Pet Topics

If you want your dog to live a long and happy life, there are certain things you should do to ensure he stays healthy. A dog does not need as much care as a small child or baby would, but it does need attention and regular care to keep it healthy. Some dogs need more care than others, but on the whole dogs are easy-going, loyal creatures that enjoy human company.

Getting an Identification Tag

Your dog needs to have an identity tag. Check what your local laws require. Besides the license tag, your dog should have a tag with your phone number on it. This makes it much more likely that you will get your dog back if he should ever get lost.

Vet Visit and Vaccinations

Once you have brought your dog home, you will need to take it to the veterinarian for a health check-up and vaccinations. It’s up to you, but usually puppies and older dogs need to have the vaccination for Parvo besides their rabies shot.

Feeding Your Dog

You need to feed your dog regularly. It’s recommended that you feed your dog in the morning and in the late afternoon. Be sure to follow the instructions on the dog food, feeding him according to his weight.

It is very important to provide him with adequate fresh water every day and enough healthy food for his breed type. It is highly recommended that you not buy the dog food at the grocery store. That food is inferior in quality.

Your dog will stay healthier if you feed him a top quality dog food. Do the research. Some dogs need the raw diet, others do fine on dry or canned. By spending a little more for a high quality dog food, you will end up saving money on vet bills.

Dog Grooming

Grooming is important for dogs. You must bathe your dogs once a month and keep their coats brushed and free from ticks and fleas.

A dog’s teeth are very important and care is required to keep them healthy. Your dog’s ears and eyes must also be cleaned often and watched for diseases.

You may also need to clip your dog’s nails on a regular basis. We’ve had dogs that never needed their nails trimmed. Simply running around kept them naturally short. But we’ve had other dogs (most the small ones) that needed a nail trimming once in awhile.

You may not have the time to carry out these tasks or feel confident enough to do them. That’s okay – you can always hire a dog groomer to groom your dog for you.

Exericise

A dog needs plenty of exercise, and generally the bigger the dog, the more exercise it will need. If you are not prepared to exercise your dog on a daily basis then perhaps you should think about getting another kind of pet.

Not only is regular exercise good for your dog’s health, but it also gives him the opportunity to be with you. Dogs crave company and like to be with their ‘pack’ as much as possible. Remember when you are walking your dog he should always be on a leash and he should not be allowed to walk ahead of you.

Unless you are a dog breeder, you need to get your dog spayed or neutered. Not only will this stop unwanted puppies arriving, it will also give your dog a longer, healthier life. Millions of dogs each year are euthanized in the United States, and there is no reason to add to the overpopulation by not getting your dog fixed.

Dog Training

You may want to take your dog to obedience class. This will enable you to socialize your dog and give you more time together. Dogs are loyal companions and want nothing more than to be with their owner.

Taking care of your dog is not hard. All it requires is regular feeding, plenty of water available at all times, some regular grooming, occasional vet visits, daily exercise and some training. That’s little compared to the wonderful companionship you will enjoy with a dog.

The video below demonstrates how to make a liver treat that you can give your dog as a special treat, as a training treat, or sprinkle on their regular dog food.