If you just adopted anew puppyor you've had dogs your whole life, there's probably something on this list of dog grooming tips you didn't know, but should.
As someone who has worked in veterinary clinics for over 10 years and is an avid dog lover, I promise you this extensive list of 39 dog care tips will help you become a better parent.
This is what you will find:
- dog health tips
- Cleaning and puppy testing.
- exercise and mental stimulation
- Connection
- Training
- winter care
- summer care
- dog safety
dog health tips
1. Don't overfeed your dog, it will greatly affect their health and happiness.
More than50% of dogs in the United States are obeseand that number is increasing. Overweight dogs are at increased risk of metabolic abnormalities, cardiovascular disease, joint disease, weakened immune systems, and many other health problems. They are also less mobile and cannot run, play, or participate in other activities as much as they would like. Do your pet a favor, feed him the amount recommended by your vet and don't give in to those pups when they ask for more!
2. Touch your dog's nose
Your dog's nose should be wet. Humidity levels vary by dog and by season, but a healthy dog will have a cool, slightly moist nose because dogs secretesweat through the nosegetting cold
3. Make yearly vet appointments
Let the experts check your dog regularly for any health issues and provide you with the best personalized information to keep your precious pup healthy for years to come.
4. Make a "Pet First Aid Kit."
Accidents and emergencies happen and being prepared with what it takes to help your dog is a crucial step in being a responsible pet owner. This is especially important when walking or camping with your dog when you don't have help. TODIY Pet First Aid KitIt's something every dog owner should have.
5. Get pet insurance
don't fall forUnexpected accidents and illnesses typically cost between $800 and $1,500. With up to a third of pets needing emergency care each year, this can quickly become a financial burden. Pet insurance can help cover unexpected expenses, prescription drugs, long-term health problems and more, making it an important investment for furry family members.
Pro Tip:Explore the pet insurance marketPawlica-hermano.)
6. Brush your dog's teeth
Often overlooked, brushing your dog's teeth is extremely important to his overall health and well-being.Avoid expensive dental treatmentsIn the future. make it part of themnormal daily routineand be sure to use a toothpaste made specifically for dogs. With a little time and practice, brushing your pet's teeth every day can be a fun activity!
7. Prepare an emergency plan
It's not pretty to think about, but it's important to have a plan for your dog in case something happens to you. make a list ofimportant informationabout your dog's lifestyle, including how often he is fed, how much he is fed, medications, the vet's phone number, etc. Give copies of this to someone in your life who can care for your dog in an emergency. It's also worth asking around and making sure you have at least one or two people around who can help your dog in the short term.
8. Play with purpose
When you pet and play with your dog, especially when he's young, you're intentionally playing with his paws, ears, and mouth. By doing things like touching their feet, fingers, and nails during a positive play experience, you'll desensitize them to touching these areas when it's time to cut their nails. If you look in his ears and mouth and get him used to being treated this way, it will be much easier for your vet to examine your dog when he goes outside.checkups. This will make your vet's job easier, your pup will be less stressed during the exam, and your vet will be more likely to catch any abnormalities if something is wrong with your dog.
Cleaning and puppy testing.
9. Keep your trash safe
Dogs are attracted to the delicious scent of your litter and can eat things that are toxic, harmful, or indigestible, so make sure your litter issafe. Ingestion of foreign objects or toxic substances can result in expensive emergency surgery.
10. Give your dog a safe place
Create a warm area of your home with your dog's bed or blanket, some toys, and a water bowl where your dog feels safe and can easily nap during the day. It might help your dog.take it easyin stressful situations like parties, crying babies or thunderstorms. If your dog was crate trainedrescue dogsor if you join your family, you can provide them with a perfect place just for them that they will love to have if you keep their cage open and available even when they no longer need it for exercise.
11. Block household toxins
Always keep household chemicals, such as cleaning supplies and pesticides, out of your dog's reach. Many smart dogs can get stuck in products stored under the sink or in the garage. Try locking toxic cabinets with baby-proof locks.
12. Wash your dog's clothes regularly
Germs, dirt, pollen and more end up on your dog's bedding, stuffed animals and blankets. make sure you areWash these items weeklyto keep them fresh and clean for your dog. If your dog suffers from seasonal allergies, this can be especially helpful in reducing pollen loads.
13. Keep your dog away from human food.
Many human foods, such as chocolate, avocados or onions, are toxic to dogs and can have serious effects on their health. Keep food out of people's reach, and be especially careful with gum and mints, as they contain a lot of them.xylitolThis is a sugar-like substance that is toxic to dogs. Do not intentionally feed your dog human food unless your vet recommends it. Some human foods, such as plain chicken, canned pumpkin, or plain rice, may be intentionally recommended by your vet in small amounts for specific reasons such as indigestion, diarrhea, to hide oral medications, or as highly motivating training treats. In these cases, "human food" may be appropriate for your dog, but he certainly doesn't need to lick his plate or eat leftovers.
PROFITS:For a complete checklist of everything you need to "dog-proof" your home, download thedog checklist.
movement and mental stimulation
14. Walk your dog for health and happiness.
take regular walksA lot of advantagesfor your dog, including preventing boredom, supporting the digestive tract, maintaining a healthy weight, and helping burn excess energy. By giving them a constructive outlet, bad behaviors like chewing, barking, or digging may also decrease.
15. Fight boredom by adding variety
Break up your dog's normal routine by adding extra walks or walks. Take them to a dog-friendly spot or hop in the car for a change of scenery. Take them for a walk and change their toys to keep themmentally stimulated.
16. Mentally challenge your dog
Just like us, dogs need a lot of mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. Give your dog a puzzle toy, teach him new tricks, and play new games with him.keep them busy. Puzzle toys are a great way to give your dog a fun activity when you can't give him 100% of your attention.
PROFITS:This is especially important during this period.social distancing with your dog.
17. Slow down an over-eater
If your dog or puppy eats too quickly, it increases the risk of stomach problems or upset, which can lead to vomiting. Cutting back on your dog's diet is good for digestive health, and it's easy to do. One option is to purchase a puzzle feeder at a pet store or online. Alternatively, an easy and inexpensive solution is to simply drop a large tennis ball into the bowl. Both the ball and the puzzle work in a similar way, requiring your dog to go around the inedible obstacle to eat his food.
18. Training together
Take your dog for a walk in the park, try yoga for dogs,go upstairswith your dogs or take them on an adventure hike. Both of you will reap the benefits of exercise while having fun together.
Connection
19. Be friends with your dog
Dogs need love and affection to thrive. Make sure he spends a lot of time indoors with you and your family. Give them attention, treats and play with them.
20. Be patient with them
It can be challenging when your dog succeeds or fails to learn a new training technique, but with a little grace and patience, he's more likely to keep trying. If you get frustrated, take a break from training and consider consulting your vet or a local training specialist. Dogs are very good at reading our body language and do not respond well to training when they are tense or angry.
21. Hang out with them while they eat
Dogs are pack animals by nature and you are their pack. Stay close to them when they eat and make it a continuation.community act. Picky eaters may also show more interest in your food when they see that you care.
Training
22. Clap your pet when he relieves himself outdoors
Practice potty trainingit can be difficult, especially with stubborn dog breeds. Clap and encourage your dog every time he goes outside and relieves himself, and he will enthusiastically continue this behavior until it becomes a habit. For dogs learning to be housebroken, take treats outside and reward him immediately after he finishes urinating or pooping in a spot you approve of. If you do this every time and walk the pup often enough (including after every meal, after every sip of water, and at least every 4-6 hours), home invasion will be much easier.
23. Make a game of practice
Exchange treats, rewards and praise. If you treat exercise like a game and not something you get scolded for, you'll have more fun and get better results. You may also find that this process makes your dog more responsive to different types of rewards. When training, always reward positive behavior with treats, a clicker, pets, and/or verbal praise and simply ignore bad behavior. They will learn that if they want a reward, they must do what you ask.
24. Constant training is key
decide what"House Rules"for your dog and keep it! Will your dog be able to climb on the furniture, anywhere in the house or near the family during dinner time? When training your dog, follow the same training commands and rules to avoid confusion. Make sure everyone in your family is on the same page, and commit to consistently following the rules to avoid confusing your pup or perpetuating bad behavior.
25. Correct bad behavior immediately
Dogs have short memories, and if you scold them for doing something wrong five minutes later, they won't associate the scolding with bad behavior. Only reprimand them if you catch them in the act. On the other hand, always give your dog immediate positive feedback and treats for good behavior to encourage repetition of that behavior.
Winter Care Tips
26. Wet your dog's paws
Cold weather can cause your dog's paws to crack from the dry air. Try moisturizing your dog's paws topically with moisturizers to ease discomfort, especially if they feel rough or sore after your pup leaves the house.
27. Limit your time outdoors
Dogs are prone to frostbite, especially on the paws, ears, and tail. Even dogs with thick fur should not be left outdoors for long periods of time.cold weather. If you start to feel cold, take your dog inside as he is likely to be cold too.
28. Beware of ice and salt in winter
Both ice and winter salt on sidewalks can make yourdog paw padsdevelop cracks or burns. Clean your dog's paws after every outing and make sure he doesn't try to eat the salt off the ground or lick his paws. If this causes your dog constant discomfort, consider investing in a pair of dog shoes to protect the delicate skin on his feet. They also make pet-safe sidewalks and sidewalk salt that you can use around your home. Pet-safe salt is not toxic to pets' feet and is not harmful if they accidentally eat some of the salt.
29. Consider buying your dog a sweater.
Many dogs have thick coats to keep them warm even outdoors in the coldest months, but not all of our pups have enough fur to withstand the cold. any dogmay have hypothermia, and depending on where you live and the breed of your dog, your dog may benefit from a coat or sweater during the winter. Some early signs of hypothermia that suggest your dog could benefit from additional sun exposure include shivering, rapid breathing, cold ears and feet, increased urination, and unkempt hair. Many dogs love winter coats or sweaters; They look cute and offer even more protection for winter playtime.
Summer Care Tips
30. Keep your dog cool
Dogs do not sweat like we do. Instead of sweating all over their bodies like humans do, they sweat on their paw pads and depend on it.Sighrelease heat. Provide your dogs with access to shade and a way to cool off like a wading pool filled with water or ice so your dogs can safely enjoy the outdoors during the warmer months. Keep a close eye on them in hot weather and bring them inside if they pant excessively to prevent heat stroke, stress and dehydration. .
31. Provide them with a constant source of water
Dehydration is incredibly dangerous for dogs, and it can happen quickly. Make sure your dog has easy access to clean, fresh water throughout the day, both indoors and outdoors. Watch for excessive panting, loss of interest in food, or dry nose. Be sure to contact your vet if you notice these or any other unusual behaviors in your dog during hot flashes.
32. Avoid toxic algae
algae, if ingested,can be harmfuland in some cases fatal to dogs. It's tempting to take your dog to the pond or lake during the hot summer months, but always check with your local parks and recreation department first for any environmental warnings about toxic algae, water treatments, or harmful pesticides in and around the water. her.
33. Watch your feet
Dog paw pads are sensitive to heat and can burn from walking on hot surfaces. If you can't comfortably place your hand or foot on the warm ground outside, the surface is too hot for your dog to walk on. In these cases, opt for grassy, dirt or covered paths when walking your dog.
34. Never leave your dog in the car
The interior temperature of a car can quickly become dangerous or even fatal for your dog. Never leave them alone in the car, even with broken windows, as they can easily succumb to heat stroke. Even if the outside temperature is only 70 degrees, your car will exceed 100 degrees in 20 minutes. cars can arrivedeadly temperaturesin minutes in summer.
dog safety
35. Never let your dog ride in the back of your truck.
About100,000 dogs die driving in trucksof a truck per year, either due to falling bodies or debris. That doesn't take into account the many other injuries in other types of vehicles. Please leave your dog with you in the car, preferably on a leash in some way. Depending on your dog's size, temperament, or length of walk, you can safely place him in a crate or carrier, as long as he is safe and unable to get out of the car in the event of a sharp turn or accident. Alternatively, you can protect your dog by purchasing a seat belt that attaches directly to the harness and keeps him secure in the seat. If you have doubts about where it is safer to travel by car for your dog, you can always consult your vet.
36. Always carry an identification tag with your dog
You never know the importance of an identification tag until you are separated from your dog. Take the time to create an ID tag with your phone number, the dog's name, and the vet's phone number. Make sure this information is up to date.
37. Microchip your dog
Accidents happen and dogs can get loose from their leashes. If your dog is a stray but has a microchip, a vet clinic or shelter will screen all found pets for microchips and can look up your personal information and contact you if your dog has one. In the worst case, a microchip can also prove ownership of your dog if your dog has been stolen. They are inexpensive and as painless and simple as administering a vaccine.
38. Always keep your dog on a leash in public
Even the most obedient dog can run away when it sees another dog, human or animal. Be responsible and keep your dog on a leash in public places to avoid losing your dog or suffering from accidents or injuries such as dogfights, vehicle crashes or other physical harm.
39. Consult your vet before trying any new food or medication
Diet or medication changes can cause your pet a number of health problems if not done correctly or with your veterinarian's instructions. You know your pet best and want to provide the best possible food, supplements, and medical care. The best way to do this is to check with your veterinary team if you want to make any changes and why. That way, your vet can make sure you have a safe product and plan, and note the change in your pet's medical records if he becomes sick or injured. Your vet has the most accurate and up-to-date information on your pet's health and lifestyle.
Take good care of your puppy
Providing quality medical care for your dog is one of the most important areas to love and support your dog throughout his life, from puppy to senior. download theChecklist for new puppiesto a simple PDF that you can save.
I also highly recommend that you consider pet insurance to cover the financial risk of your dog getting hurt or sick. There is nothing worse than not having the resources to treat an animal when you have the knowledge and the means. Because there are so many pet insurance options on the market,Explore or Market Pawlicy Advisorto view plans from top companies side by side and get personalized guidance.