Dog Tips: Keep Your Dog Safe and Healthy.

      Play with your puppy's feet when it is young so it becomes used to the idea of having its nails cut.

      Feel your dog's legs, torso, neck, head, and tail for lumps and bumps. Check your dog's coat for burrs and foxtail's when coming indoors. While brushing your dog, keep an eye out for skin irritations, hair loss, fleas, ticks, etc. 

      Vigilantly monitor your dog's weight. You should be able to see your dog's body narrow through the loin(just before the pelvis) area. Feel under the coat to make sure that the ribs are not covered with a layer of fat.

      Dogs that live with owners who smoke in the house, just like humans, have an increased risk of cancer.

      From puppy hood on, redirect chewing to appropriate objects, such as chew toys, not shoes!

      Chewing is a natural activity for dogs, but they sometimes chew to relieve boredom. Provide plenty of appropriate, safe chew you're while you'er away from home. If you crate your dog during the day, put a favorite of favorate toys in with him.Try a toy you can fill with treats that require your dog to work for the goodies. You can also fill some sturdy, rubber toys (such as a Kong) with cheese or peanut butter. You can also freeze rubber chews designed for stuffing to give your dog a bigger challenge. When you get home, give your dog lots of attention and a nice, long walk.

      Take your pup to as many different places as possible, so he/she grows accustomed to new environments, including people, sound and smells.

      Teaching your dog to "Settle" down will keep him out of your way, but still near you. And that's what many dogs want; to spend as much time as possible right by their owner's side.

      Your pup might just find his/her favorite toy if you let them choose their own at the pet supply store. It's also a great training outing and bonding time for the two of you.

      A warm bed, equipped with a ticking clock, chew bone, and a safe dog toy, can help a pup feel secure and welcome in its new home.

      Many dangers lurk around the house. Keep all poisonous substances and sharp objects away from your curious pup.

      Vegetables, grains, meats and dairy products are all vital components of your dog's diet. Fortunately, commercial dog food are nutritionally balanced and easily digestible.

      Some dogs resist even an occasional bath. A few strategies can make it go more smoothly. When bathing your hygiene-resistant dog: keep thr drain open instead of filling up the tub, wash your dog's head last, keep soap and water out of eyes, and speak calmly or sing quietly during bath time to keep the energy low key and pleasant.

      Great reasons for puppy kindergarten: interaction with other puppies in a fun, environment enviroment, meeting lots of friendly new people, learning basic essential commands, and getting your pup out of the house and into the car--even if it is just a ride to and from class. Puppy Kindergarten also teaches puppies that exploring the outside world is enjoyable.

       An unhealthy puppy is lethargic, isolated, has no sudden bursts of energy, no interaction litter mates littermates, no interest dog's other dogs' food or no appetite at mealtime. Consult with your vet if your puppy exhibits these characteristics.

      Feeding people food to your dog can encourage such bad behaviors as counter surfing and countersurfing. Plus, it's easy to feed too much so use caution when suing people food as dog treats.

      Some dogs do fine with small amounts of popcorn (unbuttered and unsaltedbreakfast blank breakfst cereal, and bits of lean meat or cheese. Stay away from harmful foods, such as chocolate, raisins, grapes, and onions.

      Teach Shake as a default greeting to replace jumping up. First, teach your dog to sit every time there's a knock or ring at the door. To teach your dog not to approach the door without your permission, enlist some friends to "visit," then keep your dog on a leash, and give him a treat for remaining seated as someone else answers the door. Once he's got this down (on and off leash), let him approach the visitor and offer his paw.

      Heart worms can live in a dog for months or years, depending on their stage. Have your dog checked by a vet if he/she shows symptoms, which can include coughing, fatigue, and abnormal lung sounds. Consider having your dog tested for heart worms during his/her annual checkup especially if you live in heart worm heartworm-infested area.

      Many dogs enjoy organized scent-based activities such as tracking and huntingtrouble but troulbe lurks just around that bend. Watch for these dangers when letting your dog participate in scent-based activitiesfoxtail's foxtails, snakes, yellow jackets, groundhog holes, barbed wire fencing, cat ( the cat is the one in danger!) If working a track, typically an event organizer will check the area first for any dangers. But snakes and yellow jackets can move around, so keep your eyes peeled. Brush your dog thoroughly after tracking or hunting to remove burrs and foxtail's, which can work their way into the skin, often leading to infection. This also gives you a chance to check for ticks and cuts.