How to care for dogs?

Before you start a dog, every potential owner should remember that an animal is not a toy, not a gift to children, not a hobby for a couple of years. The dog is a huge responsibility for 12-15 years, and during this time every day the owner must walk the pet two or three times, raise him, monitor his health, nutrition, care for his fur, pay attention to the comfortable emotional background of the animal. A dog is a family member, and sometimes it takes even more time to spend on it than on its own child.

It is important to prepare a home before the puppy arrives at home. Should be concerned about the safety of the future pet. So, be sure to remove as far as possible from the floor all small parts and human toys. Also important hide all household chemicals, fertilizers, detergents, insecticides in a safe locker - A curious dog child will surely take an interest in the contents of interesting bottles.

Do not have access to the dog and to home plants, as many of them can be toxic to animals. For example, rhododendrons, chrysanthemums, oleanders can be harmful to a puppy organism. The same applies to medicines for both people and animals.

Organize your dog's own resting place. Put a stove in a convenient place or put a house, next to it you can put toys allowed for the dog. The bed should be located away from the balcony and heating appliances. Do not forget to buy bowls for food and water, place them as far as possible from the bed - it is usually most convenient to place bowls in the kitchen.

In the process of keeping the dog in the house, do not change the place of feeding and sleep that is usual for her. If the owner is not ready for the fact that the animal will sleep next to him on the bed, then you should wean the pet from an early age. Having become accustomed to bedtime, a puppy with great difficulty will abandon it at a more adult age.

Do not forget to purchase all the attributes - collar, leash, clothing for walking, if necessary. Pay special attention to the size of the inventory and do not forget to change it as the dog grows. Do not scatter around the house things that are pitiful, otherwise they will be mercilessly destroyed by dog ​​teeth. Do not encourage the puppy, grabbed the old sneaker as a toy, and immediately stop these actions. The animal does not distinguish between old and new shoes, and the next time a new expensive shoe may be in its teeth.

The possibility of street maintenance of a dog is determined by its breed. It is allowed to keep hunting breeds, long-haired individuals, large dogs in a suburban area. If it is a chain or captive content, then Every day you need to lower the animal to walk around the site or bring it on a leash outside the territory.

Before you start a dog for keeping on a private plot, need to build her booth or aviary. Aviary is more convenient for the pet option than the chain. It is customary for the animal to put the "house" slightly on a hill as far as possible from cesspools, a stable, metal walls. It should not be too sunny.You can attach an open-air cage to the shed. The entrance to the house and the gate should be open to the dog.

Aviary parameters depend on the size of the dog. If this is a representative of the breed of medium size (less than 50 cm), then an enclosure with an area of ​​6 sq. M. With a height at the withers of 50-65 cm, it is customary to build an enclosure of 8 square meters. m. Larger individuals should be kept in enclosures ranging from 10 square meters. m. For any parameters, one of the walls of the aviary should not be less than 2 m. The area doubles when keeping two pets.

Three walls must be deaf in order to safely hide the animal from the wind. Inside it is important to equip the insulated booth. You can construct a building of slate, metal profile, but a tree enclosure will be more comfortable for a dog. Only important that the raw material was treated with antiseptic. The roof is recommended to be made of shingles or other soft material. These products protect the dog not only from precipitation, but also from excessive noise. The door is made in such a way that it opens into the enclosure.

Setting up a booth inside the aviary or in an open area, no need to build a huge castle for the animal. Moreover, the spacious booth will be uncomfortable for the dog, in the winter it blows well, which again can bring discomfort to the pet.

The inner area should be enough to turn the dog and its entire length with legs extended. Usually height is calculated by the sum of the height of the animal at the withers and the thickness of the bed plus 10-15 cm.

The width depends on the sum of the width of the bed and the tambour. Depth is determined by the sum of the parameter from the withers to the tips of the front paws and 10-15 cm. For warming you can use mineral wool or foam. The floor is set at a height of 10-15 cm from the ground. It is better to make the roof sloped and removable, so that you can easily clean and, in case of discomfort, get a sick dog from the booth.

Proper nutrition is determined by the breed of the dog. And do not think that if an animal does not have a breed, then it is unpretentious in food and can be fed products from the table - such food has a negative effect on all organs of the dog and leads to serious diseases. At birth, the puppy is fed by the mother, and the best option for an adult pet and for the owner is the purchase of ready-made dry food. The main thing with this - to comply with the daily portion and not to offer a supplement, even if the dog asks. Dry granules swell in the stomach, and later the animal will feel full satiety.

Instructions on the rules of feeding indicated on the packaging of feed. Should be preferred Only premium and super premium feeds. In general, it is advisable to visit a veterinary specialist together with your pet so that he himself calculates the daily norm of dry food in accordance with the weight, age, breed and health of a particular dog.

There are breeds that, on the contrary, are recommended to be fed with natural food. These include, for example, Akita Inu. When feeding a dog with natural food, sugar, fried, smoked, salty foods, chocolate should be avoided. The basic diet of some breeds should be from raw meat and fish, for others the main menu consists of boiled lean meat. Therefore, in this case again It is important to consult a veterinarian.

While feeding the dog Be sure to monitor its condition. If an animal, which at this time usually eats well, refuses to eat, then this is a reason to take a pet for a visit to the vet. Sometimes refusal to eat can be caused by hot weather. Also, when changing the method of feeding, carefully monitor the reaction of the dog's body. If the animal has signs of intestinal or gastric disorder, it can be concluded that this type of feeding does not suit him.

All dogs need daily walking, even representatives of miniature breeds who are accustomed to defend their needs in an apartment for a diaper. Walking is not only an opportunity to go to the toilet, but also an opportunity to throw out the energy accumulated in four walls. During the walk, the owner plays with the dog, runs with it, teaches the exercises, all these physical activities are necessary for the animal to develop fully. Besides, going out is also getting the dog new impressions.

The bigger the dog, the longer it takes to walk. Usually walk lasts from 15 minutes to an hour. Small puppies are taught to use the toilet outside, walking as long as possible and taking them outside several times a day. It is recommended, even for the first time, to take time off at work, in order to fully and quickly train a dog cub to help out on the street. Walking for an adult pet should be performed at least twice a day, even in bad weather.

By the way For some dogs, an overcast day can be a good way to temper and strengthen the immune system. Small dogs, on the contrary, it is customary to wear it on such a day to avoid hypothermia.

There are basic rules for walking a dog of any breed, which must be followed by each owner.

• Walk your pet on a designated area. If such a place in the village is not provided, then go with the animal somewhere outside the city or on an open lawn, where there are few people.
• When walking in the yard do not forget to clean the dog solid waste. Stock up on this special packages, shovel and gloves.
• When walking an animal in the city, wear a muzzle on it. This is necessary not only for the safety of people, but also to protect the pet.
• Do not allow your dog to pick up various objects from the road, wean the puppy from this habit from childhood. Unexpected delicacy can be rat poison or poison, surrounded by dogmakers.
• Combine walks with training. In the fresh air, the dog learns commands better, besides, there is more room for learning various tricks.
• Do not lower the pet from the leash when walking in the city. At large, the animal expects a lot of dangers: cars, homeless dog packs, poison, scattered detractors.
• In no case do not go with the dog on city holidays. This is especially true of activities ending salute. From the explosion of firecrackers, even a small breed dog can be pulled off the leash, and it will be very difficult to find an animal that has lost its way in the city. In the New Year holidays bring your pet on a very reliable leash in two collars, to one of which you will attach information indicating your contact details.
• Go home with your pet when it looks a bit tired. This means that the animal has spilled out all the energy, has undergone a sufficient amount of physical exertion - all this has a beneficial effect on the physical and mental state of the dog.
• Before training, read the information about the breed. For example, dachshunds are prohibited from jumping, and pugs - long runs, so make sure that your favorite fit the chosen type of activity. The best option is to consult a dog handler.

Do not think that the wool should be looked after only with the participation of the dog in the exhibition. Even mongrel dogs need thorough care.Wool, which is badly cared for, becomes dirty, untidy, rolls into mats, which gives the animal serious discomfort. Hair problems cause itching, irritation and other dermatological problems. Thus, the health of a pet depends on the quality of grooming. This procedure has several steps.

• Combing out It is carried out 1-2 times a week, depending on the length of the coat. Within a few minutes, the host must comb the fur of a four-legged friend with a special brush, removing faded hairs. Especially carefully the owner should brush the dog its sensitive areas: the area near the ears, the groin area, the stomach.
• A haircut. Necessary manipulation for representatives of long-haired breeds. The procedure allows to establish high-quality thermoregulation and performs an aesthetic function.
• Trimming. This stage is made for hard-haired breeds. Trimming ripened shedding wool. Usually the process is carried out by a professional groomer.

The frequency of this procedure depends on the breed. Hard-haired individuals do not need frequent bathing, it is enough to comb them and wipe them with a damp cloth, and full-fledged washing is usually done only before the show. This procedure is also optional for smooth-haired breeds, and in this case the water temperature should not exceed 36 degrees. Most dogs are bathed every season. While bathing you should follow simple tips.

• Do not brush your pet wool after bathing, let the hairs dry out independently.
• Choose a shampoo according to the type of coat. For example, a Chinese Crested breed dog needs frequent washing with the use of a special agent with a mild gentle effect.
• Do not wash a large breed animal more than once a month, but it is important to wipe the paws after each walk on the street.
• Do not allow your pet to swim in ponds, where it is forbidden for people to swim. Dirty water is dangerous for the health of the animal.

On average, once every three months, each dog must be treated for parasites. This is especially true of individuals contained on the street. For antiparasitic treatment, veterinary pharmacies offer drops, suspensions, tablets. Most veterinarians prefer pills, however, when using them, it is important to correctly calculate the dose per weight of the animal.

There are drops that work in a complex - they save the pet from fleas and worms. In general, the most popular means of worms are Prazitsid, Drontal Plus, Prokox, Kanikvantel Plus, Pratel, Poliverkan.

The first vaccinations begin for a puppy at the age of two months. Until this time, the animal can not be displayed on the street. Comprehensive vaccine "Nobivak" or "Eurikan" provide protection against diseases such as plague, leptospirosis, hepatitis, parvoviroz, piroplasmosis and rabies. Vaccination is carried out once a year. The responsible owner starts a veterinary passport on the dog, in which the schedule of vaccinations is prescribed.

The eyes of the dogs can be treated a couple of times a week with a cotton pad dipped in warm water or tea leaves. Representatives of rocks prone to diseases of the visual organs especially need careful observation. These include, for example, sharpei or pugs.

No less carefully you need to follow the ears of the pet. The owner should check their cleanliness, lubricate with vegetable oil or special means, timely notice leaks, scratching, irritation, unpleasant smell. Lop-eagles are prone to problems with the auditory organs.

To prevent the formation of tartar, the dog is regularly brushed with special powder or paste.Also, do not deny your pet the pleasure of nibbling a special bone for the natural cleansing of teeth from plaque. Unclean teeth often cause digestive problems and serious diseases of the mouth.

A couple of times a month the responsible owner cuts the claws of his pet. To do this, you can use a special kogterezom. It is important during the procedure not to hook on a blood vessel, otherwise the dog will experience pain and bleeding will open.

How to care for a dog, see the next video.