of other dogs. It is folk wisdom that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a humans. This couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Take a photo of your dog when you plan to take him on vacation. If he just so happens to run away from you, you should have a picture so you can find him.

If you have medications at home, ensure that it is safely hidden away and out of the reach of your dog. Many medicines that benefit you can be harmful or fatal to your dog. If this does happen, call your vet immediately.

Watch out for dog flea treatments. A lot of them can cause cancer in children. Ask your vet for recommendations. Be sure to keep children away while you’re applying any flea treatment.

Don’t give in to the urge to feed your dog food meant for humans. If you do, he will hang around you constantly wanting more every time you eat. Your dog may also stop eating his own food as much. Table scraps can also be unhealthy and lead to excess weight and digestive problems. You need to make sure your dog is not near the dinner table. This will make it easier for your pet (and you!) to avoid temptation.

Don’t take your dog off of your own property without a leash, no matter how well-behaved he is. Wild animals could get the dog’s attention and lead him into dangerous places, or unanticipated circumstances could provoke conflicts with others. Your dog’s actions and safety is your responsibility.

Try hand signals in conjunction with verbal commands when training your dog. These signals will help you keep your dog under control in a noisy environment. Give both methods a shot, and see what your pet prefers.

Talk to your vet to learn which foods are appropriate for your particular dog. Certain brands may not be right for a small pup and could cause him to get a stomachache or become sick. Never give your dog any food you are not sure of.

Whenever your dog performs a good action, such as sitting or staying, give it praise and rewards. You want to let your dog know that the behavior is something that you want to see. He’ll learn that praise will come when he is good, too.

Do not force your dog to eat things. If your dog doesn’t like a particular treat, don’t force him to eat it. When you first get a dog, you should take some time to get to know what it likes and what it dislikes.

Pup Daily

Brushing your pup daily can do much more than reduce shedding in your home. Brushing your pup daily will help make their coat shiny. This is because the motions you go through while brushing evenly distributes the skin’s oils and helps keep the skin healthy, shiny and soft.

Trim your dog’s nails regularly. When they start curling under, the dog runs the risk of experiencing pain. Simply purchase a pair of clippers from the store. If you do not want to take this matter into your own hands, hire a professional.

When making a dog food selection, the cheap stuff is rarely the best choice. Your dog will benefit from eating healthy, quality food. Quality brands are more expensive but they will significantly increase the life expectancy of your dog.

Make sure that your female dog is contained well if she’s in heat. This will help to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. A male dog is able to smell her from up to five miles away. There can be numerous problems, such as causing conflicts with neighbor’s dogs, and getting impregnated with puppies that you don’t know a lot about.

Dogs sometimes get tiny cuts on their paws. If your dog suffers from a little cut, it should be washed with some form of antiseptic and the bandaged. If the cut seems very deep, take him to the vet.

When the weather outdoors become hotter, you need to search for ticks and fleas on your dog each day. Try using a flea comb to remove any fleas that you find. A number of products are available to control fleas and ticks on your dog. Ask your vet what they recommend.

Were you aware of how harmful vitamins can be to your pet? If your dog is eating a balanced diet,do not give him additional vitamins. Do not give your dog too many vitamins as this can get them sick. Speak with your vet to determine the correct course of action for your dog.

You should know that taking care of a dog isn’t that hard. It is important to use the techniques that you learned in the above article. By using the tips that you read here, it will be very easy to take care of your pup.