Should I get a dog? What you need to know about dogs

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Should I get a dog? This question often arises both in single people and in families with children. When answering it, many factors should be taken into account, which we will discuss in our article.

There are situations when a child asks for a dog. What to do? We need to weigh all the pros and cons. When making the right decision, one should take into account the age of the child, his employment and his own, as well as financial capabilities. But first things first. We will consider each factor in detail now.

Lack of time

You need to understand that the desire to get a dog should not be one minute. Since you need to take responsibility for the animal for a long time. In the modern rhythm of life, there is not always enough time for yourself, let alone for a dog. And for the normal well-being of the animal, he needs communication both with his relatives and with people. Many dogs have to wait for the owner for seven to eight or more hours a day. Perhaps during this period the animal behaves calmly, but it suffers from a lack of attention and communication with the owner.

Due to the lack of external stimuli, dogs can develop behavioral problems. For example, it often happens thatthat the puppy gnaws everything. This is due to the fact that he simply has nowhere to throw out his energy due to too short walks. When thinking about whether to get a dog, think about whether you have enough time for it. If not, then it is better to refuse such an undertaking.

If you usually lack patience and find it hard to hold back, then you should not get a dog. Since the owner must always be calm. Much in the learning process also depends on the individual characteristics of the animal and your personal knowledge.

Dogs live about fifteen years

If you are considering getting a dog, remember that these animals live for about fifteen years or more. Can you take care of a pet every day for such a period of time? If so, then you should get a four-legged friend. Despite the fact that the life of a dog is more than ten years, it is still shorter than that of a human. Therefore, it is worth mentally being prepared for the fact that the pet will die before you. Sometimes the loss of a dog is a hard blow to its owner.

Additional high costs

You need to understand that the dog is a source of high costs. You should not start such a beast if you do not have a guarantee of a constant income over the next decades. After all, the dog needs to be fed, quarterly treated for internal parasites, monthly for fleas and ticks.

Also, do not forget about the annual vaccination. In case of unforeseen veterinary expenses, it is worth having a reserve amount in the bankor on the map.

Uncomfortable situations with four-legged friends

Some people don't like dogs. Sometimes they express their opinion to their owners. It pays to be prepared for these challenges, even if you own the most obedient dog in the world.

Self-control and restrictions in choosing leisure options

The dog owner needs constant self-control. You should always take care of yourself, your behavior and things. For example, in order not to put a hot iron on the floor and so on. So is it worth getting a dog? If you are thinking about resolving this issue, then remember that you need to be responsible for the dog. Therefore, many owners deny themselves some entertainment or reduce the time of their conduct, as a true friend is waiting for them at home.

Which gender to choose a pet? Peculiarities of behavior of males and females

If you decide to get a dog, then you need to know how to choose it. More on this later in the article. It is important to take into account many nuances: age, breed and gender. It's not enough to say, "I want to get a dog." You need to decide what gender you want the animal. This affects the features of care. Both sexes have their pros and cons in character.

Cynologists say that bitches are more emotionally insecure. They are closer to humans than males. Girls are better trained, more docile. A female is attracted to a male about twice a year.

If we talk about the shortcomings of girls, it is estrus and unplanned pregnancy. Often, bitches have a false pregnancy, as well as various complications in thisbackground. If you do not want to breed puppies, then you need to consider spaying the bitch. There is no need to talk about increased care and attention during the period of bearing babies. This is understandable.

Males are energetic, assertive, reckless. They also have uncontrollable joy. Every day we are ready to please the owners with positive emotions. Increased activity, the absence of difficulties associated with pregnancy - these are the main positive qualities of males.

Now let's talk about the disadvantages. The first and main one is that in males all year round there is an increased interest in representatives of the opposite sex. They have a desire to dominate. They often strive to take a leading position in the family. Particular attention should be paid when raising a service breed dog. With the right approach, the animal shows great results.

How to choose a dog? Breed and age

No less important is the age of the dog. Many people advise not to get an adult animal, as it is already a formed personality with its own habits. It is best to take a puppy from two to four months. This is the best age for a dog to be handed over to new owners. You can raise such an animal yourself. When training a dog, try to instill in him the rules of good behavior, smooth out sharp corners, adjust to the family.

There can be problems in raising an adult dog. Since she already has a formed character, she is used to some kind of conditions of detention. It is more difficult to remake it for yourself.

A big plus if you take an adult animal (of course, well-mannered), is that it will not make a puddle in the middle of the corridor or will not damage property (furniture, shoes, etc.). This applies to a dog that has been instilled with norms of behavior.

When choosing a dog, you should also consider the breed and the purpose for which you want to get an animal. If you want to raise a guard in a private home, then a Rottweiler or German Shepherd would be a good option. Which dog will be a companion and suitable for an apartment? It can be either a Labrador (if you want a bigger one) or a Pug, French Bulldog, Spaniel or Pekingese.

Some nutritional features

So, how to feed a dog? What are the features? Note that most he alth problems arise due to the presence of errors in feeding the pet. But the rules for feeding dogs are quite simple, it is not difficult to follow them. Remember that the body of a dog and a person are different. The dog is a predator. Man is an omnivorous creature. Dogs, unlike humans, benefit from eating raw food.

Forbidden food for dogs

So, before talking about what to feed, let's highlight the foods that are banned:

• sweets (cakes, cookies, sweets, etc.);
• pork (this is fatty meat);
• spicy sauces (satsebeli, etc.);
• fatty food;
• tubular bones;
• smoked meats (sausage, etc.);
• potatoes (both boiled and fried);
• spices and spices;
• s alty food;
• boiled bones;
• river fish(bones are dangerous in it, and besides, it can often contain worms) to neutralize the product from parasites, you need to process it for about an hour.

What to feed a pet? He althy food for dogs

So, we come to the most important thing - how to feed a dog? An adult should be fed twice a day. A small puppy - five or six. What should be included in the diet? Raw meat. This is a very important product in the diet of dogs of different ages. For a one-month-old puppy, the daily allowance is fifty grams of finely chopped beef. Minced meat should not be used, as it passes very quickly through the dog's stomach and does not have time to be digested. In addition to beef, a dog can have chicken and rabbit. Bird necks can also be given. The bones in them pose no danger to the digestive system of dogs.

You can give offal to your pet. These include: liver, kidneys, stomach, lungs and others. Note that raw beef liver is rich in vitamins. Just before giving it to the dog, the offal should be doused with boiling water. Better not to give a spleen. Beef kidney can be given in small amounts to dogs, especially those who are prone to eating feces. In addition, such food is rich in enzymes and trace elements.

Fish can be given to dogs, but only sea (without bones) and no more than three times a week. Also, boiled eggs (no more than two pieces per week) and low-fat dairy products (cottage cheese, kefir and others) are added to the diet.

Dogs can be fed with buckwheat, rice porridge. Oatmeal is better to steamboiling water, not boil. Barley porridge should not be given, it is not digested in dogs. Vegetables, fruits and herbs in small quantities will also be useful.

You can add sunflower oil to the porridge (one or two tablespoons, depending on the amount of food). You can feed your dog with dry food. But they must be premium or super-premium. The animal must have fresh water available. It is also worth giving vitamins periodically, for example, during the molting period.

How to understand a pet? Behaviors

So many owners are interested in how to understand a dog. Now let's try to understand this issue. We present useful advice on this matter. So how do you understand a dog? You need to watch her facial expressions and movements. Then you can roughly guess in advance what the dog will do. If we talk about dog love, then it is endless. The dog feels joy being with a person.

When a dog looks at its owner or other people, its eyes become animated. If the animal is frightened, then its pupils increase. As a result, the eyes seem to protrude outwards. This happens due to the fact that the muscles are tense and tightened. If a dog closes its eyes in front of another dog, then this means that it does not pose any danger to it. Such a "trick" and people can use when communicating with dogs. A direct look into the dog's eyes is perceived by it as a threat or a desire to attack. If you look at her with your head slightly turned, then your dog will not think about any bad intentions.

What you need to knowabout the dog owner? If the dog's ears are turned up, it means that he is attentive to you. If the ears are at rest, then the dog shows obedience. Pressed means fear, humility, in some situations even aggression. When interacting with people, dogs can smile. This is how they show their happy state or desire to play. With his relatives, such an action means a completely different thing. Dogs are invited to play with a bow.

Tail wagging shows how the dog feels. Slow means she is calm and joyful. A quick wag is a great joy and willingness to work with the owner. A straight up tail indicates tension, confidence or aggression. The fact that the dog is frightened can be judged by the tail pressed between the paws.

Content Features

The dog should have its own place with a sunbed. In addition, an adult dog, and especially a puppy, requires a variety of toys. They can be purchased at the pet store. Daily walks are a must for adult dogs. Duration - 30 to 60 minutes or more.

Annually it is worth vaccinating a dog against viral diseases and rabies. Before vaccinating, you should give the animal an anthelmintic preparation 10 days before the expected date. What tool to choose? For example, it can be "Envair", "Drontal" and others.

During the period of ticks, it is imperative to treat your pet with remedies for these parasites. These can be drops on the withers of such companies as Bars, Barrier, Hards, Front Line, etc.e.

Interesting facts

Now let's look at interesting facts about dogs:

1. There is a myth that cats and dogs cannot live together. But it's not. The main problem in their communication is the desire of the dog to catch up. That is, if the cat does not run away, then the dog will not have a natural reaction.
2. The height of the tallest dog standing on its hind legs is 2.2 meters. This dog was a Great Dane.
3. Adult dogs have 42 teeth, puppies have 28.
4. A dog smells over ten thousand times stronger than a human.
5. The dog needs the approval of the leader of the pack (leader or owner).
6. Dogs, like people, can hiccup if they drink or eat quickly.
7. The longer an animal's nose, the more efficient its cooling system.
8. Lundehunds have six toes on each foot.
9. Another interesting fact about dogs is that their nose is wet to tell the direction of the wind.
10. Direct descendants of wolves, of course, are dogs.
11. Almost 50% of dogs sleep in their owners' beds.
12. There are fourteen references to dogs in the Bible.

Small conclusion

Now you know a lot of useful information about choosing and feeding a dog. Also, after reading the article, you can already roughly understand whether you need such an animal. And if you decide to get it, then remember that it is impossible for a puppy, then it will be forbidden for an adult dog. It concerns the features of the rulesbehaviors (such as lying on the couch, jumping on hands, etc.).