The dog, as we have heard, is man’s best friend. Therefore, when we want to have one, we will have to bear in mind that we have a very large responsibility in our hands. They are very intelligent and loyal animals, and they tend to give us more love than we give them. The least they deserve is that we make them happy and keep them healthy. It is not complicated, but it requires dedication.
Below I leave you a series of steps to know how to take care of a dog.
How to take care of a dog:
Before taking a canine home, we will have to pay attention to certain things. To get started.
Is my home suitable for a pet?
If we have a home with little space, and even so, we want to have a pet, the best thing we can choose is to have a small breed dog, such as the French bulldog or the Maltese bichon.
If we live in a large apartment, we would have to opt for the idea of having a medium-sized dog, such as a dachshund or beagle. Now, if we have a house with a garden, we can have any breed of dog, from the smallest ones as we mentioned before, to the largest ones, such as the Saint Bernard, since that way they will enjoy a wide area to run.
Once you have seen this aspect and decided on the dog you want, you will have to buy everything you need and adapt the house for your arrival.
Be careful!!
To begin with, we will have to remove from your sight all those products or objects that could harm you, such as certain plants that can be toxic to you, human medicines, which in high quantities would do you a lot of harm, or certain human foods, such as onions, chocolate, grapes, or other sugar products.
We will also have to remove the insecticides that we have, fertilizers or other sprays or paints.
Where are you going to sleep?
A dog, just like a person, needs a place to rest and sleep, to eat and drink and to relieve him. There are people, who like their pet to sleep in their bed, and others who buy them a dog bed, which has to be soft, or a kennel so they can sleep somewhere else.
But with this, keep in mind that if you do not want your dog to sleep in your bed, you have to get him used to sleeping in his place from the first day; otherwise it will be more difficult to educate him later.
Where are you going to eat?
Next, the most common place to put the feeder and drinker is in the kitchen. There you can also put the newspapers or underpaid, which will be where he will relieve himself at first so that he does not do it for the rest of the house, and until he learns to go outside.
Toys
Try to leave him a playground too, buy him some toys so he doesn’t bite furniture in the house. The playground usually has to be bigger versus bigger the dog.
Instructions for caring for a dog
A dog, although it may not seem like it, needs a lot of care. The most important are the following:
- Bathroom. A small breed can be bathed every two weeks, and a large breeds once or twice a month. But the most important thing you should know is that you use products for its pH and its coat, which you can buy at any veterinarian. Do not use any detergent. Human shampoo or conditioner, as it can cause dandruff or skin problems.
- Brushed. If you have a dog with long hair, the most recommended thing is to brush it every day so that knots do not form, yes, with a special brush for dogs. If it has short hair, brush it at least three times a week so that it always has the same softness and shine.
- Nail. When the dog is in a flat and not in a house, the nails do not usually wear down. Therefore they end up growing a lot and causing discomfort and pain. The most ideal thing is to cut their nails every three months and as the case may be with the help of a veterinarian. Remember to buy a nail clipper indicated for him.
- Ears. You have to clean them at least once a month, since it is a very important part of these. It’s very easy to do. You must wet a cotton ball with a little vinegar and water or hydrogen peroxide. To begin with, clean the outer part of the ear, the one that is in contact with the outside. Then wet another clean cotton ball, and squeeze the liquid into the dog’s ear, then give it a light massage. Finally let him shake to expel the liquid from his ear.
- Eyes. Especially small breed dogs usually have eye ailments and tear a lot, since being closer to the ground, dust and small particles enter them. You can wash your eyes two or three times a week with a specific product that you can get at the vet or with fresh chamomile water on the area where the tears run. If you see that his eyes are irritated or inflamed, you should take him to the vet, as he could have a serious infection.
- Teeth. To avoid the accumulation of plaque, you have to give him products to ensure good dental hygiene.
Feeding
Our pet will have to get the nutrients and vitamins for its development with its food, also adapted to its stage of life.
For example, small and medium-sized dogs should be fed a puppy formula until they are one year old and are started on adult feed.
The older dogs will be fed the puppy formula up to one year of age, which is when they start with the adult formula, and from the age of six they use a formula for old dogs.
The best option we have for this is to mix the three types of diets that exist: have a high quality feed and combine it with wet diets and homemade diets. The latter should not contain much sugar nor should they be fried things.
Small dogs also, or those with health problems, will also have to supplement the food with vitamins and calcium.
We will have to respect some schedules for the dog to eat. This also varies depending on the age of the canine.
When they are puppies, they are very active, and they need more meals a day, usually four, but as they grow and their activity decreases, we can reduce either the food or the number of meals, so that certain problems do not appear, such as obesity.
Always feed him at the same times, so the dog will know when he has to eat. Also control the amount you add, let him eat for about 10-15 minutes, and then remove the feeder.
You will have to make sure that the dog always has a drinker full of fresh water, and make sure that when you take him out for a walk there is a fountain along the way so that he can hydrate if he needs it.
Veterinary care
Puppies cannot go outside without their vaccinations, since there is a high possibility that they will catch a disease and more so if they are related to other dogs, that is why it is so important to give them their relevant vaccinations to keep them healthy.
The first vaccination is between 6 and 8 weeks to avoid hepatitis, distemper, parvovirus, coronavirus, Para influenza and leptospira.
It will be vaccinated twice more like this to reinforce it. Then the rabies vaccine will be given, which is not necessary unless the animal is going to travel, which is when it can be caught.
After a short time, you will be vaccinated against giardia and bordetella. Lastly, you will normally receive a vaccination once a year to further strengthen the animal.
Rides
Once the first vaccines have been given, you can start taking your puppy out. It should be walked between two and three times a day, so that he can relieve himself and socialize with others of his kind.
It is a difficult process for him to learn to relieve himself on the street, and you have to have a lot of patience for it.
So that he learns more quickly, always take him out for a walk at the same times, which can be as soon as he gets up, at noon after eating, and before going to sleep, so we will have more chances that he will relieve himself in the street.
Also, when he does them, give him a reward so that he gradually relates that doing some of those needs on the street is fine, such as some dog biscuits.
To walk a puppy, try to buy him a harness at first, to teach him that he should go to your side without pulling without hurting him.
What do you need to take care of a dog?
To care for your pet you will need the following:
- Collar or harness
- Belt
- Drinker and feeder
- I think for puppies
- Dog shampoo
- Dog brush
- Dog nail clippers
With all these tips and instructions that I give you, you will see how soon when you have your new pet you will take care of it in the best way, because it is a living being that we always have to take care of because it is not a two-day-old toy. So take care of it and enjoy it.
