Content
- veterinary care
- Basic care
- dog feeding
- The bath
- Socialization
- tours and physical activity
- Parasite inspection
- the dog's space
- education
- Affection
Never had a dog? Do you want to know the main concepts you should know? Adopting a dog is similar to taking in a small child, it is not complicated but requires dedication. Before adopting an animal, we must be sure that it is what we want, thus fulfilling our responsibilities with it at all times and throughout its life.
In this PeritoAnimal article we show you a general summary so you know how to take care of a dog in 10 steps, a simple guide that all owners with little experience should read.
veterinary care
Dogs cannot go outside without vaccination, as the probability of contagion of diseases is high and may involve a risk to the dog's health. For this reason, your dog must go to the veterinarian to be subject to a relevant vaccination to thereby rule out possible illnesses. The vaccination schedule is as follows:
- A first vaccination between 6 and 8 weeks to prevent distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, coronavirus, parainfluenza and leptospira.
- Two equal boosters are made from this first vaccination.
- Later you will be vaccinated against rabies.
- After a few weeks, he receives the giardia and bordetella vaccine.
- Finally, the dog receives a booster from all of them every x time, which will be recommended by the veterinarian. Reinforcement is done less and less frequently as the dog gets older, as the chances of contagion decrease.
Follow all the advice from your regular veterinarian and if you are unsure about a proposed treatment, don't hesitate to ask for a second opinion. In addition, it should be aware of any symptoms of illness. that the dog can manifest. Remember, he doesn't speak!
Basic care
the dog needs a series of cares and attentions on your part that you must comply daily:
- Give you a soft bed to sleep
- The dog must have a drinking fountain with plenty of fresh and clean water every day.
- Give food of specific quality according to the stage of your life
- Toys and teethers can't be missing for you to be entertained while you're not there.
- Cleaning her slops daily and a bath every now and then will be basic conditions
- Take it at least 2 or 3 times a day
- Brush it as often as necessary depending on your hair type
- Socialize him and teach him how to live together at home
dog feeding
In PeritoAnimal you will find specific articles about the dog feedThis is because the puppy must receive specific nutrients and vitamins for its development, always adapted to each stage of its life.
The most recommended option is to combine the three types of existing diets, always preferring a high quality feed together with wet diets and homemade diets. Remember that in the case of puppies and elderly dogs, as well as puppies that have health problems, a specific diet is necessary and sometimes supplemented with vitamins and calcium.
The bath
There is a myth that it is necessary to bathe the dog once every two months, but this is not true.
A small breed dog can bathe every 2 weeks and a large breed dog once or twice a month. However, it is very important that use dog products, since they respect your coat and the skin's pH, in addition to having a percentage of antiparasitic. At the same time you get your puppy used to bathing, you should use products that allow him to have a correct dental hygiene and prevent plaque build-up.
After bathing, it is important to always apply pipettes to avoid the appearance of fleas or ticks.
Socialization
As soon as the vaccination schedule allows it, it is important that you start socializing your puppy. It is also important to socialize adult dogs if they show skittish and inappropriate behavior due to various fears. In these cases we must work with a professional.
Because it's important to socialize my pet?
It is essential that your dog meet others of your kind to prevent possible future aggressiveness. In addition, adult dogs will be an example for him and will help him to know how to behave in a group. must also be socialized with people of all ages so that the dog is not afraid and adopts a kind and social attitude that ensures good behavior in public.
Socialization allows your pet to relate to its surroundings, to express its personality and to show itself more secure and joyful on a daily basis.
tours and physical activity
It is essential that walk your dog 2-3 times a day, always taking into account the frequency of your needs. You should be calm on the walk and let your puppy smell his surroundings, if he is properly vaccinated you don't have to worry.
In addition to the tour you take it is very important that your dog gets exercise, this develops your muscles and gives you relaxation. You can go for a run with him or share a bike ride together, or you can always leave him with other pets for an hour during the ride. It will be phenomenal for your four-legged friend!
Parasite inspection
Fleas and ticks are always a threat to the dog which can be serious if not treated or prevented. In order to detect the presence of these parasites and be able to act as early as possible, it is important that you check your dog's fur with several strokes that remove its coat. This habit must always be maintained, and intensified during the hottest months.
It must prevent the appearance of insects applying a pipette after a bath against mosquitoes, fleas and ticks and even against leishmania if possible. On the market you can also find necklaces that are an excellent reinforcement. Pay attention to problems that may arise in your puppy.
the dog's space
If we adopt a dog, at home we can see that at first he feels lost and disoriented. We must provide you a comfortable place to sleep and rest, exclusive for him, as well as various toys for his entertainment.
It is important that you keep the entire house sanitized and clean so that you feel good and understand that it should also be cleaned. Puppies follow our examples, both good and bad.
You must also have the your own food space, which must be at certain hours and never at the eating table. Also, you should know that it is very important not to feed the dog before or after exercising, as this could cause gastric distortion.
education
The education of a dog is essential for your mental health and proper coexistence. The limits are fundamental and the whole family must follow these limits without exception so that the puppy understands its place in the house. We recommend that you use the system of education with positive reinforcement and if it is possible to clicker initiation for training, which has very good results.
Affection
The dog is a social animal that have emotions and feelings. For this reason it is important that you be affectionate with him and create an emotional bond that allows you a good relationship and understanding.
You will find that over time he will follow you around, to protect you when you need him and to offer you affection when you are sad. the dog has a very developed sense to perceive non-verbally what happens in your environment and in your relationship, as well as how easy it is to understand your emotions.
