Did you know that almost 50 million American homes have a household dog? The number of individuals with a dog as a pet is almost 40% of the US population.
Many people reading this will be preparing to welcome a happy pet into their family for the first time. From puppy training to finding the best dog food, learning to be a responsible dog owner can be overwhelming at first.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. In reality, there are just a few simple steps you can take to make sure that you are providing the best care for your dog.
In this article, we will walk you through five easy ways to be a responsible dog owner and make your new furry pal your best friend.
1. Knowing When to Groom
One of the best ways to keep your dog happy and healthy is to make sure they are groomed and hygienic. While there will be some variability between breeds, there are some general guidelines for grooming that can help simplify your routine.
For example, you should give your dog a bath at least once every few weeks. If you are taking your dog hiking or into the countryside, this will need to be more regular. It’s good to have a fur trim every 4 to 6 weeks, especially if your dog has a long coat.
If your dog is very furry, you want to brush daily. Otherwise, brushing weekly is okay for shorter hair dogs.
Trimming your dog’s nails every 3 to 4 weeks is best. It’s also good to consider toothbrushing and examining anal glands to make sure that your dog is comfortable and smelling fresh.
2. Finding a Way to Identify Your Dog
The worst-case scenario for you as a pet owner is to lose your dog. You always want to make sure your dog has a collar on them at all times. The collar should include their name and a phone number for you to be contacted.
3. Spaying Or Neutering
One of the most responsible decisions you can make as a pet owner is to spay or neuter your dog. This action helps to control the overall pet population in your area. However, it also helps provide health benefits to your pet. This will lower the chance of uterine infections in breast tumors in female dogs. In male dogs, you are lowering the risk of testicular cancer and other prostate issues.
It will also lower testosterone and make your male dogs less likely to run away when looking for a mate. This can help to control aggression problems especially if dogs are neutered early in their life.
4. Dog Doors
Dog doors are a simple addition that you can make to allow your dog to expand their territory. When dogs know they can come in and out of the house with ease this can lower their stress or anxiety level. You just want to make sure that your dog is well-controlled in an outdoor setting.
5. Health and Exercise
Ultimately, it is your responsibility to take your pet to the veterinarian for an annual appointment. This is essential to help maintain their overall health.
Regularly exercise your dog according to their breed’s needs. This can be through walking, throwing the ball, or swimming. There are plenty of great ways to exercise your dog, even in the wintertime.
Learning to Be a Responsible Dog Owner
At the end of the day, learning to be a responsible dog owner for your dog is not as hard as it seems. Don’t be overwhelmed by all of the tasks that you will need to perform as a pet owner. If you can start with these five steps, you will have gone a long way toward creating a great life for your new dog.
If you enjoyed this article about how to look after a dog, please check out our other related articles on our blog!
