Basics of Dog Care

Dogs are man’s best friend. Whatever happens, your dog will always be by your side to serve and protect you. The only reward you can give them is your love, and love comes with caring.
Dog care does not require too much of your time and effort. A few minutes will be enough to show them how important they are to you and your family. Let them sense your friendship, spare them a little of your time each day and they will be more than grateful to return your friendship. Below are some of the basics of dog care:

HOUSING
Having a new dog is like having another member of a family. Human-dog relationship is considered one of the most perfect relationships of all times because it is believed that dogs have an inborn pact with the humans. They are friendly, loyal and protective with the human family they consider their own and their territory which is now their home.

It is important for your canine to know you and your family so it will know who to protect. Housing them with you has always been the best method of acquaintance. If your pet is an outdoor dog, be sure that you provide it with a house big enough to accommodate itself, a warm bed and a clean food bowl. It is good that sometimes, you also let your dog enjoy the ambiance of a good and loving family inside your house. Let your children touch and feel them. In this manner, your kids will learn the importance of animals and they will learn to love them too.

FEEDING
Puppies. Puppies must never be separated with their mothers until their reach their first month. On their fifth week, besides getting the nutritious mother’s milk, try mixing one-half water to one-half condensed milk in their food bowl. Feed them with this at least five times a day. As the puppies grow older, you may gradually transfer them to puppy food then to adult dog food. Six months old dogs may be fed at least twice a day, and starting on the ninth month onwards, feeding them once daily would be enough.

Adult Dogs. Most big canines result to obesity if they get used to eating more than the necessary amount – this is a bad and indeed an unhealthy habit you must prevent your dog to suffer. One meal a day (best time to give is during evenings) is sufficient to sustain the daily nutrients needed by a large and still growing dog. You may also give small snacks in the morning if you want to, and do not forget that fresh water must always be readily available.

GROOMING
A grooming treat for your pet dog is a weekly bath and shampoo which helps remove and prevent parasites like fleas, ticks and lice. A baking soda in vinegar and water solution is best in removing stubborn dirt and bad odor from your dog, at the same time, also removes pests.
Also, make it a habit to untangle your dog’s fur with a wide-toothed comb. This will prevent pests from hiding under the fur which can result to skin infections. Your patience is required in combing or brushing your canine’s hair coat. Try to trim the hair of long-haired breeds at least once every two months for a more manageable hair coat.

MEDICAL HEALTH
Regular check-up monitors your pet’s health. It is necessary for the early detection of any infections that manifests illness. But as an old saying goes “Prevention is better than cure.” Dog’s well-being depends on the level of its immune system – how far can your canine tolerate infections? Vaccination is a good example of illness prevention. Vaccines to fight hepatitis, leptospirosis, intestinal worms, heartworms and rabies should be administered between your dog’s 6th to 8th week. Boosters should be given once a year after the initial injection between the periods of 12 to 16 weeks.