The Simple Instructions on How to Take Care of Your New Dog

BY: Paco

It might be nice to get a new dog, but you have to be responsible to be able to take care of one.

The Basics

            Let’s start with something easy. Feed your dog food and water on a daily basis inside of your home. That way the food will digest and be ready whenever your dog goes outside. Usually, you will know when to feed your dog whenever he/she begs or seems upset. One final tip….. NEVER FEED HIM/HER CHOCOLATE, THEY WILL DIE! Keep chocolate out of your dog’s reach so he can never eat it.

Help your Dog Have a Good Hygiene

            Give your dog a nice bath using dog shampoo. Fleas are attracted to dirt, so wash your dog thoroughly once every month. Some dogs have sensitive skin, but with every dog you want to give him a bath with warm water. If your dog’s fur is exceedingly long or dirty, you may want to take him to the groomers. I recommend taking your dog there at least once every 2 months. By the way, most dogs shed, so if you are concerned about your dog shedding, you should try to brush your dog’s fur every day. One of the only dogs that don’t shed are poodles.

Cleaning Your Dog’s “Surprises”

Every dog has to “go” from time to time.  You will most likely be the one to clean up his mess. Using training pads would be a good start to training your dog where to “go”. He will most likely pee on the pad.  If not, use paper towels to clean and soak up the pee. Then, use some kind of clean-up spray like Clorox to remove the remaining mess. Finally, use more paper towels to finish cleaning the mess. If they go poop, just pick it up with a glove or paper towel and throw it away into a small plastic bag. Then, just like the pee, use a clean-up spray to finish cleaning the area where the poop was. Most importantly, remember to wash your hands after cleaning one of your dog’s messes. Although, you may want to take them outside at certain times of the day so your dog can get use to “going” outside. You could walk your dog at least 2-3 times a day to start training him/her.

Taking Your Dog to The VET

Sometimes your dog might not feel good; you always want to be able to help your dog. Take your dog to a VET nearby at least every 1-2 months to make sure that your dog is healthy. At times, your dog might make a weird noise; a snorting sound. It’s normal whenever your dog makes this sound, although if the sound continues for more than a day, something is wrong. The VET is always a good place to help your dog.

Leaving Your Dog Alone

At one point or another, you might go out of town, but what about your dog? A dog can be alone for a long time, depending on the condition of the area where your dog is kept. Although you’re able to leave you dog alone, it’s not the best thing to do. Overall though, I would say you could leave your dog alone for just 1 day. Especially if you leave your dog inside, in one day your home would be full of “surprises”.  It’s healthier to leave your dog with a friend of yours or a dog sitter. That way someone will be taking care of your dog and give him some company.

Enjoy the Time You have with Your Dog

Dogs can live up to 10-15 years. In those 15 years, enjoy the moments you have with your dog, take good care of them, and give your dog as much attention as possible.