When you have a dog, it is a big responsibility. It is totally dependent upon you for all of its needs. If you are unsure how to properly care for your dog then read on. Below are some of the best dog care options for basic care.

1.
First off, make sure your dog has been to the vet for its regular checkup. Also be sure that the vet gives the dog all the vaccinations it is suppose to have. This will insure the dog is in good health and stays that way. If you need to get your dog's flea repellant, remember that too while at the vets.

Regular checkups to the vet will catch problems early. This will make sure that if the dog is having a problem it gets the treatment it needs in time to solve it. There is nothing worse than a pet suffering from a disease or condition that could have been prevented or cured.

2.
Another basic care tip is to make sure your dog has fresh food and water every day. There is not a standard way to feed dogs though. It depends on their breed as to how much food they need a day and how often they eat. The smaller dogs may have to be fed more the once a day because they cannot eat as much food at one time.

Some dogs may have to be fed two or more times a day. Another thing that can be done is dry food left out for them all the time so they can nibble when they want. Also make sure the water is fresh each day and that the dog or dogs can drink all they want. The only time you control this is when they are crate trained and stay in a crate during the day. Then you may want a regular feeding schedule setup for them. Consult your vet for what is correct for your dog.

3.
Regular grooming is a must for the dog to have a healthy coat. Comb and/brush your dog several times a week to remove shedding hairs. This also stimulates the dog's natural oils in their coat. It will make the dog's coat naturally more shiny and healthy.

Along with the combing and brushing, the dog will need to be shampooed every other week maybe more if they are outside a lot. However, you do not want to over shampoo any dog breed, this will lead to their coat drying out. Each breed does have their own recommendations for grooming so read up on your dog breed.

The dog's nails also need to be clipped to keep them from overgrowing. You can have the vet or a dog groomer do it for you, or you can learn to do it yourself. Just be careful not to cut too far down or you will hit the quick and make the nails bleed and this could lead to infections. You can file them smooth too.

Wipe the ear off on the outside with a soft cloth. You can also get special ear cleaning solutions to use inside the ear when necessary. Never stick a cotton swab into the ear canal though, this could damage the ear.