Caring for your furry family member

I firmly believe that having a dog is like having a child. Dogs need a lot of care, patience, time, and money to care for them properly. In this article, I’ll explain what you need to know about caring for your furry family member.

Basic care for your dog

Scheduling regular appointments with your local animal clinic or veterinarian is the most important step in keeping your dog in good health in the first place. Annual vaccinations and health checks are absolutely necessary and rabies vaccinations are required by law. Grooming, nail trimming, and bathing are also important. If done correctly, this can prevent many health problems in the future. The sooner you start grooming and bathing your dog, the better. Otherwise, they won’t be used to handling and may become nervous, possibly responding in a negative way.

food and treats

I prefer to feed my dog ​​a high-protein dry dog ​​food, especially in the winter months. Avoid foods that are high in carbohydrates and fillers. This will give your dog empty calories, make him overweight and hungry more often. I also give my dog ​​a rawhide once a week as a treat. Raw hides help reduce tartar buildup on teeth and dogs love to chew on things. Avoid giving your dog too much human food. Human food can cause obesity and encourage your dog to beg at mealtimes. There are also many foods that are toxic to your dog (such as chocolate, grapes, caffeine, avocado, onions, garlic, etc.). These foods can cause many health problems for your dog and even, in severe cases, cause death.

There are also many types of diets and foods that you can give your dog. The preference is yours. Additionally, I recommend talking to your vet about what diet and foods are recommended for your specific dog and how much and how often to feed.

toys and exercise

There are a lot of pet toys on the market today. The question is, which product is right for your dog? In my case, my Luna prefers anything with a squeaker. If she doesn’t have a squeaker, she will destroy it. I also buy him long, sturdy toys that we can play tug-of-war with and tennis balls to play fetch with. I don’t recommend anything plastic or soft rubber. These toys your dog can easily break and ingest and can make your dog sick. Also, get toys that encourage interactive play. This will help you and your furry friend bond and get some exercise.

Basic training and what not to do

I feel like the two most important commands to teach your dog first are SIT and STAY. These commands lay the foundation for other more advanced commands. Also, I believe in treats as positive reinforcement. NEVER yell or hit your dog. This will only lead to behavior problems and aggression. From my personal experience, especially if he possesses a dominant race, be sure to assert yourself as the ALPHA. If you don’t do this, your dog could lunge at you, bite you, steal food, and other problems. Something as simple as a game of tug of war, don’t be the first to drop it. This shows your dog that you are the dominant member of your pack.

My experience as a dog owner

As you can see, it takes a lot of time, patience, and knowledge to properly care for your furry friend. But trust me when I say that it is worth every ounce you put into your relationship. With proper care and training, you and your dog will be a happy family.

I hope you and your furry friend have a long, healthy and happy life together.

With wishes for lots of wagging tails and puppy kisses in your future,

give him