Is your dog the undisputed king or queen of your home? Chances are, you’re not at all alone there – there are thousands (probably millions!) of families across the country who are letting their dogs rule the roost in their homes. Let’s face it, though – it’s worth it. How can you deny that cute little doggy face anything that they want? Still, aside from the diamante collars and dog food that costs about the same amount as caviar, there are concrete things you can do to make sure that your dog lives the best life possible…
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Make Sure Your House Is Puppy Proofed
It’s important to make sure that your dog lives in a safe environment. This entails making sure that you pick up all small items on the floor – make sure that your kids in particular clear up your toys when they’re done with them! Your dog swallowing some lego could prove to be a very bad experience for everyone involved. You should make sure that you lock up cleaning products and any foods that might be poisonous to your dog – did you know that avocado is toxic to dogs? Make sure that you keep it well away from them.
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Provide It With A Comfortable Place To Sleep
No one’s saying that you have to give your dog its own throne (although let’s face it, probably has its own chair in your living room), but it does need somewhere warm and comfortable to rest its head at night. If your dog sleeps outside them it’s crucial to make sure that it has a well insulated kennel with plenty of blankets this time of year – and if it sleeps inside, make sure that it has its own space where it can be comfortable and warm and relax away from your kids.
Keep It Healthy
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Let’s face it, there’s nothing more important than your health – and the same is absolutely true of your beloved dog. Make sure that it’s in the best possible health by taking it for regular vet check ups, and treating all conditions it might have as soon as possible. Most conditions have easy remedies – fleas and mites can be treated with products like https://www.petcarerx.com/frontline-plus-for-dogs/10884 while skin conditions like eczema can usually be treated with a topical ointment.
Spend Plenty Of Time With It
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Most of all, the biggest luxury that you can give to your dog is your time. Dogs are innately sociable creatures, as are we as humans – so make sure that you don’t leave your pup alone at home all day while you’re at work. Invest in doggy daycare or a dog walker to keep it happy, and spend plenty of time focusing on your dog in the evening or at weekends. Even if you’re just stroking your dog, make sure that you’re not on the phone or watching TV at the same time – it deserves your undivided attention and you’ll find that paying some attention to your dog will dramatically decrease your stress levels too.
I live in a small Georgia town that you most likely have never heard of and I LOVE it! My house is more than full as I am a single mother of four & caregiver to my aging mother and uncle. Lover of all things Outlander. Goes to the beat of her own drum woman.
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I’m hoping to get a dog, a puppy, this year, if I move. This is good information, as I haven’t had a puppy in a long time. I want to make sure I do everything right that I can!
I hope that you are able to get one!
I miss having a dog. All of my dogs have passed away but I do not want another one while I am living in a condo as there is no place for them to run. I am hoping something will change in the future.
Just like children, they are expensive but totally worth it! Love my best friend, my yorkie, pudge!
Time and love is so important..I see so many adds with people giving their dogs because they don’t have the time..breaks my heart every time I read a post.
These are great tips. I don’t have a dog right now but a lot of these would apply to my cat.
We have two dogs and they’re both pretty spoiled. They completely deserve it, too. Having a good vet is key. I also think routine is very important to dogs. As any dog owner knows, they’ve got clocks in their heads, and they know exactly when it’s time to eat, to go out, for the people to stop working, etc., and if their routine is upset, they get all out of sorts. Our dogs are a big part of our lives, and we love them like crazy.