Dogs form a part of many of our families – they are one of the most common household pets in the world! This isn’t all too surprising, as they are great companions and can easily fit into our day to day lifestyle. However, it’s extremely important to remember that every dog has different needs and that you need to familiarise yourself with your own dog in order to cater to their needs as best you can. Here are a few steps that you can take to achieve this.
Understand Your Dog’s Breed
A major factor that will influence your dog’s physical traits and personality is their breed. Different breeds tend to have common characteristics, and by understanding your dog’s breed, you will have a better idea of how they function and what they need. Let’s take English Bull Terriers as an example. Just from knowing this dog’s breed, we will be able to know that it will grow to a medium size, so will need a fair amount of living space. We will know they tend to have average health, so a standard insurance policy should be sufficient to provide them with all of the veterinary care and attention that they may need. There are also common behavioral traits to take into account. We will know that he or she won’t tolerate being alone very well, so can prepare ourselves to dedicate more time to them. If you are unaware of your pet’s specific breed, you can conduct a dog DNA test. You can read an interesting review on this here.
Recognise Signs of Anxiety
Some dogs experience anxiety in certain situations. Perhaps the most common is during occasions where fireworks are set off. So, it’s important to observe your pet and work out what bothers them. This will help you to provide them with comfort and support during times when they are likely to experience worry or anxiety. There are so many things that you can do to put them at ease. Consider acclimatizing your pooch to loud sounds in the lead up to events, providing them with a safe space to retreat to, distracting them with play and toys, and keeping an ID tag on your dog in case they do get scared and somehow escape.
Learn to Communicate
No, you may not be able to talk directly to your dog, but they can pick up certain words and tones of voice to understand what you’re saying. This is how many pooches know what you mean when you tell them that they are good, when you ask if they want to go for a walk, or you give them commands. But this communication can work the other way round too. Learn to read your dog’s signals! This can strengthen your bond significantly and help you to give them what they want and need.
These are just a few things that you can do in order to get to know your dog and their needs better!
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