They say that a dog is man’s best friend, and maybe they’re right. For new and prospective dog owners, the idea of having a dog and the reality of it can be very exciting. But along with that fun comes a responsibility to take care of this creature and do what’s best for them.
How do you take care of a dog? It’s relatively simple to figure out what’s required.
Do your research. Make sure that you have a basic understanding of what dog care entitles and what you’re supposed to be doing. You want to have the basics down so that you’re not overwhelmed when the actual puppy or dog comes into your life.
Get them checked out. Be sure that your dog is up to date with everything that it needs and gets checked out so that your dog receives a clean bill of health. They also may need to get certain shots or treatments depending on what’s going on with them or what they have already had in the past.
Learn about training. If you don’t intend on learning about training and want to take them to a trainer, that’s fine too. But either way, dogs need to be trained. They need structure if they’re going to know what’s expected of them and be able to live comfortably and happily within a hierarchy. Having no rules or guidelines for why their human is behaving or reacting or what they should be doing is confusing and bad for any dog to experience and can make it tougher for them to learn later.
Always have the proper food on hand. Pets need to know that you’re going to be able to feed them and that they won’t have to wait with hungry bellies while you dash out to the store. Have all your pet supplies on hand and they’ll be happier!
Be nice to them. They’re your buddy, and it doesn’t mean you can’t have a firm tone or stick to decisions. It just means that since you love each other, you want to always be your best and be nice to them in the ways that count.
Make sure that they’re cleaned and groomed. A bath and a brush never hurt anyone, and it can keep your dog from acquiring that overly dog-like smell that can sometimes happen.
Get them beds, treats, toys. Make sure they have everything they need, whether stimulated and awake or ready for sleep.
Keep them to a consistent exercise regimen. It’s good for them and it’s good for you too!…