A Simple Guide to K9 Friends
*Please note I am not a veterinary professional and this is my personal input on dog ownership. I am not giving any medical advice.*
Having a trustworthy veterinary clinic close to home is probably the most important and most useful resource. Now, there are situations where we take an animal into our homes with no time to prepare, and that's okay. I've done it myself a few times. If you have time to research veterinary clinics around you, I highly suggest it. A lot of clinics these days offer monthly plans that will cover vaccines, dental care, blood work and other services you may need as your puppy gets older. Most plans are yearly and can be adjusted to what fits you, your pet and also your budget. If you do not have a vet clinic near you that offers a plan, that's okay! Make sure you have enough money to get the necessary vaccines and testing (stool and urine samples are common) your vet may want to run to make sure your puppy is healthy.
When it comes to your pups diet there are an overwhelming amount of options to choose from. Grain free, with grain, raw, dry kibble, wet/canned and so on. I'm not here to tell you what I think is the best or worst option or how much they should eat in a day. Talking to your vet and local pet stores is going to be the most helpful when making a decision for food. Keep in mind when choosing food for your pet their age, breed/size, and activity levels. If you have an active dog you're going to want to make sure you're feeding enough calories daily to keep their weight healthy. The same goes if you have a "lazy" dog. You don't want to over-feed and cause them to become overweight and unhealthy. It may seem like common sense, but obese animals are common so always ask your vet if you're unsure about the daily amount your dog should be eating.
When it comes to training you have books, the internet, professional trainers and yourself. Whichever you choose is a great choice and your pup will thank you. A wonderful way to keep them engaged during training is with small training treats. If your dog is food motivated you may be able to get away with turning their dry kibble into training treats. If not that's okay, there's plenty of yummy treats out there to choose from.
Another great use for training treats is teaching your dog to walk on their leash. Whether you decide to use a collar or harness, your dog will need a leash. A tip I learned over the years to help stop leash pulling is to entice your pet with treats and make sure that if they start to pull you stop walking and redirect their attention to you. Once you have their attention, give a treat and start walking again. It could take 10 minutes to get from point A to point B this way, but think about how nice walks will be in the future if you can stop pulling from becoming a habit.
Now let's talk about kennels and gates. Kennel or crate training is a good idea as long as you use them properly. It keeps your pet safe when you're not home, and it gives them a safe space to hang out when they want some alone time. If you have a large breed dog I recommend buying a kennel that they can use throughout their lifetime as they grow. Kennels that come with a separation wall are a great way to do this. You don't want to put a small puppy in a large kennel because this may encourage them to use an area to relieve themselves and the rest of the space for sleeping. Potty training will not become any easier if they get the idea they can go where they sleep. If you are going to put bedding in their kennel make sure to keep an eye on them and check it daily to ensure they are not chewing it up or ingesting it. Puppy or baby gates are a great tool to use when it comes to training your pet to stay out of certain areas of your home, like the kitchen. Eventually you can take them down and work on commands to keep them out, but in the meantime a gate works wonderfully.
We all know that potty training can be stressful so I suggest following this rule of thumb; when your pup wakes up, finishes eating, is done playing, or it's been a couple of hours with no break, go ahead and take them outside. When they relieve themselves, tell them good boy/girl or whatever positive reinforcement you choose and give them a treat. This will encourage them to continue to go outside more often. If you want to use potty pads, go for it! I suggest keeping them by the outside doors so they know to go to that general area. Never yell at your dog for going in the house, just take them outside and say "(insert name) go potty outside." You don't want to scare your dog! Positive reinforcement is always the way to go.
If you want to groom your pet yourself it's best to start them as young as possible. Let them get used to you touching their paws and ears for nail trims/ear cleanings and to build a safe connection with them. Slowly introduce the tools to them and make sure you stay calm. Do not start yelling. If you or your dog feel overwhelmed take a break and try again later. I suggest using a professional for haircuts, but this is my personal opinion and something I do not have any practice with. Don't forget you can also ask your vet for tips and tricks on how to safely trim nails at home and make sure you're properly cleaning their ears. Styptic or "Kwik Stop" powder is good to have on hand in case you accidentally cut a nail too short.
Keeping your dog healthy isn't done only through diet and exercise. Like humans, dogs need mental stimulation too. A great way to give that to them is by using interactive toys. Snuffle mats, puzzle games, and lick mats are all great ways to stimulate your dog and deter destructive behavior.
If you are planning to travel out of state or out of the country with your pup you will need to make sure you've done the research for each place you plan on visiting. You will most likely need a health certificate from your veterinarian so plan ahead and schedule any appointments in advance. Double check that you are not getting it too soon though as they are only valid for a certain amount of days. If you are traveling and not taking your dog with you and are in need of a boarding facility, you can always check with your veterinary clinic, as most offer this service. If they do not, Google boarding facilities nearby and I'm sure you will have plenty of options. Don't be afraid to call around and ask about different services they offer, prices, and if they have any packages they offer, especially for new clients.
When taking your dog outside for long periods of time, or even short periods, depending on weather, you want to make sure they have the correct gear. I live in Alaska where it gets cold in the winter so I like to have a coat, sweater and insulated booties for my dog. This way they can still go outside and play comfortably if we go to the dog park. It's important to protect their paws in hot weather too. Pet stores and online suppliers have sticky pads that go on each paw pad to help keep dogs safe and from getting burnt pads. Another thing to keep on hand in the summer time is pet safe bug spray, something else you can find in pet stores or online. A travel bowl for water is an excellent item to have on hand as well.
Whether you just adopted a puppy, senior dog or somewhere in between I hope this information was helpful!