The Best Things You Can Do To Make Your Dog Happy

Deciding to bring a dog into your family can be one of the most rewarding decisions a family can make. Dog ownership can be a wonderful experience with the proper supplies, patience, and guidance. You must first decide where you will obtain your new addition. You can buy from a breeder, look into your local animal shelter, check online, and check in the newspapers. Sometimes your dog will find you as we acquired our dog by word of mouth from a neighbor that knew of this little 8 week old lab/pit mix that needed a home.
Once you decide on where to gain your new dog, you need to decide on a breed. Do research on the traits and characteristics of the different breeds so you will know what to expect. Find a breed that fits into your lifestyle. You do not want to get a dog that needs lots of room to run if your dwelling is not conducive to those needs.
There will be some necessities that you will need to have when you bring your new dog home. Some of the basics are food, food and water bowls, collar, leash, crate (if you crate train which I highly advise), chew toys, shampoo, brush, flea comb, flea treatment, heartworm pills, and plenty of balls to throw. Make sure you check with your vet for the best food for your dog. Some dogs need specific diets and a change in the food can bring on stomach problems. Also make sure that the shampoo that you buy for your dog is appropriate for the dog's skin type. Always check with your vet for the best options for you or do some looking on line as there are a number of safe organic supplies that will do the trick.
Start training your dog from day one. If you have brought a puppy into your home you will need to take a deep breath and start the potty training immediately. This can be accomplished simply with the right tools and attitude. You will need to establish yourself as the Pack Leader and reaffirm that position every day. This is extremely important as you need to let your dog know who is in charge and this will help tremendously in all facets of the training that you will need to do with your dog.
Dog ownership can be very rewarding if you are prepared with the right tools and mindset. Please remember that your dog will need your attention and love on a daily basis. You will need to have patience and understanding and a lot of love, you will also get that love back from your dog which makes everything worth it.

If you found this article helpful and are looking for additional information about raising your dog or information about training, please visit my newly revised site at http://basicsofdogownership.com Thanks so much for reading this article.