Have you never had a dog before? Do you want to know what is the main thing you should know? Adopting a dog is similar to fostering a young child, it is not complicated but requires dedication. Before adopting an animal, we must be sure that it is what we want, thus fulfilling our responsibilities to it at all times and throughout its life.
In this article we do a general review so that you know how you should take care of a dog in 10 steps , a simple guide that every owner with little experience should review.
Table of Content
- Index
- Veterinary care
- Basic care
- Dog feeding
- Bathroom
- Socialization
- Walks and physical activity
- Parasite inspection
- The dog’s space
- Education
- Veterinary care
Puppies can not go outside without vaccination because the probability of contagion of diseases is high and may pose a risk to their health. For this reason, your dog must go to the vet and undergo its appropriate vaccination to rule out that it may suffer. The calendar requires:
- A first vaccination between 6 and 8 weeks to prevent dystemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, coronavirus, parainfluenza, and leptospira.
- Two equal reinforcements of this first vaccination will be carried out.
- Later you will be vaccinated against rabies.
- After a few weeks, you will be vaccinated against giardia and bordetella.
- Finally, the dog will receive a reinforcement of all of them every x period of time, which is recommended by the vet. The reinforcement will be carried out less and less frequently as the dog ages, as the chances of contagion are reduced.
Follow all the advice of your regular veterinarian and if you have doubts about a proposed treatment do not hesitate to ask for a second opinion. In addition, you should be aware of any symptoms of illness that the dog may manifest, remember that he does not speak.
- Basic care
Your dog needs a series of cares and attentions on your part that you must fulfill on a daily basis:
- Provide a fluffy bed for sleeping. You check it on Amazon at affordable prices using Amazon promo code.Â
- The dog should have a drinker with plenty of fresh, clean water every day.
- Give him specific quality food according to the stage of his life.
- Toys and teethers can not miss to entertain you when you are not.
- Cleaning the legañas daily and a bath from time to time will be basic conditions.
- Take him for a walk at least 2 or 3 times a day.
- Comb it as regularly as you need.
- Socialize and teach you what coexistence at home should be like.
- Dog feeding
In ExpertoAnimal you will find specific articles on dog nutrition and it must receive special nutrients and vitamins for its development, always adapted to each stage of its life.
The most recommended option is to combine the three existing types of diet , always giving preference to high-quality feed together with wet diets and home-made diets. Remember that in the case of puppies and senior dogs, as well as dogs that have health problems, they will have a specific diet sometimes supplemented with vitamins or calcium .
- The bathroom
There is a myth that it is necessary to bathe the dog with a maximum frequency of 1 time every two months, but this is not true.
A small breed dog can bathe every 2 weeks and a large breed dog 1 or 2 times a month. Of course, it is very important that you use products for dogs since they respect their coat and the pH of their skin in addition to incorporating percentages of anti-parasites. At the same time that you habituate your dog to the bathroom, you should use products that allow him to have the correct dental hygiene and avoid the accumulation of plaque.
After the bath it is important that we always apply pipettes to avoid the appearance of fleas or ticks.
- Socialization
Once the vaccination schedule allows it, it is important that you begin to socialize your puppy dog . It is also important to socialize adult dogs if they show scary and inappropriate behavior due to various fears. In this case we must work with a professional.
Why is it important to socialize my pet ?
It is essential that your dog meet others of the same species to prevent aggressiveness in the future. Also, adult dogs will be an example to him and help him know how to behave in the pack. We will also socialize with people of all ages so that the dog is not afraid and adopts a kind and social attitude that allows it to behave well in public.
Socialization allows your pet to relate to the environment, to express its personality and to be more confident and happy on a daily basis.
- Walks and physical activity
It is essential that you walk your dog 2 to 3 times a day, always taking into account the frequency of its needs. On the walk you should be calm and let your dog smell the environment, if it is properly vaccinated you have nothing to fear.
In addition to the walk that you will take, it is very important that your dog exercises as it develops its muscles and provides relaxation. You can go running with him or share a bike ride together, and if not, you can always leave him an hour in the dog run with other pets. You will have a great time!
- Inspection of parasites
Fleas and ticks are always a threat to the dog that can become serious if it is not treated or prevented at all. To detect the presence of these parasites and to be able to act as far in advance as possible, it is important that you supervise your dog’s coat by stroking it against its hair . This habit must always be maintained and intensified in the hottest months.
You should prevent the appearance of insects by applying a pipette against mosquitoes, fleas and ticks after the bath and even against Leishmania if possible. In the market you will also find necklaces that are an excellent reinforcement. Be aware of any problems your dog may have.
- The dog’s space
If we adopt a dog at home we can see that at first it feels lost and disoriented. We must provide him with a comfortable place to sleep and rest , exclusively for him, as well as various toys for his entertainment.
It is important that you keep the whole house sanitized and clean so that he feels comfortable and understands that he must also be clean. Dogs take an example.
You must also have your own space to eat , which must be at certain times and never at the table or dining room. You should also know that it is very important not to feed him just before or after exercising in case that could cause gastric torsion.
- Education
The education of a dog is essential to achieve its mental health and proper coexistence. The limits are fundamental and the whole family must follow them without exception so that the dog understands his place inside the house. We recommend that you use the positive education system and if possible the initiation to the clicker , since it gives very good results.
10. Treat like darling
The dog is a social animal that has emotions and feelings . For this reason it is important that you are affectionate with him and that you create an emotional bond that allows you a good coexistence and understanding.
You will observe that as time passes he will follow you wherever you go, he will protect you when you need him and he will offer you affection when you are sad. The dog has a highly developed sense to understand non-verbally what happens in his environment and in your relationship, as well as ease to understand your emotions.
Author
Selena is a blogger and a guest contributor for a well-known brand that includes MESHEBLE. In her leisure time, she plays tennis.
