How to care for dogs?

Before getting 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. A dog is a huge responsibility for 12-15 years, and during this time, the owner must walk the pet two to three times, educate him, monitor his health, nutrition, care for his coat, and pay attention to the animal’s comfortable emotional background. A dog is a member of the family, and sometimes it takes even more time to spend on it than on your own child.

Before the puppy appears in the house, it is important to prepare a home. You should worry about the safety of the future pet. So, it is absolutely necessary to remove all small parts and human toys from the floor as high as possible. Also important hide in a safe lockable cabinet all household chemicals, fertilizers, detergents, insecticides - A curious canine child will certainly be interested in the contents of interesting bottles.

The dog should not have access to domestic plantsas many of them can be toxic to animals. For example, rhododendrons, chrysanthemums, and oleanders can be harmful to a puppy's body. The same goes for drugs for both humans and animals.

Organize your dog's own resting place. Put in a convenient place a couch or put a house, nearby you can put toys allowed for the dog. The lounger 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 stove bench - it is usually most convenient to put bowls in the kitchen.

In the process of keeping the dog in the house, do not change the usual place for feeding and sleeping. If the owner is not ready for the animal to sleep next to him on the bed, then you should wean the pet from this habit from an early age. Accustomed to bedtime, a puppy with great difficulty will refuse this at an older age.

Do not forget to purchase all the paraphernalia - a collar, a leash, clothes 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 throw things around the house that are pathetic, otherwise they will all be mercilessly destroyed by dog ​​teeth. Do not encourage a puppy that grabs an old sneaker as a toy, but immediately stop these actions. The animal does not distinguish between old and new shoes and the next time a new expensive shoe may appear in its teeth.

The possibility of street keeping the dog is determined by its breed. It is allowed to keep hunting breeds, long-haired individuals, large dogs on a suburban area. If it is a chain or aviary, then daily you need to lower the animal to walk around the site or to lead him on a leash out of the territory.

Before starting a dog for keeping in a private area, need to build her a booth or aviary. An aviary is a more convenient pet option than a chain. It is customary to place the "house" for the animal slightly on a hill as far as possible from cesspools, barn, metal walls. It should not be too sunny. You can attach an aviary to the barn. The entrance to the house and the gate should be open to the dog.

Aviary Options depend on the size of the dog. If this is a representative of a medium-sized breed (less than 50 cm), then an aviary with an area of ​​6 square meters will be suitable for him. m. At a height at the withers of 50-65 cm, it is customary to build an aviary of 8 square meters. m. Larger individuals should be kept in enclosures with an area of ​​10 square meters. m. With 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 blank to reliably hide the animal from the wind. Inside, it is important to equip the insulated booth. It is possible to construct a building from slate, a metal profile, but a wooden aviary will be more comfortable for the dog. Only important so that the raw materials are treated with an antiseptic. The roof is recommended to be made of shingles or other soft material. These products protect the dog not only from rainfall, but also from excessive noise. The door is designed so that it opens into the enclosure.

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

The internal area should be enough to turn the dog and its entire length with outstretched legs. Usually, the height is calculated by the sum of the growth 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 berth and the vestibule. Depth is determined by the sum of the parameter from the withers to the tips of the forepaws and 10-15 cm. Mineral wool or polystyrene can be used for insulation. The floor is installed at a height of 10-15 cm from the ground. It is better to make the roof pitched and removable, so that it is possible to carry out cleaning without problems and, if you feel unwell, get a sick dog from the booth.

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

Instructions for feeding are indicated on the packaging of the feed. Should be preferred only premium and super premium feeds. In general, it is advisable to visit a veterinarian with your pet so that he himself calculates the daily dry feed rate in accordance with the weight, age, breed and health of the 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, salted foods, and chocolate should be avoided. The basic diet of some breeds should consist 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 with your veterinarian.

While feeding a dog be sure to watch her condition. If the animal, which at this time usually eats well, refuses food, then this is an occasion to take the pet for examination to the veterinarian. Sometimes refusal of food can be caused by hot weather. Also, when changing the method of feeding, carefully monitor the reaction of the canine organism. If the animal shows signs of intestinal or gastric upset, then we can conclude that this type of feeding is not suitable for him.

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

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

By the way for some dogs, a cloudy day can be a good way to harden and strengthen immunity. Small dogs, in contrast, are usually worn warmly on such a day to avoid hypothermia.

There are basic rules for walking dogs of any breed, which must be observed by each owner.

• Walk your pet in a specially designated area. If such a place in the village is not provided, then go with the animal somewhere out of town or on the open lawn, where there are few people.
• When walking in the yard, do not forget to clean up solid waste behind the dog.Stock up on special bags, a spatula and gloves.
• When walking an animal in the city, put a muzzle on it. This is necessary not only for the safety of people, but also for the protection of the pet itself.
• Do not let the dog pick up various objects from the road; from childhood, wean the puppy from this habit. An unexpected treat may be rat poison or poison, planted by dog ​​hunters.
• Combine walks with training. In the open air, the dog learns commands better, and besides, there is more space for learning various tricks.
• Do not let your pet off the leash when walking in the city. In freedom, the animal expects a bunch of dangers: cars, stray dog ​​flocks, poison scattered by ill-wishers.
• In no case do not go with the dog on city holidays. This is especially true for events ending with a salute. An explosion of firecrackers can even break a small breed off the leash, and it will be very difficult to find an animal lost in the city. On New Year's holidays, take your pet out on a very reliable leash in two collars, to one of which attach information indicating your contact information.
• Come home with your pet when it looks slightly tired. This means that the animal has splashed out all the energy, has undergone enough physical exertion - all this has a beneficial effect on the physical and mental condition of the dog.
• Before training, read the breed information. For example, dachshunds are not allowed to jump, and pugs are not allowed to run for long periods, so make sure your chosen type of activity is suitable for your pet. The best option is to consult with a dog handler.

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

• Combing out. It is carried out 1-2 times a week, depending on the length of the coat. For several minutes, the owner should comb the fur coat of the four-legged friend with a special brush, removing faded hairs. Especially carefully, the owner should comb out the dog's sensitive areas: the area near the ears, the inguinal zone, and the stomach.
• A haircut. Necessary manipulation for representatives of long-haired breeds. The procedure allows you to establish high-quality thermoregulation and performs an aesthetic function.
• Trimming This stage is carried out in relation to wire-haired breeds. Matured shedding hair is trimmed. Usually the process is carried out by a professional groomer.

The frequency of this procedure depends on the breed. Wire-haired individuals do not need frequent bathing, it is enough to comb them and wipe them with a damp cloth, and a full wash is usually performed only before the exhibition. 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 once a season. While swimming, you should follow simple tips.

• Do not brush your pet after bathing, let the hairs dry on their own.
• Choose a shampoo according to the type of coat. For example, a Chinese crested dog needs to be washed frequently using a special product with a mild gentle effect.
• Do not wash a large breed animal more than once a month, however it is important to wipe the paws after every walk on the street.
• Do not let your pet swim in water where people are not allowed to swim. Dirty water is dangerous to the health of the animal.

On average, every three months each dog needs to be treated for parasites. This is especially true for individuals kept 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 for the weight of the animal.

There are drops that work in a complex way - they relieve the pet of fleas and worms. In general, the most popular worm remedies are Prazitsid, Drontal Plus, Prokoks, Kanikvantel Plus, Pratel, Poliverkan.

The first vaccinations begin for the puppy at the age of two months. Until this time, the animal can not be taken outside. Complex vaccines "Nobivak" or "Eurikan" provide protection against diseases such as plague, leptospirosis, hepatitis, parvovirus, pyroplasmosis and rabies. Vaccination is carried out once a year. The responsible owner puts a veterinary passport on the dog, which sets out the vaccination schedule.

The eyes of dogs are usually treated a couple of times a week with a cotton pad dipped in warm water or tea leaves. Representatives of breeds prone to diseases of the visual organs especially need careful monitoring. This includes, for example, sharpei or pugs.

No less carefully you need to monitor the ears of the pet. The owner should check their cleanliness, lubricate with vegetable oil or a special tool, timely notice leaks, scratching, irritation, unpleasant odor. Lop-eared breeds are prone to problems with auditory organs.

To prevent the formation of tartar, the dog is regularly brushed with special powder or paste. Also, do not refuse your pet the pleasure of gnawing a special bone for the natural cleansing of teeth from plaque. Well-groomed teeth often cause digestive problems and serious diseases of the oral cavity.

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

See how to look after your dog in the next video.