We love our pets and they love us, but just like a child, dogs definitely are completely dependent on their owners for care. This means more than just providing plenty of water and healthy food, as there are many other important aspects of dog care, including the following.
While we don't hesitate to take our pets to the vet when they are hurt or ill, it's just as important to schedule that yearly check-up. Your veterinarian will do a thorough exam and run some routine tests to ensure that your dog is in tip-top shape. It's often during these annual visits that the doctor can find problems early on before they are really causing your pet discomfort.
Another important part of dog care is ensuring that all vaccinations are up to date. Usually rabies is required for a dog license, and your dog also needs to have a vaccine to prevent distemper and kennel cough. The latter is technically known as Bordetella and it is a respiratory infection that is similar to whooping cough or Pertussis. There are also extra vaccines that might be helpful, such as a shot to prevent Lyme disease. You also want to think about getting on a schedule with some type of heartworm medication and perhaps flea and tick medicines or treatment.
While we humans typically bathe every day, dogs definitely should not be bathed more than once per week. In fact once or twice each month is probably ok. However, for many breeds, daily brushing is extremely important, so consider making this a part of your evening cuddle time. Grooming, which includes trimming fur or hair as well as cleaning the ears and trimming toenails, also should be scheduled regularly. All of this helps keep the dog's coat and skin as healthy as possible.
One area of dog care that often isn't really addressed is proper obedience training. Not only will you enjoy your dog all the more if he is well-trained, training keeps your pet safe from harm. Well-trained dogs don't dart away from you, they come when they are called and they rarely exhibit troublesome behavior. Often destructive or dangerous behavior is the reason why dogs are sent to shelters. However, with a few weeks of training, you can teach a dog to do exactly what you tell them and to understand permanent limits. Even if you would never get rid of your dog because of behavior, wouldn't you rather have a pet that didn't jump on your guests, scratch at doors and bark too much?
One easy way to get the most out of the relationship between you and your dog is by using a DVD dog training program such as The Dog's Way. With 12 easy-to-follow, step-by-step DVD lessons, it takes just a few weeks of patient instruction to transform your dog or puppy into an amazing companion you will enjoy for many years. In addition to the lesson, there is a helpful workbook and reminder cards that you can tote along with you as you go on walks to help reinforce skills. Your dog will soon learn many crucial skills such as sitting, staying, walking on a loose leash, understanding boundaries and many other common issues.
While we don't hesitate to take our pets to the vet when they are hurt or ill, it's just as important to schedule that yearly check-up. Your veterinarian will do a thorough exam and run some routine tests to ensure that your dog is in tip-top shape. It's often during these annual visits that the doctor can find problems early on before they are really causing your pet discomfort.
Another important part of dog care is ensuring that all vaccinations are up to date. Usually rabies is required for a dog license, and your dog also needs to have a vaccine to prevent distemper and kennel cough. The latter is technically known as Bordetella and it is a respiratory infection that is similar to whooping cough or Pertussis. There are also extra vaccines that might be helpful, such as a shot to prevent Lyme disease. You also want to think about getting on a schedule with some type of heartworm medication and perhaps flea and tick medicines or treatment.
While we humans typically bathe every day, dogs definitely should not be bathed more than once per week. In fact once or twice each month is probably ok. However, for many breeds, daily brushing is extremely important, so consider making this a part of your evening cuddle time. Grooming, which includes trimming fur or hair as well as cleaning the ears and trimming toenails, also should be scheduled regularly. All of this helps keep the dog's coat and skin as healthy as possible.
One area of dog care that often isn't really addressed is proper obedience training. Not only will you enjoy your dog all the more if he is well-trained, training keeps your pet safe from harm. Well-trained dogs don't dart away from you, they come when they are called and they rarely exhibit troublesome behavior. Often destructive or dangerous behavior is the reason why dogs are sent to shelters. However, with a few weeks of training, you can teach a dog to do exactly what you tell them and to understand permanent limits. Even if you would never get rid of your dog because of behavior, wouldn't you rather have a pet that didn't jump on your guests, scratch at doors and bark too much?
One easy way to get the most out of the relationship between you and your dog is by using a DVD dog training program such as The Dog's Way. With 12 easy-to-follow, step-by-step DVD lessons, it takes just a few weeks of patient instruction to transform your dog or puppy into an amazing companion you will enjoy for many years. In addition to the lesson, there is a helpful workbook and reminder cards that you can tote along with you as you go on walks to help reinforce skills. Your dog will soon learn many crucial skills such as sitting, staying, walking on a loose leash, understanding boundaries and many other common issues.
About the Author:
Garrett McMahan loves watching dog show. For further information about best dog training DVDs, or to find other dog training videos like obedience training DVD online, please check out the TheDogsWay.com site now.
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