Hidden Dog Costs You May Not Be Prepared For

Are you worried about the costs of owning a dog? If so, then it might be worth thinking about the different expenses that you need to manage. Some of these are widely discussed by pet owners and others are less apparent. Here are some of the costs that you might not be fully prepared for. 

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Insurance

First, you need to make sure that you are thinking about the cost of insurance. Insurance costs always increase as your dog gets older. The reason for this is that they are more likely to have issues with a variety of health conditions as they age. That’s why you might want to consider switching your insurance provider once your pet reaches a certain age. This is similar to how the initial insurance you choose will not be suitable for the entire life of a car. You need to choose another plan that matches your budget and your requirements. 

Diet 

It’s also worth considering the cost of food for your pet dog. Some dogs will require a special diet. This is a problem because it means that you’ll need to spend extra money on food. Some food is also recommended but not required. For instance, you could have a yorkie. If that’s the case, then you need to know about yorkies and their vitamins. These vitamins will help ensure that they stay healthy in the long term and avoid some of the typical health problems that can develop as dogs continue to age. 

Training 

Next, you should think about training costs. Training a dog will take time. This means if you don’t have the right amount of time, you’re always going to struggle to ensure that your dog is as obedient as you need. Professional trainers are available but they do cost money. It’s also worth noting that some dogs are more difficult to train than others. As such, it can take more time with an increased number of lessons to get them to learn what they need. This is something that you will definitely need to consider and keep in mind if you are thinking about getting a larger breed of dog. 

Kennels 

Finally, when you have a dog, you may need to manage the cost of kennels and fit this into your budget too. This will be important if you are planning on still going on trips but you don’t want to take your dog with you. There are different kennels available at a range of budgets. As such, it’s just a matter of finding an option that matches your price point. You should also make sure that you are checking the reviews to ensure that a kennel will provide the standard of service that you expect. 

We hope this helps you understand some of the key costs that you may not be prepared for when you have a dog. By factoring these into your budget, you can guarantee that you’ll have a more clear picture of the costs that you will incur as a new pet owner.

 

Tips to Giving Your Shih Tzu Dog a Happy Grooming Experience

Shih tzus are not only known for their affection and elegance but also for their long and soft coat. To maintain its softness and shine, pet owners take their dogs for grooming. While you can buy a dog comb from the pet store and brush your shih tzu’s coat, a trip to the dog grooming salon is important to ensure the ears are cleaned and the coat is trimmed properly. However, being handled by a stranger and the sound of the razor can be stressful to your dog. Here are some tips to make your dog’s grooming experience a happy one:

 

1. Choose the groomer carefully.

Do not take your shih tzu to just any grooming salon just because it is near your place or its services are cheaper. It’s important to evaluate the groomer first before leaving your dog in his or her care. Go for one who is a dog lover as well. You can easily spot this by the way he or she treats and handles your pet, say, while trimming the nails or cleaning the ears. As a pet owner, you can sense if the other person loves animals and you can use your instincts to do this. The salon should also be clean and have a pleasant smell. You can also ask for recommendations from people you know which also have dogs.

2. Let your shih tzu get used to going to the grooming salon.

You might want to first take your dog to the groomer you have chosen without really having your shih tzu groomed yet. Just bring your dog to the pet salon and let him or her get be familiar with the environment. You can also give your pet treats so your shih tzu will associate the place with receiving treats and being happy.

3. Choose a grooming salon with glass dividers. 

Your shih tzu can be stressed due to separation anxiety. You can prevent this by making your pet feel secure while being bathed. Choose a salon designed in such as way that you can see what’s happening inside, preferably one with glass walls so your shih tzu will know you are just there watching. Moreover, you will also know if the groomer really knows what he or she is doing and that your dog is not mishandled.

4. Groom your pet at home.

Even for our pets, there is no place like home. If there is a grooming salon that provides home service, this is the best grooming decision for your shih tzu. Dogs are aware of their surroundings and the home is the safest place they feel more comfortable and safe.

By taking these things in consideration, you can make your shih tzu’s grooming experience a pleasant one.

8 Ideas For Raising A Happy, Healthy Dog

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When we decided to make a little furry, hairy or scaly addition to the family, we often picture ourselves with smiles on our faces as we enjoy all the good times spent together with them. We think about how fulfilling it will be, how much we will love them and all of the memories that will be made with them. Whilst they may not be fellow human beings, we still accept them as part of the family. Each and every animal has its own ways of being dealt with.

When it comes to taking in and loving a dog, then there are certain ways in which you should behave if you want to raise this beautiful creature properly. Dogs are amazing, and they will run through a brick wall for you, if you are ever in trouble so the right thing to do would be to show them all the love, care and attention in the world. 

If you’re new to all this, then it can be a little overwhelming – you are trying to keep something alive, after all! If that is the case, then let’s go through some things that may help you on your quest of raising a happy and healthy dog. 

 

Choose A Great Food Brand

They have to eat properly, of course. Now, you can hit your local pet store and find any old food that you deem acceptable for the puppy, or you can be a loving caregiver and do a little research into what foods your particular breed needs. If you can give them the best possible nutrition, then their fitness, health and overall contentment will be as close to perfect as you can get it!

Register With A Vet You Trust

The one sounds like another easy thought, but much like finding a particular doctor for yourself, it would be a good idea to find the right vet for your dog. We’re not suggesting that some vets are going to be mean and nasty, but everyone has their preference so perhaps search for someone that your dog will love to bits.

Check Your Dogs Health Regularly

You’ll obviously be keeping a keen eye on their life from day one all the way until their final days, but just be mindful of how their behaving or if their mannerisms change at all – it could mean more than just a subtle change in attitude. 

If you’re not an expert yourself, it may be hard to spot if your dog is struggling in terms of its physical health and you may struggle to determine whether something is serious or not. In this case, using pet technology products might be the way to go – things like heart-rate monitors and other tests can be bought and used by owners. It’s better to be sure than to assume.

 

Walk Your Dog Daily

They’ll need to be active every day so remember to pop their leash on and take them for a stroll. Some dogs can and need to walk for longer distances than others, so you’ll need to figure out just how much exercise your particular baby is going to need.

Play With Your Dog

They’re naturally playful animals, traditionally, so you’ll need to let them have a little fun around the house and outside. You don’t want them bored and lounging around with nothing to do, so buy them lots of toys to play with and interact with them as much as you can!

Start Training Early

It’s all well and good showing off different tricks to your friends – shaking hands and making them wait for fetching a ball sure can be a hoot – but training is more than just little party tricks. Even when they’re young pups, it’s a good idea to train them in a variety of disciplinary ways so that they’re obedient and can protect themselves if things go a little wrong.

 

Show Your Dog Affection

They are warm-blooded creatures of this earth, so, as we mentioned earlier, you should treat them as though they are your own flesh and blood. They would do anything for you, so the very least you can do is love them for their entire life – it’s not hard to do. 

Include Them In Your Life

They’re not just for sitting around at home and looking nice. If you go out on vacation, think about bringing them along. If you’re heading out for the day, perhaps include them in your trip. Don’t just keep them for your own boredom, include them in your life and create amazing memories with them to reminisce about in the future.

Keep Your Canine Best Friend Comfortable As They Age!

Dogs are not just our pets; they are our unconditional best friends, more part of the family that some humans! Sadly, their lifespan is significantly shorter than ours, and that means we will have to deal with them during their senior years as well as when they are young puppies.

However, there are some tactics you can use to keep your mutt in tip-top condition, comfortable, and around for as long as possible as they age. 

Read on to find out what they are.

Look after their teeth.

Teeth can be a critical issue in a dog's’ health. In fact, the teeth are an area that is particularly at risk as dog get older. Specifically, plaque, tooth decay, and gum disease can affect your dog, can be painful, cause problems with their eating, and if not treated in time can mean the offending teeth need to be removed, something that necessitates the use of general anesthetic and the risks that go with it.

Of course, concerning teeth, prevention is always better than cure, and that means providing you dog with teeth cleaning treats and toys regularly throughout their lives as suggested at dogvills.com. You can also brush their the teeth manually, something you can learn how to do in the video below.

Maintain a healthy weight.
Next, an essential part of keeping your dog comfortable as he ages is to keep their weight under control. Now, this can be something of a tall order especially if your pooch likes the odd treat or tidbit off of your plate. However, it is essential to their well being because obesity in dogs is linked to all sort of medical conditions including diabetes, heart disease, and increased strain on arthritic joints.

With that in mind, it is vital that you deal with your dog's diet and only feed them the calories they need. Something that can help with this is to provide them with treat puzzles and toys that require activity to release the food items.

Deal with any health conditions.

To keep your dog comfortable as they age it is vital to deal with any health conditions that arise. Although, sometimes no matter how much you focus on keeping them healthy while they are young, their genetic predisposition and even bad luck can mean that your pooch will still have an illness or disease in later life that needs treatment.

Luckily, vets are adept at picking up on these and treating them in a way that ensures our dog remains comfortable as possible during their older years. You can even help things along by providing treats such as the one available on honestpaws.com to help calm or offer pain relief to your pooch if he is suffering. Something that no owner wants to see!


Adapt their day to day life as they get older.

Lastly, do be sure to adapt your life and routine to match your dogs as they age. What this means is that you may need to provide them with a quiet space in the home or garden where they can rest uninterrupted. Alternatively, you may have to reduce the length and speed of their walks to account for their reduction in mobility as the years go by.

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