#shorts Rudy & Ridley #answer to @Brandi Jones what I learned in 2021 #
As a dog owner, you want to know that you are taking proper care of your dog. This means learning about basic dog care and meeting your dog’s essential needs to ensure its health and happiness. Proper nutrition, preventive veterinary care, health monitoring, grooming, a place to call its own, and plenty of exercise and affection will create an environment in which your dog can thrive. Luckily, all of these things are relatively easy to provide for your pooch.
Before You Begin
Properly caring for a dog begins with having the right perspective. Dog ownership should not be seen as a chore, but as an experience that enriches your life as well as that of your dog. Like humans, dogs need food, water, and shelter to survive. Yet, they also need physical care, mental stimulation, and nurturing to thrive. Providing these things is an essential part of keeping your dog healthy and safe and sets the foundation for a long, happy life with your dog.
What You Need
Quality dog food
Crate, bed, or doghouse
Toys
Grooming supplies
Time for exercise
A relationship with a veterinarian
Attention and affection to offer
Proper Nutrition
A healthy, balanced diet is a fundamental part of basic dog care. Do some research into food companies that pledge to use high-quality ingredients and formulate foods that are nutritionally complete and balanced. Then, choose a quality diet that your pet enjoys. Spending lots of money on a holistic, top-of-the-line diet may not be necessary but you shouldn’t skimp either.
Many companies provide samples you can try without buying a whole bag or case. Others offer a money-back guarantee if your dog doesn’t like the food. If you choose to provide a homemade diet, discuss your options with your veterinarian first. Studies have shown that the vast majority of recipes available in books or online are not nutritionally complete or balanced. Then, make small batches until you’re sure your dog actually likes it, and schedule regular rechecks with your vet to ensure you’re meeting all of your dog’s nutritional needs.
Once you find an appetizing diet, watch how your dog responds over the first several weeks. A drop in energy level, gastrointestinal problems, or a dull hair coat may warrant a diet change. If you do change your pet’s food, always do so gradually—mixing some of the old food with the new—to avoid gastrointestinal upset or food aversion. It’s also a good idea to ask your veterinarian for nutritional advice, especially if you notice any changes in your pet’s health.
Water is also essential to keeping your dog healthy. Make sure that your dog always has access to plenty of fresh, clean water to drink.
A Space of Its Own
Dogs are social animals and they are generally not content when excluded from the family unit. Though some circumstances may require dogs to live outside, most will thrive when they can be with “their” people indoors.
Your dog should have an area of the house dedicated as being its own space, such as a kennel, crate, or bed. This is where your dog can go for some down time when things get a little overwhelming. Set your ground rules, enforce off-limit areas of the house, and welcome your dog into permissible areas.
If your dog spends time outdoors, provide access to a doggie door or a temperature-controlled doghouse. Never leave your dog unattended outside without shelter, especially during extreme hot or cold weather, as this can result in severe health consequences.
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