Best Pet Articles

Training Your Dog For A Happy Healthy Life


Adopting a dog is a lot of fun, but it can also add a lot of responsibilities to your life. When you become a dog owner, you take on the responsibility to make sure your pet has everything he needs, a safe environment to live in, proper care, and everything he needs for a happy and healthy life! It's a big step to care for a dog, but you'll be rewarded with a loving companion.

The first step in providing a good life for your pet and making sure your dog remains safe is to get him trained properly. Believe it or not, many people do not see to this important task and then wonder why their dog jumps up on visitors or won't listen to their commands. Many a dog has been considered a "bad" pet when all he really needed was the owner to take the time out to train him properly.

If you train your dog properly, not only will he have some cool tricks to show off, but it will also add to his safety. Should your dog be heading off into a dangerous situation, your obedience training will come in handy and you can call him back to your side and safety. A well trained dog Will be well behaved around strangers and the family - an obedient companion. Plus the training process can help define you as the master and act as a bonding experience for you and your pet. You can train a dog on your own, or you can join an obedience training class and get instruction from professionals.

You want to make sure your pet is as healthy as can be and part of dog ownership is to provide your dog with excellent veterinary care. A yearly physical exam should be performed and any vaccinations updated. Also make sure you put him on the right heartworm and flea and tick medications. If you notice a difference in your dogs behavior schedule a vet appointment right away. Even a small change in habits, mood, eating or elimination pattern should be checked by your vet - it could be nothing, but it's better to be safe than sorry! Have your dog neutered or spayed - they WILL be much happier.

Providing a safe environment for your dog is up to you as the pet owner. Make sure there are places your dog can get stuck in or fall from and there is no sharp objects like nails or pins laying around. Everyone in the family should know not to leave the door open so that your dog can run out in the street. Refrain from feeding your dog "people" food as some of it can be harmful to them. Chocolate, for example, can even be deadly!

Grooming your dog can be a good time to bond with your pet and can also help him stay healthy. Brushing his coat, trimming his nails, cleaning his ears and around the eyes are all part of good dog health. Proper dental care is the most important grooming task you can do for your dog. Bacteria that builds up on the teeth can break away and cause health issues in other organs of the body. Brushing every other day is recommended to keep your dog's mouth clean and will have the added bonus of giving him fresh breath!

Hopefully you'll never need to enact it, but you should have a plan for the dog in case of emergency. What if there is a fire or some other disaster? Make sure someone is responsible to get your pet out of the house in case of emergency. It's not a bad idea to have a designated person that can mind your dog on short notice if you get called out of town on an emergency.

Bringing a dog into your family, you are committing to provide that dog with all the things he needs for a happy and healthy life. Some dogs Can live into their teens if taken care of properly. That's a long commitment on your part, but the rewards are so great that the commitment pales by comparison.

Lee Dobbins write for Train The Dog where you can learn more about dog training for every breed. Check out their list of dog breeds and see which ones are easier to train.


MORE RESOURCES:

Pet oxygen masks can save animals' lives in fires
San Jose Mercury News
23, 2007 file photo, Nancee Schaffner of the Rutland Area Disaster Animal Response Team demonstrates an oxygen mask for pets on Maple, a sheperd mix dog, at the fire station in Clarendon, Vt. While pet oxygen masks have been used for decades by ...

and more »


The Associated Press

Meet Your Match boosts puppy love (and kitty love) by matching people and pets ...
Washington Post
The color-coded program evaluates shelter pets and the people looking to adopt them in an effort to match personalities, energy levels and needs. Playing Cupid with Meet Your Match helped workers at the Richmond Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to ...
Find puppy love (cats too) through Meet Your MatchWTOP

all 170 news articles »


Shelter pets find forever homes
Idaho Mountain Express and Guide
Over the past three decades, the shelter has adopted out more than 11000 pets and has been named one of the top nonprofits in the valley by the readers of the Sun Valley Guide. In addition, a "shelter mutt" was named one of the best breeds to have.
Adoption screening makes sure pets find 'forever home'Houma Courier
Shelter Exchange and Adopt-a-Pet.com Partner to Help Homeless AnimalsEON: Enhanced Online News (press release)
Valentine's Pet Portraits to be Offered at ShelterPatch.com
Chambersburg Public Opinion
all 23 news articles »


Fracking's Toll on Pets, Livestock Chills Farmers: Commentary
BusinessWeek
A new study by veterinarian Michelle Bamberger and Robert Oswald, a professor of veterinary medicine at Cornell University, chronicles case studies of dozens of farmers and pet owners in six states over the Marcellus Shale. Their findings, published in ...

and more »


Bothell dog therapist helps pets get fit
Seattle Post Intelligencer
Josie's owner, So Scazafavo, began a program of pet therapy at Wag Wellness in Bothell. Josie can't twirl around like a ballerina like she used to, but she has regained some of the use of her hind legs and is doing really well, Scazafavo said.

and more »


Zootoo.com

Alison Sweeney Backs 'Million Pound Pledge' for Pets
Zootoo.com
Some health problems for overweight pets can include, but are not limited to, diabetes and heart disease – diseases overweight humans can also suffer from as a result of their weight. But Sweeney kept up her interest in pet obesity, and for the second ...
Pampered Pet Business Booms in USVoice of America
Consumers Pamper Pets With Healthier ProductsManufacturing.net
Big Pets Get Bigger: Latest Survey Shows US Dog and Cat Obesity Epidemic ExpandingMarketWatch (press release)
allvoices
all 34 news articles »


KFOX El Paso

Pets eat the weirdest things; pet proof your home
Daily Camera
By Kat Burns Humane Society of Boulder Valley You never know what your pet might swallow. So take precautions to prevent severe injury that might require surgery. Photo courtesy Boulder Valley Humane Society Pets do not have the most discerning palate ...
Bad pet owners might be causing fee hikes for everyone elseKFOX El Paso
Meridian Valley Humane Society joins forces with Pets for PatriotsKIVI-TV

all 3 news articles »


ABC2 News

Pets Need Dental Care Too
East Peoria Times-Courier (blog)
Pet owners need to take steps to prevent tartar buildup on their pets teeth which can lead to dental disease. People need to see the dentists regularly and pets need at least an annual dental exam usually during their annual physical.
Time to Brush Up! Petplan Pet Insurance Provides Toothy Tips Just in Time for ...San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
A Bite as Healthy as Their BarkWall Street Journal
Pet Dental Health Under the Spotlight in the USACosmetic Dentistry Guide (press release)

all 81 news articles »


Microchips are Valentines for Pets
Patch.com
But when it comes to pets, the County Department of Animal Services knows exactly how you can show your love: a microchip. “Valentine's Day is a time to do something special for someone you love, including your favorite animals,” said Dawn Danielson, ...
Animal Protection Center holding pet adoption eventThe Patriot Ledger
Meet Your Match: Valentine pet adoption event is SaturdayOrlando Sentinel (blog)

all 12 news articles »


Pet Friendly Hotel of the Year Award Winner New York's Hotel Pennsylvania ...
MarketWatch (press release)
7, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- As the 2012 Pet Friendly Hotel of the Year award winner and host hotel for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, New York's Hotel Pennsylvania has become the only hotel to stay at for the Westminster Dog Show.
Purely Products to Sponsor VIP Pet Bags and Allergy-Free Home Makeovers at the ...EON: Enhanced Online News (press release)

all 11 news articles »

Google News

home | site map | SubArticle
© 2008