Pet Care - Tips and Advice

Pets are a wonderful addition to the family but you want to make sure of a couple of things prior to bringing one into the family. For the purposes of this blog I will focus on dogs since they are one of the most popular AND time consuming pets. Yes, this blog will include small dogs since even though many people don't realize it, they do require all of the things I am about to write about.

The first thing people must remember if they want a healthy dog is that it is a dog. It is not a person, it is not a baby, it is not a doll, it is a dog. People often get pets to "fill a void" in their lives. Which animals are great for. My father for example is the type of person who has to have a dog to remain even keel.

The problem occurs if the void a person is trying to fill is for another human. Dogs are great listeners, they are also great cuddlers, but they are not people. Dressing them up, feeding them human food, carrying them everywhere and not allowing them to walk. All of these things while they may make you feel good, they are confusing for the animal and just plain unfair.

You need to make sure you have time to walk the dog EVERY day. Having a dog and keeping it indoors all of the time is just cruel. Even if it is a small dog, it needs to be walked every day. This allows it to get out it's energy, feel a purpose, see you as the leader (if you walk correctly), and become content with it's place in the household.

A few tips we have found very useful are actually on Cesar Milan, on the Nature Chanel. Things like make sure you are always the first through the door. This shows you are leading the way in or out, that you are in charge. Calm and assertive energy accomplishes much more than yelling.

One of the major things you need to remember (other than their medications) is to clip their nails. If you have a pet, make sure to clip their nails frequently! If you don't it is painful for them and you if they get you. The time a pet takes is very similar to that of a child or any other member of the family.

If you have a pet, make sure that while it is fulfilling your needs that you are also fulfilling it's. They can be your best friend, just make sure you are one to it!