Tips To Care For Your Pet Dog

These were the words of a vet that I overheard, “It is one thing to own a dog and an entirely different thing to look after it well,” quite true that we need to look after our dogs well so they are proud to have us as their masters.

Steps to care for your pet dog:

1) Get a microchip inserted by a vet into the dog’s skin; it should contain details of the owner like address and telephone number. A microchip does not hurt the dog, but just tickles it.

2) Crates are great as beds for pet dogs when you leave the house; never use it as a means of punishment. Let your dog out of the crate and shower you love and affection on them. Never force it into the crate if it barks or pulls off; try later when it is calm.

3) Ensure you feed your dog breakfast with pet food from a local pet shop in pet bowls. If the dog has not teethed fully it would help to give it canned food or with food with water; this may be especially useful for dogs that don’t drink sufficient water.

4) Make it a habit to give your pet its daily walk; dogs love new smells and new sights. To start with get a 6 foot leash and some poop bags from the local pet shop. Let about 4-5" slack on the leash and allow the dog to be at your left; when you run or jog make sure the dog is in front of you to prevent the dog from running into the street and being hit by a running car.  As a puppy ensure the dog is closer to you to prevent pulling and straining the leash.

5) Ensure you feed your dog 2 to 3 times a day depending on its size and diet. Puppies will need to be fed more often; feed it fully, however ensure that you do not over feed them as it could build up as fats. Most adult dogs need up to 2 cups of food, though dogs in the city need less food as they do not have much outside play. Ensure you do not feed pet dogs chocolates that contain a type of caffeine that is harmful and grapes as it damages the kidney.

6) Groom your dog regularly by brushing it regularly; the frequency of brushing depends on the breed of the dog. Always brush your dog to remove fleas and loose hair. In case it is of a mixed breed, it would help to manage the hair depending on the texture and length of the dog’s hair.

7) Play ball with your dog; however avoid playing tug-of-war with a hunting dog as German Short-haired pointer. It would help to sit your dog and then remove the ball from it mouth to prevent tug-of-war.

8) Next reward your pet dog when it behaves well or obeys your command; stroke the dog’s fur from head towards the tail and say, “good dog.”  Give him treats, but do not overdo it because they will start expecting you to give treats more often.

Finally it is very important to visit the vet annually for a check-up; more frequent visits may be required in case of illness or disorders. Also ensure you have a backup vet that is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week and 365 days in a year. 

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