The deepest bonds connecting people and their animal friends are based on unqualified affection and mutual respect. This is very true of dogs, who gained their title as man's best friend for their incredible reliability and allegiance. Although dogs can and do communicate their requirements to their human beings, good dog care is really a more active process that includes crucial fundamentals to guarantee your friend's long life and excellent health.
Diet and Nutrition
All proper dog care starts with a nutritious diet that correctly balances the animal's requirement for protein, minerals, vitamins, and calories. Far too many dogs are heavy, which results in identical health challenges humans confront with obesity: pressure on joints, closed arteries, arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, and a number of other concerns. Pick a well-balanced food with authentic protein plus a negligible amount of grain substitutes. Seek advice from your veterinarian in deciding on the right food for your dog and go by the guidelines on the container for frequency and amount of feedings.
Exercise and Recreation
Although some breeds are more physical than others, all dogs really need to use their bodies to remain strong. Frequent exercise also burns off extra energy and helps to reduce behavioral problems that stem from boredom as well as separation anxiety. Most hyperactive dogs, for instance, are basically in need of a regular regimen of exercise to direct their energies. Exercise and play are also critical elements of dog care because they help with weight control and maintain the dog's joints in good working order.
Grooming and Bathing Are Not the Same
Grooming is a daily aspect of dog care that usually entails brushing the animal's coat to keep the fur free of tangles and debris. The actual motive for brushing, however, is to lessen the dog's inherent desire to scratch, which can wound the skin and open the way for infection. Bathing, on the other hand, is a once-a-month necessity. Wash a dog more frequently than that, and you may dry out his skin and yet again produce a condition for opportunistic infections to take hold. Clearly if the animal gets "into something," the offending material has to be removed, but over-bathing and grooming too frequently are as bad as completely ignoring your dog's hygienic needs.
Attention to Safety and Security
Keeping your dog secure in the world is a sometimes minimized portion of dog care. Most towns have leash laws and regulations that are as much for the protection of the animal as to diminish any public nuisance he might present. A dog who is on a leash is much less prone to run in front of a auto, and is more easily restrained and removed from prospective encounters with larger, more aggressive animals. Even dogs that never leave the house however, really need to feel that you, the owner, are their "alpha" protector, which is why many dogs do significantly better in a enclosure when their owners are out.
While fundamental dog care does require food, shelter, medical care, and grooming, you should also keep in mind that you are your pet's primary protector -- although he thinks he's the one in charge! Act as the leader of the pack, and you will have a strong, confident companion who will offer you many happy years of friendship and affection.
Author Resource:-
Patricia Clark is a freelance writer and researcher. For more information on her editorial services, please visit WritePLR.com. For more information on dog care, visit www.thedoggyshop.com.
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