If you have brought home a new dog then there are a lot of things that you want to do to make sure that you keep that dog in good health and happy. This article will help you understand what some of those things are. Here are three things to do for your dog as soon as you can.
You want to get your new dog fixed
Unless you have purchased a purebred dog that you plan on breeding or showing, you will want to take your dog in to the vet to have it fixed. A male dog will be neutered and a female dog will be spayed. Having your dog fixed will make it so you don't have to worry about it breeding and contributing to the overpopulation problem that there already is with dogs. With so many dogs already in the shelter without homes, it's important for you to do your part to not add to this problem.
Fixing your dog will also help prevent a lot of behavioral issues. A few examples of these issues includes getting into fights with other dogs, trying to get out, and running away in order to look for a mate and marking their territory around your house.
You want to make sure your dog is up to date on their shots
Another thing that you want to do is to make sure that your new dog is up to date on their vaccinations. Keeping your dog up to date on them is going to help to prevent them from catching a variety of illnesses. Many of these illnesses can be fatal to your dog and most of them can be very expensive for you to have treated. Puppies will generally need a series of three shots to be covered while adult dogs can be brought up to date with a single booster shot.
You want to have your dog trained
You will also want to get your dog into some type of training in order to teach them proper behavior. This will help your dog to be better behaved at home and when you take them out with you. Your dog should know basic commands like sit, heal, lie, stay, and quiet. Training should also include teaching your dog how to walk properly on a leash so you don't have to worry about them pulling you when you take them on a walk or try fighting with other dogs that you may run across while you are on your walk.
For more information, talk to a professional like All-Pets Hospital.
