Monday, October 7, 2013

Owners Of Large Dog Breeds, Listen Up!

By George Michaels


Do you have a large dog breed in your house currently, or did you own one previously? If you do, you understand the benefits a dog brings. Still, as with anything in life, the more you know, the better. This piece will offer terrific advice for any dog owner.

*It is expensive to own a dog. When you add up the medical care, food and supplies in general, your costs could run from $700-$1000 annually. A sick dog could cost you tens of thousands! Look into doggie health insurance!

*When vacationing with your dog, use the camera on your phone to snap a quick picture. If the worst happens and your pet gets lost, you have a current picture that you can show others or use to make "lost" posters.

*If you have prescription or over-the-counter medication in the house, make sure that your dog does not have access to it. Your dog could be seriously injured or killed by ingesting a couple of small pills. Call your vet as soon as possible if your dog swallows any pills.

*Always give your dog lots of praise and hugs when it does something right. This communicates to your dog that he is doing just exactly what you want. It teaches the dog that he gets praised when he does what you'd like him to do.

*Beware of flea treatments for your dog. Some treatments contain dangerous ingredients that may put your kids at risk for diseases like cancer. Talk to your veterinarian about the safest options, and don't let your kids near the dog while you're doing a treatment.

*You should never give table scraps to your dog. This can make your dog not want to eat his dog food, and it will promote begging. Scraps from the table obesity, digestive problems, or other health issues in dogs. To prevent temptation, have your dog separated from the area you eat in.

*Talk to your vet about what you feed your dog. Sometimes, your puppy may not be developed enough to consume certain brands, as this can lead to an upset stomach or sicknesses. Use your vets advice and common sense to feed your dog properly.

*Take your new dog to the vet. This should be one of the first things that you attend to when you're bringing home a new pet. A vet will make sure the dog is healthy and also set up a future schedule of vaccinations. Also, be sure to speak to the veterinarian about neutering or spaying your dog. There are plenty of dogs already in the shelter, and you don't want to increase that problem.

*Train your pet on how to behave correctly when leashed. He should be on your side, not behind or ahead of you, and he should know how to respond when told to "heel." If your pet is leash trained, it'll be safer, and you'll enjoy walks more as well. Even if you're using loose leashes for walking here and there, make sure the dog understands this command.

*Never miss one of your pet's annual check-ups. Your vet can detect any health problems before they are too serious. Annual physicals can save a lot of problems in the future.

As was pointed out, having a large dog breed is really fun. It can be even better when you are well informed about dogs. Thanks to the knowledge found here, you should be more informed on dogs. Take advantage of these suggestions and have fun being a dog owner!




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