A dog is much like a child in that you have to care for him night and day. Sometimes, it could be annoying if you have a busy schedule. Just because your dog can’t talk back, nor can the dog draw on the walls, the tendency of it being mistreated unintentionally is high. Having dogs have their own pros and cons, and we should dive into it in details.
If you are thinking of getting a new dog for your family, be sure that you are prepared for this commitment. Depending on the size of your dog’s breed, it ranges in between 14-16 year for a smaller breed and at least 10-12 years for a larger breed. This is a long time commitment and if you are not ready to have his or her company for its entire lifespan, owning a pet is not for you.
Dog has a short span of attention. Therefore, prolong training session will not benefit both the trainer and the dog. It can make the training session stressful, boring and tire out the dog. When this happen, your dog will not learn or retain the new skill. Limit your training sessions to 20-30 minutes, as this will help to keep the full attention of your dog. Be consistent and persistent are the keys.
Repeat the same command or tricks consecutively for 5-7 days and more if needed is necessary. Do not introduce new tricks or command until the dog get the last one you are trying to teach them. Always review the commands regularly to refresh their memory.
Over weight dog has becoming an issue nowadays. This weight problem is causing the rise in diabetic, joint and heart disease, etc. We tend to love our dog too much and feed them what we eat. This practice could lead to weight gain problem and snow balling down the hill over the years. Besides exercise, your dog needs to eat a well balanced diet. Read the label of the commercial dry kibbles or opt for the organic selection.
Exercise is a vital routine to have a happy healthy dog. Playing fetch is a good game to exercise and taking them out for a walk kills two birds in one stone. Take the dog outside of the house is the best way to get some Vitamin D and fresh air for both of you. If you have more than a dog, throw some rope in the fence up yard and let them have a ball. Just like a human being, we need daily activity to stay fit both physically and mentally.
Consult with your veterinarian about the feeding schedule and the right amount of food each day. Depending on the level of the activity of your dog, you may use your discretion to scale up or down of the suggested feeding quantity on their dog food package. It is also advisable to monitor the weigh of your dog when you make changes on the feeding amount making sure they are not under weight as well as over weight.
Ease your dog into knowing a new baby or toddler that comes into your home. Dogs are also known to be protective and therefore, it can be regarded as jealousy. Some positive reinforcement and assurance of love and affection are important. Talk to the dog as you handle the baby and keep him in the loop.
Using human hair shampoo to the wash your dog is not recommended. It can dry out the sky and cause dandruff or skin irritating. There are plenty reasonable dog shampoo available that is specially formulated for dog. There are also special care shampoo to treat different skin condition of your pooch. Please make sure to rinse all the shampoo residue out of the dog fur when you give them a bath.
A dog is around for only around ten to fifteen years, so making the most of his life with you is extremely important. That said, take it one step at a time and you can make your dog’s lifespan amazing.