Basic Dog Care
How can I tell if my dog is healthy?
The first thought when looking at a dog to see if he's healthy is his coat. His coat speaks volumes. You want your dog to have a shiny glossy coat. You want ears that smell good. I'll actually put my nose in there and smell their ears. I'll lift up their lip and look at the dog's teeth. Are they clean? Are they sparkling? Is their breath good? A dog's breath should not smell bad; that's an indication of illness. I want to see the dog's poops. I want to watch them poop and see what's coming out of my dog. Is it healthy and firm or is it diarrhoea? There are many things you can do to check your dog's health.
How often should I bathe my dog?
During the summer it's a good idea to bathe your dog much more often than at other times of the year, since that's a time of great shedding, and also the time of problems your dog may have with fleas, ticks, and other things like that. What I usually do in the summer months is bathe my dog maybe once a week, maybe as often as twice a week. That reduces the shedding. As the winter comes around, bathing your dog maybe once a month is good.
What products should I use to bathe my dog?
Grooming your dog is not a big process; it's actually quite fun. One of the things I usually do is use a human grade shampoo; usually my own, something that puts moisture back into the skin. Another tip for grooming is to put the shampoo into a bowl of water so you dilute it. As a result you're not putting neat shampoo onto the dog. That helps in the rinsing process which is crucial. You don't want to leave any shampoo on the dog. It's also imperative, especially with the longer coated dogs, to brush them prior to grooming as well as after.
How do I keep my dog's teeth clean?
I think it's really important that people understand that teeth are very important in dogs. If a dog's teeth are really, really dirty it can actually lead to heart problems and even death because of the bacteria that's caused by the plaque on the teeth. So, it's imperative that people get into a situation where they understand that cleaning their dog's teeth is absolutely necessary. However, try, if you can, not to do the anaesthetic teeth cleaning and do the anaesthesia-free teeth cleaning.
How often should I brush my dog?
If you have the time, you should brush your dog daily. It's a very bonding thing to do. It's a massage for the dog, if you have the right brush. It also reduces hair, and it stimulates the oils in a dog's skin. There are so many benefits to brushing your dog's coat. It's something that is bonding, as well as healthy.
Why type of brush should I use for my dog?
It depends on your dog's coat. Most people use a wire slicker on their dog's coat. But if you have a Hound, a Doberman, a Boxer, or any other very short coated dog, a hound mitt that fits over your hand like a glove will help to ease the shedding of your dog's coat.
How much daily exercise does my dog need?
Dogs need a lot of exercise. If you have a small dog, it still needs a lot of exercise. A large dog still needs a lot of exercise. It is, however, breed-specific; but a tired dog is a good dog. A tired dog doesn't have the energy to torture you, your house, or your yard so please, exercise your dog properly.
Is it important for my dog to get fresh air and a walk every day?
I have clients who have five acres and they fight me on the idea that a dog still needs to go for a walk. What I say is that it's cabin fever. It's the same five acres day after day after day. So, it's imperative that you take your dog out for new experiences. They're a living being and they need to experience new things.
How much daily attention and affection does my dog need?
Attention depends on the dog. Some are needier than others. Certainly the younger dogs require more attention; as they get older, a little bit less. However, they do need attention. Dogs are sentient beings; they're social creatures. Dogs are very much like us.
What toys are healthy for my dog?
You know, I go into people's houses and often I'll say "where are your chew toys" and they'll show me, saying "Oh, I've got thousands." and I look at them and there's not one, single, true chew toy in that entire bunch. Chew toys are not fleecy animals, rope toys; things that the dog is not really able to chew. We want raw hides; we want real bones; we want things a dog can really sink its teeth into and get excited about.
