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Dog Basic Needs

Submitted by Michael Adams on April 19, 2010

Raising a pet in your home is a serious responsibility and it is essential that you take care of the basic requirements your pet may need. Dogs are extremely easy pets to care for and are the most popular domestic pet in the world. Dogs have several basic needs that you should take care of.

Dogs tend to have a pack instinct. In the wild, they would roam in groups or packs with one dominant leader of the pack, usually male, who would dictate the packs actions and routines. It is essential that as your puppy grows up that you establish yourself as the ‘leader’ in your house and make sure that the dog is aware of your authority.

There should also be a designated area for your dog in the house that it can consider to be its own. This sense of territory makes a dog comfortable.

Like all living beings, the primary requirement of your dog is food. You may consult your pet specialist on the kind of diet that would be healthy and suited to the all round development of your dog. Always ensure that there is a bowl of water accessible to your dog so that your dog hydrates itself regularly. Dogs also require your attention. You should always show affection towards your dog and spend some time either playing with or interacting with your dog. This is an essential factor in bonding with your dog which will enhance your relationship.

Dog health issues are fairly similar to those one would find in humans. It is particularly important that you exercise your dog regularly through playing games like fetch, going for walks or jogging in the park and other activities that make your dog exert itself. Such exercise will make your dog less restless and help it become strong and active. If your pet experiences dog health problems try and find the underlying reason for this. It is possible that your dog is not being fed correctly or that some of the environmental conditions are not suited to it. Your dog may also be suffering from normal health issues such as a common cold or digestive distress. Treat these like you would normally do in a human.
There are some aspects of dog health care that require special attention. You need to learn to groom your dog properly in order to make sure that your dog’s skin is clean and clear of bugs such as fleas or ticks.

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