Dogs are a good pet to have, they are very loyal. Dogs do need help to develop into ideal pets to fit your lifestyle. You need to train them, and you have to be aware of how you must care for them. You will learn some things here, keep on reading.

Never lose your temper or punish your dog if you find that they did something wrong. Negative reinforcement will simply make your dog scared, which will make it difficult for you to train them. Use positive reinforcement at all times to get your dog to cooperate when teaching him new things.

If your dog has long hair, make sure to take the time to trim the fur around his feet. If you allow your dog's hair to grow too long, they can get things stuck in their fur. This could lead to injuries between the pads of the feet and around the nails.

Feed your dog puppies - topic dry, premium-quality dog food. This kind of dog food helps to make sure your dog gets all of their vital nutrients. Making sure that they get proper nutrition helps them live a longer life and reduces their chances of obesity, malnutrition, skeletal problems, muscular problems, and many more conditions.

Be careful to not over feed your dog. Obesity is a huge problem for animals these days due to the fact that many dog owners allow the animal to determine how much it eats each day. For the best results, and health of your dog, you should follow the instructions of your vet when it comes to feeding habits.

For pure bred dogs, don't discount local pounds to find one. Unfortunately there are many people out there who simply cannot care for their dogs anymore and they end up at the local pound. Contact your pound and ask them what breeds are currently there. You can save the life of a dog this way.

If you are not allowed to place a fence in your yard but want your dog to run freely there, consider an electric fence. Electric fences are easy and inexpensive to install, and they can help to keep your free roaming pet puppies - topic safely contained. Using them will require a little training, but they are quite effective if you put the work in.

Watch if your female dog is in heat if you do not want her pregnant. Male dogs can pick up the scent of a female dog in full heat up to five miles away. This may cause a fight or impregnation if a male dog spots her.

Your dog needs healthy teeth and you should brush them regularly. This helps to prevent dental problems and gum disease, but also prevents other illnesses. Infections in the mouth can spread to other areas of the dog's body, like the kidneys and the heart. Pet stores sell special toothpaste for dogs.

Take a long, hard look at your lifestyle to determine whether a dog is a good fit for you. Wanting a dog doesn't mean you'll provide the best environment puppies - topic for him.

You should be giving your dog clean water regularly. Even if your dog does not drink too much water, you should still change his bowl twice a day. Also, if the tap water in your area isn't great, give him or her bottled water. When it comes to drinking water, your dog should have the same quality as you have.

Bigger is not better when selecting a dog house. Allow for room for growth, but do not go much bigger than what you will need for him to be comfortable as an adult. This will allow the entire house to heat from his body heat during the cold winter months.

No matter what kind or length of fur your dog has, it is important that they are brushed regularly. Without regular brushing, your dog's fur may become matted. Matted fur can cause inflammation on your dog's skin and is very difficult to remove. Also, brushing their fur regularly gets rid of dead hair and helps distribute oils.

Since reading the article above, you can see that taking care of your dog is easy. It might seem tough in the beginning, but the tips here have likely given you the proper direction to take. This will help you take the best care possible of your dog.