Saturday, May 29, 2010

Tips And Ideas To Manage Your Dog's Health

The status of a dog's health can be seen by how much exercise it gets on a daily basis and also on the food and water that it receives. Other important factors are discipline, grooming and affection.

Dog treats should not be given as a regular food replacement, and while they are useful in training, they must be monitored in order to maintain your dog's overall health.

Routine grooming is another important issue that helps a dog's health. Nails need to be clipped and ears need to be cleaned. Also, flea and tick control medications should be given on a regular basis. If clipping the nails is difficult for you, then dog grooming services are available at pet stores for a fee.

Baths are needed to remove mud and dirt, but with some dogs it is important not to continually use shampoo. Even dog shampoo can dry out their skin, but when they begin to smell from rolling around in something, then it is time for the dog shampoo. Affection is important, as is exercise and discipline.

A dog's health is of utmost importance, and it can be maintained by following these healthy dog tips. Nutrition, regular exercise, discipline and grooming are all part of what will provide you with a happy and healthy companion.

Affection is definitely important but it shouldn't replace all the other important needs. Making a commitment to ensuring that your dog is healthy will give you an animal that is a joy to own.

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Thursday, May 27, 2010

Training And Controlling Your Pet Dogs

Pet dogs are quite similar to children in a lot of ways. They need to be provided for, they require a high amount of attention and love in order to develop properly, and it is up to the owner to also provide adequate training.

Dog behavior that is closely monitored and positively reinforced will result in an animal that knows what is right and what is wrong, in terms of their actions and responses.

Pet dogs have the same need for a pack leader as any other social animal. Animals in the wild that run in packs will choose their pack leader. Dogs on their own need a pack leader and if they don't see their owner as their pack leader, they will then become the alpha dog, or their own pack leader.

A good pack leader will make sure that their dog is exercised first so that excess energy is removed prior to a training session. Discipline shouldn't be harsh, but it needs to be firm so that the dog becomes calm and submissive to the owner. Dogs who rule their owners cannot only become a problem for their owner but to other people and other dogs as well.

It is very important that pet dogs are constantly supervised, trained and given appropriate discipline at the right time in order to have a healthy, calm and submissive pet. Setting boundaries, training and being the pack leader for your dog are responsibilities that the owner must carry out each day.

This requires a lot of time, energy and even money to ensure that you are doing everything possible to make your dog a pleasure to be around, not only for yourself, but for others in the company of the dog.

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Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Tips For Keeping A Healthy Dog

In order to have a healthy dog, exercise is of the utmost importance, and this means more than just a backyard they can roam around in.

A responsible owner will be the one to exercise the dog, or make sure that someone else exercises the dog each day. Just giving your dog high quality food and fresh water, as well as discipline and affection won't keep your dog healthy. A dog that eats the right portions of food can still become overweight and develop illnesses.

Since exercise is recommended as the first step in having a healthy dog, it is the owner's responsibility to monitor the amount of exercise their pooch gets. Different dog breeds require different amounts of exercise.

A medium or large dog requires more running, retrieving of balls, and longer walks than a smaller breed. Yet, smaller breeds still require exercise to burn off excess energy so they can eat and sleep better.

A healthy dog can be compared to a healthy human, and the opposite is true as well. Think about how you would feel if all you did was sit around for the majority of the day, with only the occasional burst of energy.

Your health would suffer and the same is true for dogs. An owner who is responsible and cares about their pet will take the time to meet their dog's needs and a major part of this is ensuring that they receive enough exercise.

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Sunday, May 23, 2010

Making A Decision On A Dog Vs Puppy

There are pros and cons for the dog vs puppy choice, and this first decision must be made with the entire family. Puppies require a lot of time and patience, and while older dogs may have issues, the decision must be thought of seriously because ultimately you want your dog to be happy within the family unit.

Then you can look at dog breeds, and you will know how large a puppy may become. With mixed breeds, you may be in for some surprises.

When deciding on a dog vs puppy, the argument of predictability usually wins out. When you bring a puppy into your home you have no idea how big it is going to be in a year, or what kind of changes it will go through. You might end up with a dog that looks completely different from how it looked as a puppy.

With a dog that has reached the end of its growth, you'll know exactly what kind of dog you'll be getting. The appearance of a dog can be an important factor in determining if it's a bad or good dog choice for some, and so it is useful to know what you'll be getting.

The dog vs puppy decision is the first main one that you need to make if you want to be a good dog owner. A puppy is cute, but you may not know how large it will become or what mix of breeds it is.

Not all breeds are good around children, so if you are unsure, then maybe a trip to your local dog shelter would be a good idea. Many popular dog breeds are now being put into shelters because the family can't keep up with the dog's level of energy.

As well, with so many dogs in shelters or having been abandoned because of the sluggish economy, it might be a better choice to select a dog from your local pound. This not only helps the dog, but your community also, and rescued dogs make wonderful, devoted companions.

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