Dog Care Hints

Pet Dog Care

Dogs can be difficult to care for. The biggest thing that can help you is taking the time to train your pet dog well. The difference between a partially trained dog and a dog that is fully trained is astounding.

Pulling On The Leash.

One of the problems with many dogs is that they want to pull on their leash to jump ahead or to stay behind and sniff. One of best tips we have heard to help this involves training them NEVER to pull on the leash.

The best training method we have heard involves stopping cold when they try to pull ahead. Once you stop cold each time for a few weeks, they learn that in order to go forward they MUST not pull.

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Grooming Dogs.

Brushing and Bathing.

Regular brushing and bathing is essential to a well groomed dog. Brushing helps remove dead skin and hair. It also spreads out their natural oils, which will help keep their coat shiny. It will also help with their odor.

Brush your dog first before a bath. Mats and tangles will only get worse in the bath. Be careful not to get soap or shampoo in their eyes. Put cotton balls in their ears to avoid getting water in them. Have all supplies handy within reach before you start. If you leave your dog to retrieve something, they will most likely jump out of the bath. Close the door, if possible, so they can't escape. A towel on the bottom of the tub may help them feel more secure. Use only a dog shampoo. Human shampoo can irritate or dry out a dog's skin. Rinse thoroughly to avoid skin irritation and dry them as quickly as possible. It is especially important that puppies do not get chilled. In fact, you may not even want to bathe a puppy that is under 12 weeks old.

Ears.

Regularly inspect your dog's ears. Pick up the flap if there is one and look inside. Their ears should be a healthy pink. If you see an accumulation of any substance or if there is an odor, it may be the sign of an infection. If they tilt their head, shake their head or walk in a circle, it may also signal a problem. Take them to the vet for a check-up.

If the ears look good, wipe them out with a cotton ball, but only clean the area you can see. You can get an ear cleaner from your vet. Just be careful not to use it if you suspect an infection as the cleaner can cause severe irritation in that case.

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Toenails.

Your dog's toenails need to be kept clipped. If you hear their toenails hitting the floor, they are too long and will cause stress and possibly pain to their feet. Use a clipper specifically designed for dog toenails. Care must be taken in clipping them. You don't want to cut them too much or they will bleed. If they do bleed, apply pressure until the bleeding stops.