How to care for a dog?

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for owners to have a puppy to take care of a pet, to put it mildly, a very rough idea. Most of them are inexperienced owners who first got a four-legged friend. This article is about how to care for your dog. What needs to be done so that the pet is constantly cheerful, healthy, energetic and has lived a long (by dog ​​standards) life. If you do not differ in love for animals, do not have the desire and (or) time to pay attention to him, then think many times: is it worth you to get a dog?

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Which breed is right for you?

If you have not decided on the choice of a pet breed, it is very important to make the right decision, not to be mistaken:

• Dogs such as the Caucasian and Central Asian Shepherd dogs, Moscow watchdogs, black terriers amaze with their beauty and power, but are completely unsuitable for urban apartments. These beauties will feel more at ease in an aviary, in the courtyard of a cottage or in a private house.
• Breeds such as Great Dane or St. Bernard will feel uncomfortable in a small apartment. Such giants will be just crowded in a small area.
• For people living in small apartments, dogs of decorative breeds are mostly suitable: Italian Greyhounds, Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, Chihuahuas, English and American Cocker Spaniels.
• Of the large breeds, companion dogs — Dalmatians and Labradors, poodles — are suitable for keeping in apartments.
• Of service breeds, dogs are best suited: Doberman pinschers, rottweilers, boxers. These are short-haired dogs, and keeping them on the street is rather problematic.

Important! Choosing a four-legged friend, answer with all honesty the following question: will you be able to cope with a large and strong beast. Often, a good relationship alone is not enough for the dog to obey the owner’s commands implicitly. You can control the dog’s behavior only in one case: if you win indisputable authority from it. Otherwise, you are not safe from a variety of troubles: from the inability to bathe a pet or clean its ears to bitten passers-by on the street or family members. First of all, a dog in a family is a huge responsibility.

Sometimes a breed is selected based on tests on the Internet “What kind of dog am I” or “Which dog suits me”. As the saying goes, "All this would be ridiculous, if it were not so sad." Most of the online tests are comic. Not to mention that people do not always honestly answer questions. Therefore, the result obtained, to put it mildly, is far from the truth.

Important! If the choice of the breed is difficult for you, it is much more reasonable to contact a canine specialist who can give good advice and conduct your own, purely professional, testing.

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Dog Care in the Apartment: Feeding Issues

The health of the dog depends on the proper diet, its life expectancy, and finally, the mood. If you believe the advertisement, then there is nothing better than dry feed. The advantage of dry food is that there is no need to cook special food for your pet, take care of the purchase of mineral and vitamin supplements.

Important! Veterinarians are far from being so complacent about such dog care. If you feed the dog exclusively dry granules, over time, stomach problems can begin, up to peptic ulcer.

You should not rush to the other extreme - feed the doggie with food “from the general table”. Cooking for a dog is necessary separately. At the same time, it is important to include such products in the pet's diet:

• Raw meat, offal (light, tripe).
• Greens and vegetables.
• Dairy products.
• Porridge (rice, buckwheat, oatmeal) with meat.

The frequency of feeding the animal with proper care of the dog is not less than 2 times a day: after morning and evening walks. Serving size depends on the weight of the dog and its activity.

Important! Naturally, small dogs eat many times less than large dogs. But in any case, it is important not to overfeed the dog. Overweight is harmful to both dogs and humans.

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Walking

If you are interested in how to care for a dog, be prepared for the fact that the pet needs to be walked daily:

• The ideal option is in the morning, afternoon and evening.
• Often working people are limited to two walks in the morning and evening. This is not to say that this is very good for the dog, but it feels quite tolerably even with this regimen.

Important! Many owners mistakenly believe that the walk is only so that the dog can do its “tricks”. But it’s important to play with the doggie while walking. It is good if there are special places for walking dogs near your house. And a weekend outing in the countryside, where the dog can frolic in plenty, will be a real holiday for him.

If you live in an apartment building, and there are no special places for walking dogs nearby, you have to take the dog out for a walk in a crowded courtyard:

• For safety reasons, keep the dog on a leash.
• If the animal is aggressive in nature, a muzzle is needed.

Important! And one more nuance regarding the care of a dog. Owners do not always clean up their waste products for pets. An owner with a scoop and bag is more an exception than a rule. The result - lawns and flowerbeds in cities are crap. Do not forget about the people around, clean up after the dog!

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How to care for coat?

When organizing hair care, one must take into account its features.

Long pile

Dogs with long hair are, of course, very beautiful. Collie, bobtail, setter, greyhound or spaniel is impossible not to admire. It is important that the pet's coat looks beautiful and well-groomed.

The main rule of caring for a dog in an apartment is regular brushing of wool. This is especially true for the period of seasonal molting, in autumn and spring.

As a rule, long-haired dogs have a fluffy undercoat. If the dog is not regularly combed out, ugly tassels are formed, which can only be sheared. Comb your pet with a special brush, which can be purchased at the pet store.

Important! You need to comb out not only long-haired dogs. For example, Labradors also molt, so combing can not be avoided.

Hard wool

Need a kind of hair care for wire-haired breeds of dogs:

• Airedale do not fade, but their hair needs periodic trimming (plucking of overgrown hairs).
• If you are the owner of a poodle, then it is quite possible that you will need the services of a specialist in grooming. A poodle with untidy overgrown hair does not look at all aesthetically pleasing, but cut by all the rules of dog fashion, it’s simply irresistible.
• Quite complex care requires Yorkshire terriers, which in structure resembles human hair. These cuties need to be regularly combed, bathed and led to a dog hairdresser.

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Does the dog wash after a walk?

This question is asked by many owners. After walking in bad weather, the dog comes from the street dirty and wet.Frequent bathing of the dog, even with the use of specialized dog shampoos, is unacceptable. The protective fat layer is destroyed, and the dog can get eczema or dermatitis. An exception to this rule are Yorkshire terriers. Dogs of all other breeds are bathed several times during the year.

Important! What to do so that the dog does not become dirty during a walk? Special protective overalls help well. They are beautiful, practical in care and protect the dog not only from dirt, but also from the cold.

But the paws need special care. They must be washed or, at least, thoroughly wiped after each walk. This is especially true for winter walks. Utilities use chemicals to melt ice, which can cause irritation to the skin of the paw pads of the animal.

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Tick ​​and flea protection

Unfortunately, not a single breed is safe from bloodsucking parasites. They deliver a lot of discomfort not only to the “flea bearer”, but also to the owners.

Important! Fleas feel great not only in dog hair, but also in bedding, in carpets and under baseboards. The “flea” itself suffers unbearably, experiencing severe itching and soreness from insect bites.

Ticks, the peak of activity of which occurs in May-June, are carriers of diseases that threaten the health and even life of a pet. How to care for a dog so that it does not catch parasites? To avoid these problems, you can use insecticidal drugs:

• Shampoos.
• Aerosols.
• Special “anti-flea” collars.
• Drops from fleas and ticks (they are applied to the withers of the animal).

Important! The most effective drops. The term of protection is up to 2 months. This is enough for the dog to survive safely, for example, the period of activity of ticks. Drops such as Front Line, Bars and others have a good effect. Before using the drug, carefully read the instructions.

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Ears and teeth

Caring for a dog involves hygiene of the teeth and ears of the animal, which is no less important than combing the hair.

Ears:

• The dog’s ears should be periodically cleaned of sulfur using a dry cotton swab. A good effect is given by special ear lotions. If the animal has caught an ear tick, the veterinarian will prescribe special drops that must be regularly used to make the pet recover.
• Decorative breeds of dogs (lapdogs, pugs, chihuahuas) are prone to colds. Otitis (inflammatory ear disease) is not uncommon for them. If you notice that the dog is restless, nervous and scratches the reddened ear, then it's time to visit the veterinarian.

Important! Sometimes the cause of otitis is hair in the ears, for example, in poodles. Contaminated wool is a fertile environment for germs, hence the inflammation. To avoid this, you need to cut off the excess hair in the ears of the animal.

Teeth

In order for the dog’s teeth to be consistently healthy, you need to monitor them from a very young age. First of all, it is necessary to enrich the pet's diet with phosphorus and calcium:

• In this regard, cottage cheese and additives such as Beafar or Glucosamine are very useful.
• Large beef bones, vegetables (cabbage, carrots) help well the development of teeth.

Important! Plaque in adult dogs is removed using an ordinary toothbrush.

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Female bitch

This phenomenon happens 2 times a year. The duration of estrus is 21-28 days. During this period, you need to pay maximum attention to the animal:

• You can not let the dog while walking on a leash, otherwise - your lady may sneak out in search of gentlemen.
• Moreover, the "communication" of your young lady with stray males is unacceptable. Unscheduled mating you do not need. Puppies of an unknown breed with an incomprehensible exterior are also not needed.
• You can not bathe a dog during estrus, since there is a risk of infection of the genitals.
• So that your beauty thinks less about the representatives of the opposite sex, play with her, but, as they say, without fanaticism.
• To prevent the dog from staining furniture and flooring, wear special panties on it. You can buy them at the pet store.

Castration and sterilization

This is one of the best outlets for owners who do not plan on getting puppies. The best age for castration of a male or sterilization of a female is six months.

Important! If you castrate a male older than one year, there is a rather high probability of complications. Therefore, castration of a male older than one year is desirable only for special medical reasons.

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Vaccinations

Timely preventive vaccinations protect the dog from such infectious diseases as:

• hepatitis;
• leptospirosis;
• rabies;
• pyroplasmosis;
• plague of carnivores.

Important! Complex vaccines such as Nobivac (Netherlands), Eurican (France) have good reviews from veterinarians and owners. A veterinarian will help with the choice of vaccine. At the same time, he will evaluate the animal’s health status and determine whether the dog can be vaccinated.

The first vaccination is given to the puppy at 4-6 weeks of age. A further vaccination schedule is being developed by a veterinarian.

Now about how to care for a dog during vaccinations:

• About 10 days prior to vaccination, it is recommended to gobble the dog.
• After the vaccination, the pet's health may deteriorate somewhat. There is no cause for concern, vaccination is not a disease. Soon the animal’s well-being will improve without any treatment.
• However, it must be borne in mind that immunity against diseases is not immediately developed, but in 10-15 days. At this time, the beast is especially vulnerable to infections. It is necessary to prevent communication with other dogs and colds.

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Training, correction of behavior

There are breeds for which training is an objective necessity. First of all, these are service dog breeds. If the dog is not trained to execute commands, then it poses a potential danger not only to strangers, but also to family members. You can train at a special club or engage with a dog handler individually.

Training for decorative dogs is also desirable. An ill-mannered dog, regardless of size, can cause a lot of trouble to both the owners and neighbors. For example, if a dog, remaining alone, constantly barks, it is unlikely that people who live in a neighboring apartment will like it. It is necessary to correct the behavior of the dog, specialist advice.

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The dog got sick ...

It is advisable to prevent serious pet diseases. However, many breeds are distinguished by good health. Provided that the dog is properly looked after, it will not cause you any particular problems.

Important! If you notice that the dog has lost his appetite, it has become lethargic, vomiting, and stool disorder are observed - you should consult your veterinarian. Even if the examination shows that your pet is completely healthy, it is better to play it safe. If the dog is sick, it is important to strictly follow the doctor’s prescriptions so that the pet recovers.

Caring for a dog in an apartment should be especially thorough.

How to properly assess the health status of an animal?

These signs of a healthy dog ​​will allow you to correctly assess the condition of your pet, even if you have a very indirect relation to veterinary medicine:

• Pink mucous membranes. The exception is dogs with a dark color.
• Teeth are white, with enamel intact.
• Clean external auditory meatus, without plaque and damage.
• White squirrel eye.
• Shiny coat. Seasonal molting is normal. But if the dog is molting constantly, this is a sign of illness.
• All dogs itch. But if the dog scratches too often and hard, this may indicate a flea infection or allergies.
• Normal stool frequency 1-2 times a day. Feces formed or creamy.
• Good appetite, playful behavior, an adequate response to standard situations also indicate a good state of the animal’s health.
• Increased aggression, including against the hosts, indicates the onset of the disease.
• The normal temperature of the dogs is 37.5-39 degrees. A temperature increase of ½ degree after stress and intense physical activity is considered normal. In this case, the temperature should normalize within an hour.
• The dog may cough or sneeze while eating, then these phenomena go away.

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Stock footage

Remember that a dog is not a toy, but a living creature. Take care of her correctly, and the pet will answer you with devotion, loyalty and love.