The Ultimate Pet Parent's Guide: 25 Dog Care Tips

Whether you recently got a puppy or have had dogs your entire life, this list of dog care advice is sure to contain something you didn't know but should. I'm confident that this extensive collection of 25 dog care suggestions will improve your pet-parenting skills.

1. Don't overfeed your dog; it will negatively affect both their happiness and health. In America, there are more than 50% of dogs who are obese, and this percentage is rising. Dogs who are overweight are more likely to have metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, joint illnesses, a weakened immune system, and a host of other health issues. They are also less mobile, which limits how much they can play, run, or engage in other activities. Feed your pet in accordance with the vet's recommendations, and resist the urge to give in to their puppy dog eyes when they beg for more.
2. Touch the canine's nose. Your dog should have a damp nose. A healthy dog will have a cold, somewhat wet nose since canines release perspiration via their noses to cool off. The amount of wetness will vary between dogs and depending on the time of year.
3. Schedule routine veterinary visits. Allow the professionals to routinely evaluate your dog to check for any health issues and to give you the finest, individualized advice to keep your priceless pooch healthy for many years.
4. Create a kit for "pet first aid." Being ready with all the necessities to assist your dog in case of an emergency or accident is a vital part of being a good pet owner. This is crucial if you take your dog camping or hiking because you can be far from help. Every dog owner has to have a DIY pet first aid kit.
5. Purchase pet insurance. Emergency room visits, unplanned illnesses, and accidents frequently cost $800 to $1500. A third of pets may require emergency care each year, which can quickly add up in cost. Pet insurance is a crucial investment for the furry members of your family because it can assist with covering these unforeseen expenses, prescription prescriptions, long-term health issues, and more.
6. Brush the canine's teeth. The importance of brushing your dog's teeth for both preventative dental care and overall wellness is sometimes underrated. Make this a regular part of their regimen, and be sure to use dog-specific toothpaste. Teeth brushing may be made fun for your pet every day with a little patience and instruction.
7. Create an emergency plan. Even though it's unpleasant to consider, you must have a plan in place for your dog in the event that something were to happen to you. Make a note of crucial details regarding your dog's daily routine, such as how often and how much they are fed, their medication schedule, the phone number for their veterinarian, etc. Give copies of this to family members and friends who could look after your dog in an emergency. It's also essential to do some research and make sure you know at least one or two nearby neighbors who could assist your dog in an emergency.
8. Play with Intention Play knowingly with your dog's feet, ears, and mouth when you pet and play with them, especially when they are young. You can desensitize children to being touched in these places when it's time for nail trimming by doing things like touching their feet, toes, and nails during enjoyable play experiences. It will be much simpler for your veterinarian to examine your dog when they come in for checkups if you look in their ears and mouth and get them used to being handled in this way. As a result, your doctor's job will be easier, your dog will be less anxious during the examination, and your vet will be more likely to notice any irregularities if your dog does have a problem.
9. Keep your garbage contained. Make sure your trash is secure since dogs may consume things that are dangerous, harmful, or inedible if they are attracted to the delectable smell of your rubbish. Consuming poisonous or foreign materials could necessitate expensive emergency surgery.
10. Provide a safe area for your dog. Create a comfortable space in your home where your dog may feel safe and easily take naps during the day. This space should include your dog's bed or blanket, some toys, and a water bowl. This can enable your dog to calm down on their own in tense circumstances, such as celebrations, infant screaming, or thunderstorms. Keep your dog's crate open and accessible even after they no longer require it for training if they were crate-trained as puppies or when they first joined your home. This may give them the ideal space that they'll love to have.
11. Keep household toxins locked away. Always keep your household chemicals, including pesticides and cleansers, out of your dog's reach. Many cunning canines can and will find their way into items placed in the garage or beneath the sink. To seal cabinets containing harmful materials, try using baby proof locks.
12. Consistently wash your dog's belongings. Your dog's blankets, soft toys, and bedding accumulate germs, dirt, pollen, and other contaminants. For the sake of your dog, make sure you wash these items on a weekly basis. This can be especially useful in lowering your dog's exposure to pollen if they have seasonal allergies.
13. Prevent your dog from eating human food. Numerous human foods, including chocolate, avocados, and onions, are poisonous to dogs and can have negative health effects. Keep human food out of the reach of your dog, and take extra care with gum and candies because many of them include xylitol, a sugar substitute that is poisonous to dogs. Unless your physician advises it, avoid purposefully feeding human foods to your dog. Your veterinarian may purposefully offer some human foods, like as plain chicken, canned pumpkin, or plain rice, for conditions including digestive discomfort, diarrhea, to assist conceal oral medications, or as highly stimulating training treats in moderation. In certain situations, your dog may be able to consume "human food," but they are in no way required to lick your dinner plate clean or consume your leftovers.
14. Take your dog for a walk for both of your sakes. Your dog will benefit from regular walks in a variety of ways, including reducing boredom, assisting the digestive system, maintaining a healthy weight, and helping them burn off extra energy. By providing them with a positive outlet, you could also notice that undesirable behaviors, including as chewing, barking, or digging, lessen.
15. Add variation to combat boredom. By including extra walks or outings, you can break up your dog's regular schedule. For a change of scenery, take them to a dog-friendly location or drive-in theater. To keep them mentally engaged, take them along with you while you run errands and switch up their toys.
16. Give your dog mental challenges. Dogs require a lot of cerebral activity to remain happy and healthy, just like humans do. To keep your dog interested, give them a puzzle toy, teach them new tricks, and play new games with them. When you can't give your dog your full attention, puzzle toys are a great way to give them something entertaining to do.
17. Controlling a super eater. Your dog or puppy is more likely to experience stomach problems or upsets that could cause vomiting if they eat their meals rapidly. It's simple to slow down your dog's eating, which is beneficial for their digestive health. A puzzle feeder can be purchased from a pet store or online. An inexpensive and simple alternative is to just place a huge tennis ball in their bowl. Both the ball and the puzzle toy will function in a similar manner, forcing your dog to navigate the inedible barrier in order to consume their meal.
18. Work out together. Take your dogs for an adventure hike, compete in dog races in the park, or try dog yoga. Exercise will assist you both while you enjoy time with each other.
19. Be patient with them. When your dog misbehaves or struggles to understand a new training method, it can be difficult, but with a little grace and patience, they'll be more likely to keep trying. Take a break from training if you're getting frustrated, and think about talking to your veterinarian or a local trainer. Dogs can sense our body language quite well, so if you are uptight or furious during training, your dog won't take it well.
20. When out in public, keep your dog on a leash at all times. Even the most obedient dog might bolt if it sees another dog, a person, or another animal. To prevent losing your dog or suffering any mishaps or injuries like dog fights, automobile collisions, or other bodily harm, be responsible and keep your dog on a leash in public areas.
21. Congratulate your pet when they successfully go outside to urinate. Potty training can be challenging, especially with breeds of dog that are obstinate. Every time your dog goes outdoors to relieve themselves, praise and encourage them; they'll happily repeat this behavior until it becomes ingrained. Bring goodies outside with you if your dog is learning to use the bathroom, and give them as soon as they finish in an area you approve of. Housebreaking will be much simpler if you follow these steps consistently and take your puppy outside often enough (at least every 4-6 hours and after every meal and sip of water).
22. Make exercise fun. Change up the prizes, praise, and sweets. They will enjoy training more and you will get better outcomes if they regard it as a game rather than something they have to endure being chastised. Through this method, you might also discover which rewards your dog reacts to the best. Always ignore negative conduct when training a dog and reinforce good behavior with goodies, a clicker, pets, and/or vocal praise. They will realize that in order to receive a reward, they must comply with your request.
23. It's important to train regularly. Make a decision regarding your dog's "home rules" and abide by them! Will your family allow your dog to be at the dining table, on the furniture, or in every room of the house? To avoid confusion, keep your dog's training orders and guidelines consistent. To avoid confusing your dog or encouraging poor behavior, make sure everyone in your household is on the same page and agrees to follow the rules regularly.
24. Immediately correct improper conduct. Because kids have a short memory, if you reprimand a child for misbehaving five minutes later, they won't associate the reprimand with the misbehavior. Only reprimand them if you witness them doing it. On the other hand, to encourage the repetition of excellent conduct, always provide your dog with positive reinforcement and treats quickly.
25. Never allow your dog to ride in the truck's back seat. Every year, over 100,000 dogs pass away while riding in flatbed trucks, either through falling out of the bed or being struck by debris. The numerous other people hurt in various kinds of cars are not taken into consideration by this. If possible, please keep your dog secured inside the vehicle with you. You can safely keep your dog in a box or carrier depending on the size, temperament, or distance of your trip as long as it is fastened securely and cannot move around your car in the event of a sharp turn or collision. As an alternative, you can purchase a seat belt attachment for your dog that fastens to their harness and keeps them safely buckled in the seat. You can always talk to your veterinarian if you have any concerns about where it is safest for your particular dog to ride in the automobile. https://youtu.be/WZb0fcFYib0