If you have recently got your first dog, or you are about to do so in the near future, then you are probably keen to make sure that it works out as well as possible. You want your dog to be happy and healthy, and to be looked after as best as you can look after them. That is probably easier to achieve than you might think, as long as you are aware of some essentials.
To help you out, we are going to take a look here at some answers to some of the most pressing questions that dog owners usually have. You’ll find that knowing about the following is really important if you want to keep your dog well, so let’s take a look.
How Much Exercise Does It Need?
We all know that dogs are a kind of pet you need to exercise quite a lot, but you might not be quite sure just how much. The truth is that the answer depends on the breed and the size of the dog. As a general rule of thumb, the bigger the dog is and the more it naturally moves around, the more exercise it is probably going to need. You should always check by researching the specific needs of the breed of your dog, before buying it, to ensure you are able to exercise it properly.
Beyond that, it’s good to know that you need to take most dogs out for a walk at least once a day, if not twice. If they have a sizable outdoor area to explore at home, like a big garden, then you might not have to walk them quite as much. But do ensure that they are getting good exercise – to the point where they are panting.
Can My Dog Eat Human Food?
A lot of dog owners soon become curious about whether or not they are able to give their pet human food. After all, you might find yourself eating a lovely dinner and you naturally want to share it. However, as a general rule of thumb, you need to take care and make sure that you are not feeding them anything that might harm them. It is therefore best to veer away from feeding them anything unless you absolutely know it is good for them.
There are some foods that you can feed them and which might even be quite good for them, however. You can usually find the answer online if you know where to look. You can find out if its healthy if dogs can eat spinach here, and you can look elsewhere for similar queries. Always do so before feeding your dog something new.
Do I Need To ‘Dog Proof’ My Home?
You clearly don’t want your dog to get into any danger in the home, and this is something that you are certainly going to have to think about. And yes, it can be a good idea to go around your home and make sure that it is truly ready for a dog to live there. In the same way that you would always childproof a home before bringing a baby into it, so should you do this for your dog. So what are some of the things that you need to watch out for here?
Mostly it’s about clearing away anything they could chew on – puppies in particular will put pretty much anything in their mouths. You also need to be careful of things like electricals and anything hot, such as if you have a fireplace. Keeping your dog safe from these things is really important.
Should I Get My Dog Chipped?
Yes, it’s a good idea to get your dog microchipped – and, depending on where you live, it might be a legal requirement too. The fact is that dog microchips save lives every year. The chip acts as a permanent form of ID, which a vet or someone similar can scan to find out who the pet belongs to and where they come from. So you don’t have to worry so much about being separated from your dog if they have a microchip.
Beyond that, it’s an inexpensive and easy process to do, and so there really is little downside when it comes to getting your dog microchipped. For the peace of mind it affords you, it’s well worth it.
Those are just some of the main things to be aware of here, and you should make sure that you are following these well.
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