Getting a dog is certainly one of the happiest and smartest life decisions. Whether you have a big family or live alone, a doggie will be the perfect, loving companion. Quickly after getting it, it will become an important part of your family and you will be concerned with its health, wellbeing and happiness. You will also be responsible for providing that.
This love and concern leads all pet owners to become the best owners they can be and take the best possible care of their animals. Nobody likes to realize that they are doing a bad job as pet owners but in order to be the best dog dads or mums, you will need to learn how to do a good job, instead of just hoping for the best. There are tips and tricks that you should learn, but it all comes down to whether you want to love the animal or not.
Love is the number one prerequisite of becoming a great canine owner. If you cannot form a connection with the puppy and start loving it immediately, you will never be interested enough in its wellbeing. When you are interested enough, however, you need to learn how to do things the right way. Let me give you a few tips to help you on your way of becoming the best dog dad ever.
Food
There are a couple of mistakes that dog owners usually make. Those mistakes mostly arise from their lack of knowledge or their inability to stay strong and determined while those big puppy eyes are staring at them. I’m talking about giving your dogs too much food, or giving them food that they shouldn’t be eating.
A canine’s feeding schedule should be precisely established and not changed. Talk to your vet about this schedule and make sure to stick to it. In other words, don’t fall for your pet’s cute, but manipulative, stares begging for food. Sometimes, they have a look that says “I haven’t eaten in days”, even though they ate a couple of minutes ago. If you can’t shake off the feeling of guilt when they look at you like that, go here to understand why a feeding schedule is important and how to establish it.
In addition to the schedule, you need to think about food that you shouldn’t give to your animal. You have probably heard that sweet food isn’t good for them, but that’s not the only thing to keep in mind. Once again, you should speak to your veterinarian and let him or her explain which ingredients are harmful and which are good for your pup. That way, you will know which food to avoid.
Checkups
Since I have already mentioned veterinarians, here’s another important tip that you should follow. Take your canine for regular checkups in order to be sure that they are healthy and in good shape. When you first get a pup, take it to the vet immediately and let the expert examine the animal. Then, make regular appointments with the vet and make sure not to miss them.
Of course, don’t forget to talk about vaccinations and have this professional explain that process to you. Vaccines exist in order to protect your furry companion from all kinds of illnesses and avoiding them is not a very smart idea. I suppose you want your doggie to be healthy, and vaccines play a big role in their health, so don’t skip and forget them.
Exercise
Every dog needs to have enough exercise. When they are younger, their energy is through the roof and you are responsible for providing them an outlet. If your pets don’t get enough physical exercise, chances are that they will develop all kinds of destructive behavior, which can be a nightmare for the owner as well.
When the pet grows a bit older, its energy levels will die down a bit, but that doesn’t mean that they should stop with all physical activities. You need to observe the animal’s behavior and figure out how much exercise they actually need. No matter the age of your dog, you have to make sure that it is active enough, both for its and for your sake.
