Puppy Love

Having a dog nowadays is a necessity especially if you are staying in a subdivision where thieves roam around spotting houses to rob. The dog is our best friend, a companion, and also a security guard. Instead of paying a security guard, have dogs that you can train to function as guard dogs.

When you bring home a puppy, remember the following points:

Shelter. A dog must have a clean, dry and warm shelter in the are where you would like to stay like the garage, door and gate area or a room. Remember that dogs prefer to go loose; however problems may arise regarding cleaning because they urinate anywhere. A popular method to teach the dog manners inside the house is to spread newspapers around his bed. Put the puppy or the paper at regular intervals and wherever you see him sniffing around. When the puppy uses the paper, a slight pat and praise him feel good. Training dogs to perform these duties outside the house requires a routine schedule of taking the dog to the same place after he had his meals. If the puppy insists on having bad manners in the house, a scolding and slight punishment will bring him around.

Feeding. Meals should be given at a regular time to dogs under six months old. Puppies should be fed three or four times a day. Dogs are carnivorous by nature, but a balanced diet of carbohydrate, protein, fats and oils with vitamins and mineral is necessary for growth and development and maintenance of body processes. Commercially prepared dog foods contain these nutrients. Large bones (beef and pork) will not hurt dogs, unlike chicken bones. A six-month-old dog should be fed twice a day and a one-year-old dog should be fed once a day, preferably at night.

Training. There are special training schools for dogs. You can also teach your dog the important commands like “come,” “sit,” and “kneel.” Be generous with praise and reward your dogs whenever they follow commands.

Exercise. Walking your dog every morning is a good form of exercise. Both of you get fresh air and sunshine.

Grooming. A comb and a brush will keep the dog’s coat smooth and shiny. Short-haired dogs should not be bathed more than twice a month and long-haired dogs only once a month. After the bath, rinse and dry the dog well. Do not dry it under the sun. Use a towel to dry its coat. Trim the nails if dogs are not getting much exercises. Clip or cut matted hair and trim heavy coat during hot weather.

Ailments. The dog’s eyes and nose are indications of his general health. A healthy dog has a shiny, moist nose, while a sick one has a dry and rough nose. Distemper is a viral disease that is often fatal. It can be prevented with a vaccination. Rabies is a serious disease that can also affect man. Have your dog vaccinated periodically. Bring your dog to the veterinarian for treatment is it is sick.