Living with and taking care of a dog can be an eye-opening and rewarding experience. Having a companion around that really shows you love can be something extraordinary, and there are many positives and benefits of living with a canine friend. However, most people know that owning a dog doesn’t mean that everything is going to go well the first time around. Having a dog comes with a lot of responsibilities and you need to be considerate toward their needs and preferences.
But no matter how much care we take when looking after our dogs, we’re bound to make a few mistakes here and there. So in order to help prevent you from experiencing the same problems, here are a couple of the most common mistakes that dog owners make.
Forgetting or dismissing the importance of training
Every dog should have some kind of training. Some dogs are just a little rowdier than other dogs, so it’s not something that you can easily quantify. Instead, it’s just something that you’ll have to get a feel for. Do you think that your dog refuses to listen to you much of the time when you’re taking a walk? Is your dog perhaps failing to pick up good habits, such as choosing the right time and location to go to the toilet? If you believe that your dog isn’t really following your voice, then it’s a good idea to consider retraining them.
However, there are many ways to train your dog. You can use positive reinforcement training from services like Puppy Trained Right, or you could pick up some training books and try to do it yourself. Bonding together with your dog like this can be beneficial to your future relationship, but it does take a lot of work and can be time-consuming.
A good sign that tells you that your dog is well-trained is how they act around other dogs, especially in public places like a park. If they’re calm and curious when they see other dogs, then that’s a sign that you’re training them well or that they’ve been well-trained in the past. However, if your dog gets a little too excited in public spaces when they see other dogs, then you may want to give them a few more training courses.
Not taking your dog to a veterinarian more often
You should never wait until your dog is sick before you take them to a veterinarian. There are lots of diseases and conditions that a dog can avoid before they develop into a serious issue. Prevention is the key here to stopping them from progressing. However, knowledge can also be a great way to start keeping your dog in good health. Knowing the signs of when your dog is feeling uncomfortable or sick can be a good start. Every dog reacts a little differently, but you can generally tell from their behavior that they’re not feeling food.
As such, you should be a bit more diligent about taking them to a veterinarian. It’s always better to be safe than sorry and going to a veterinarian doesn’t take very long, especially if you live near one. You may want to make it a routine, especially if your dog has suffered from some kind of illness or condition in the past. Routine checkups and examinations can help reveal conditions and issues before they have a chance to get worse. It’s also a good idea to help your dog get used to your veterinarian’s face. After all, the last thing you want is for your dog to be extremely uncooperative if they ever catch a serious illness or develop a worrying condition.
Failing to look out for the signs of a sick dog
If you haven’t owned your dog for a while or aren’t experienced in looking after dogs, then you may be unaware of the signs of a sick dog. Some seemingly innocent things can turn out to be a dog’s cry for help, so here are some of the most common things to look out for to tell if your dog is sick.
If your dog goes to the toilet at a different frequency than before, then it could be a sign that they’re sick. Whether they go to the toilet more often or less often, these are both concerns that you should bring to your veterinarian.
Has your dog stopped eating or are they unable to finish their food? Much like humans, dogs can start losing their appetite if they have some kind of illness or condition. If they’re completely unresponsive to their favorite treats, then it’s a good idea to speak with your veterinarian.
Drastic changes in your dog’s personality are usually caused by health-related issues. If they suddenly stop being active when they’re on a walk, or if they seem to be angry when you inspect their body, then it could be a sign that they’re sick or have developed some kind of condition that you aren’t aware of.
When taking your dog to a veterinarian, make sure you bring with you any kind of documents that detail your dog’s medical history. You’ll also want to bring any current medications they’re taking and also keep a list of symptoms that you suspect your dog is facing.
Neglecting to take care of your dog’s dental health
Much like humans, dogs need to take care of their teeth. Bacteria can get into their mouth just like we experience, and their teeth can also develop tartar which eventually leads to periodontal disease. This can ultimately cause tooth loss and even failures in other parts of the body. Good dental care is the key to preventing these issues, but many dog owners don’t realize just how much attention they should be paying to their dog’s dental health.
The most basic way to take care of your dog’s teeth is by brushing it. This is usually a part of a routine. There are many different dental products that you can give to your dog, but you could always speak to your veterinarian if you think you’ll have trouble brushing your dog’s teeth. Thankfully, you don’t need to visit a special dental veterinarian. You can simply contact your regular veterinarian and they’ll be happy to help your dog clean their teeth. You can expect to visit your veterinarian about your dog’s teeth a few times a year, but you can lower this number by learning to brush your dog’s teeth at home.
Not feeding your dog properly
Lastly, it’s a good idea to pay a little more attention to how you feed your dog. More specifically, it’s worth looking at what you’re actually feeding your dog. Many people simply buy the most common dog food they can in the supermarket. They’ll buy whatever brand they think looks the best or the brand that they’ve heard of the most. They’ll serve a portion of food to their dog a few times a day and that’s it.
While this isn’t the worst way to feed your dog, it pays to put a little more effort into feeding your dog properly. This usually means avoiding any overfeeding and also being more selective about treats. Look carefully at the nutritional content of your dog’s diet, and take note of any health-related issues that might be caused by a change in your dog’s diet. It’s also a good idea to speak with your veterinarian about your dog’s diet to avoid any potential overfeeding.
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This post was written with the Life According to Steph audience in mind
