Dog Owner Advice For Those New To Dogs
Raising a dog is a big undertaking and long term commitment. The responsibilities that come along with owning a pet are numerous, however so are the rewards. This article aims to provide you with a few useful tips to help you with the different aspects of owning and caring for a dog.
It costs a lot to own a dog. Dogs need good food, medical care and other supplies. This can add up to $500-$1000 a year. Also, should an emergency arise, this can cost thousands so you might consider pet health insurance.
Your dog needs a stimulating environment if it is going to live a long and healthy life. Providing him or her with one is not really that hard. Simply make sure you take your dog for walks each day, and purchase a few toys that you and your pet can play with together.
To protect your dog in the event he is lost or stolen, have a microchip surgically implanted by your vet. These handy chips store data that can be retrieved by a shelter or animal officer and used to contact you. They are painless to put in and offer peace of mind for the pet lover!
Schedule regular veterinary visits. Regular veterinary exams are extremely important for your dog's overall health - as with humans, it is important to catch any health problems early on. The vet will make sure that your dog is up to date on his vaccinations, and check for any other issues such as weight and dental problems or parasites.
You need to make sure your dog can walk on a leash. He should know the "heel" command, stay close to you and not veer far ahead or drag behind. This ensures his safety and will make going for walks more enjoyable for you. This will also help to prevent your dog from choking themselves, when trying to pull ahead.
If you have a pure bred dog, make sure you educate yourself on what type of problems are "normal" for that breed. If you don't know the type of dog he is, research it so you will know the type of problems your dog could have. Talk to the vet to find out what you are able to do to assist your dog in beating the prognoses of his breed.
Be consistent when giving your dog commands. This is an area where a lot of dog owners have a problem, especially when you won't feed your dog from the table but your spouse will. Make sure that everyone in your home understands what's acceptable so that the dog will receive a clear message. That will make him more likely to obey.
Control your voice to control your dog. When he is a good boy, speak in a high-pitched voice and shower him with praise. When he misbehaves, use a very low and gruff voice to indicate your displeasure. Being consistent with this will help him learn faster, making training him much easier on you and him.
Designate a family member or close friend to be responsible for your dog, should something happen to you. If you are in an accident and unable to get home, your dog will need someone to feed him and address other needs. Perhaps you trust a neighbor with your house keys and they could act for you in a time of need.
Timing is key when bringing your dog home. Try to introduce him to his new home over the weekend or when you have a couple of days off. Take the time to get to know one other - this will make him feel much more comfortable when he has to spend time in the home alone. Also, if you have children, make sure that they don't overwhelm him at first. If you have other pets in the house, be extra cautious when introducing the new arrival.
Control your voice to control your dog. When he is a good boy, speak in a high-pitched voice and shower him with praise. When he misbehaves, use a very low and gruff voice to indicate your displeasure. Being consistent with this will help him learn faster, making training him much easier on you and him.
A great way to have some company on your car rides is to take your dog with you. Most dogs enjoy riding in the car. Riding in the car is also a good place to practice some training exercises with your pet as well. You can practice "stay"u009d when the dog enters and exits the vehicle. Always remember to leave windows down because heat from a closed car can kill the dog.
Some people think it is cute to give their dog alcohol, but it is dangerous. In high doses, alcohol is toxic to humans and even more so for animals. In addition, it affects co-ordination, causing accidents, and can decrease a dog's respiratory rate. Even small amounts of alcohol can kill a dog.
Outdoor dogs are not solitary creatures. Your dog could develop bad habits such as chewing or barking if it is alone all the time. Your dog could also become nervous or fearful of people. Give him a lot of love and play with him often if you want him to stay happy.
It's important to keep in mind that your dog is a dog, not a human. When you're getting a dog trained, it may not have a long attention span. Try to limit your training sessions to several minutes so your dog does not come to dislike the sessions and you can avoid a lot of frustration.
Invest in a separate tub if your dog gets frequent baths. Buy a large metal basin where you will have plenty of room to scrub, but won't risk clogging the pipes in your bathroom. Giving him a bath outside and away from the slipperiness of a porcelain tub is also safer for you
When taking care of your dog's grooming needs, do not neglect their feet. Obviously, dog's do not wear shoes so their feet are exposed to the elements and could hurt their feet in debris outside. Look for any cuts or abrasions on their feet and if you find something serious, bring him or her to their vet.
Since reading this article, are you more aware of what it takes to properly care for your dog? You have the tools necessary to succeed and it's up to you follow them in order to make sure the dog is happy and healthy. These tips and hints can be put to good use on your family pet.
Making A Zip Line For Your Dog
Keeping our dog safe, and abiding by the rules of many of the places we visit, means that Myles spend a lot of time on-leash. Though we’re always exploring new places, life at the end of a six foot tether doesn’t provide him with much freedom. So, to give Myles more room to wander while we’re camping, we made an inexpensive zip line for our dog!
Zip Line vs. Tie-Out
The zip line has a lot of advantages over cable tie-outs, which people often use to keep dogs from wandering off.
First, jumping up every two minutes to untangle your dog doesn’t happen with a zip line. If you have a dog who’s constantly wrapping his tie-out around the picnic table, tent stake, trees, and your chair, you know how impossible it is to relax with those shenanigans going on!
Second, you’ll never again feel the dread of watching your dog bolt to the end of their unforgiving cable tie-out. The zip line has more give and protects pets from injury.
Third, the zip-line won’t trip you when you’re stumbling around the campfire in the dark!
Materials and Assembly
All you’ll need to make a zip line for your dog is some nylon rope and two spring clasps. Any hardware store will have these materials, or you can order them online for about fifteen dollars.
We chose a rope with a smooth cover, which makes it comfortable to handle when we’re putting it up and taking it down. It also has a bit of stretch for some shock absorbency to protect Myles from a sudden stop.
Rod used his Eagle Scout skills to handle the knot tying. He made quick work of the two bowline knots, attaching the spring clasps to the ends of rope.
Melting the fibers by passing the raw ends of the rope though a flame keeps them from unraveling. And – SHAZAM – the zip line is ready for action!
Deciding On Length
The most difficult part of making your zip line will be deciding how long it should be.
We decided on a 50 foot line, which gives Myles plenty of room to explore. And because having too much is better than not enough.
That length also gives us more flexibility if we’re at a campsite with few anchor points. If we don’t have trees, we can attach one end to the ladder on the back of our motorhome and the other to a picnic table or post.
Setting Up The Zip Line
Before setting up your dog’s zip line at a park or campground, check the rules to verify that they allow the rope to be wrapped around the trees. Also, placing a 1 to 2 inch webbing between the tree and the rope will help protect trees with soft bark. Nails and screws should not be attached to the tree when putting up your zip line.
It takes about five minutes to set up our zip line. In the photo below, we’ve wrapped one end of the rope around a tree and clipped the spring clasp on to the rope. Then, keeping the rope taught, we ran the rope to another tree, going around the tree as many times as necessary to take up the slack before clipping the spring clasp back to the rope.
The rope is placed high enough to just give Myles the ability to lie down comfortably. Giving him just enough leeway keeps him from building up too much velocity and jerking at the end of his leash if he decides to chase a gofer or give a squirrel a run for his money.
We also use the dog zip line when our campsites have a ramada. It’s easy to wrap the line around two posts and snap the ends back on the rope.
One Zip Line For Two Dogs
When we still had Ty and Buster, we made separate runs for each dog on the zip line.
We’d wrap the rope around the first tree and clip the spring clasp back to the rope. Then we’d make a complete pass around a second tree, creating the first section of zip line where Ty’s attached in the photo below. Then we’d wrap the rope around a third tree and clip the spring clasp back to the rope. That created the second run of zip line where Buster is attached in the photo below. Giving the boys their own space kept them from getting tangled around each other!
Connecting Dogs A Zip Line
Pets should never be attached to a zip line by their collar, because it could choke them if they became tangled. When he’s on the zip line, Myles wears his harness, which has a loop on the back to connect the leash. The final step is to slip a heavy-weight carabiner through the leash handle and snap it on the line.
What’s “heavy-duty†enough for your carabiners? It depends on your dog! Mass times velocity = force. So, if you have a 50-pound dog and he can accelerate to 5 mph on the zip line, a caribiner rated for 250 pounds should be sufficient. Again, it’s best to err on the side of safety.
Place your pup’s water bowl within easy reach and you’re done! Just remember never to leave your pal unattended on the zip line.
Have you tried a zip line with your pets? Please share your experience in the comments below!
https://www.gopetfriendly.com/blog/making-a-zip-line-for-your-dog/
How To Find A Good Animal Trainer For Your Dog
There are lots of pets out there that a person can pick from. You could pick a cat, dog, rat, chinchilla, fish, lizard or snake. When it comes to a companion who loves you forever, you can't go wrong with a dog. This article can show you just how to take care of one.
If you are thinking of getting a new dog for your family, be sure you are prepared for this commitment. Smaller dogs will require at least a 14-16 year commitment, and larger dogs will require at least 10 years. If you are not prepared to own the dog for its entire life, then do not choose a dog as a pet.
Consider teaching your dog hand signals along with verbal commands. Consistency and practice are key to teaching a dog these non-verbal commands. Many owners get frustrated and resort back to verbal commands, but a well-trained dog should understand both. Try using only verbal commands when the dog is out of sight range, but when close up, only use the hand signals.
Never hit your dog. There are better ways to train a dog without having to resort to violence. The best way to train a dog is to reinforce positive behaviors with treats and attention. Negative behavior should be handled with a stern and disapproving voice as opposed to striking the animal.
Having fresh and clean water available to your dog at all times is a must. Dogs become dangerously dehydrated in a matter of days, so its very important to always have water ready. Dogs will also appreciate water that is clean. If you find it necessary to drink filtered or bottled water because of the quality of water from your tap, then be sure to provide your dog with the same high quality water.
You need to ask your vet to make sure the food you are feeding them is good. Following his advice on the different foods for different stages of your dog's life can avoid sickness and stomach upset. Choose dog food adapted to the age of your puppy and use common sense when determining which foods are healthy for your dog.
To make your dog happy and increase the bond between you, try learning how to give him a massage! It's been shown in recent studies that structured massages are highly beneficial to a dog's health and can improve their overall well-being. This activity can also be very relaxing for you as well.
Groom your dog frequently. Keep them clean and reduce the amount of hair they shed by brushing them frequently. When the weather warms up, start checking them for ticks and fleas daily. Dogs generally require a few baths a year. Before you give your dog a bath, make sure to cut or comb out mats and tangles. Rinse their coat thoroughly to avoid dirt sticking to any soap residue.
Keep your dog at a healthy weight. Plenty of dogs are overweight, and just like humans, this can lead to health issues. People tend to overfeed their dogs, and many also feed them table scraps. A dog doesn't need as many calories as most people think; talk to your vet about how much you should feed him each day, and what food is most suitable. A vet will advise you based on his size, age and lifestyle.
Pay attention to your dog's breath. Dogs will always have "dog breath,"u009d however, really bad breath is a sign that they need a dental check up. Plaque buildup caused by bacteria could be the culprit and that will need to be treated by a professional. After their treatments, you will need to brush their gums and teeth and feed them food that helps maintain good dental health.
Be consistent when giving your dog commands. This is an area where a lot of dog owners have a problem, especially when you won't feed your dog from the table but your spouse will. Make sure that everyone in your home understands what's acceptable so that the dog will receive a clear message. That will make him more likely to obey.
Consider spaying or neutering your dog. This simple operations increases the lifespan of your dog and will help you avoid many behavioral issues, including running away or aggressiveness. If you do not want to have your dog neutered, be responsible and do not let your dog go outside without supervision.
If your dog is always drinking out of the toilet, try changing how you provide him with water. Most prefer it cold and fresh, hence the attraction to the bathroom, so buy a fountain or thermally insulated dish to keep his water at a more appealing temperature. Also, add ice-cubes when it's hot out and he's panting
It is important to train your dog as soon as you get him or her. Behavior that might seem cute as a puppy, can develop into bad habits as your dog matures. It is essential that your dog understands and obeys simple commands. Not only for your safety, but the safety of your dog as well.
When crate training a dog, be sure to allow it to stop making noise (barking, whining, crying) for at least 30 seconds before opening the crate up. This is important because otherwise the dog will believe that as long as it keeps making noise, you will come and open the crate. It can be hard to do this, but is necessary. Of course, always be sure that the dog is safe and not making noise for some other reason.
Keep your dog hydrated. Similar to humans, dogs need plenty of fresh water to drink. If a dog doesn't get enough water, they can easily get dehydrated, sick, and possibly die. Provide them with a fresh water bowl every day. Always keep it filled and clean for them. Keep the bowl in single location.
Never punish your dog for being curious about a new baby. Instead, allow your dog to investigate the smells and sights that come with a baby at a safe distance. If the dog is made to feel like the baby has infringed on his home, the very worst is far more likely to happen.
Give your dog love, just as you would with a child. Dogs are intended to live in groups, and in those settings they tend to be affectionate with one another throughout each day. To give your dog what it needs you must show it love through petting and snuggling. This will only strenghthen the bond that you will have through the years.
Not only do you have a friend when you have a dog, you also have a responsibility. It's important that you do your best to make sure that your dog is well-fed, healthy and happy. You need to make sure that you use the tips here to help you so that you and your dog both enjoy a good life.
Good Morning from the Golden Retriever Channel. This pupper is taking-in rain. Who turned on the can dog eat nopales sprinkler in the sky? Another good day in his life, so far.
— Golden Retriever Channel (@GoldretrieverUS) August 20, 2021
(Lifeofsterlingnewton IG)#dogs #puppies #cute pic.twitter.com/ooQqHn9XIf
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