Dogs have a unique ability to give companionship and loyalty to their owners. Thus, it is smart for dog owners to learn everything possible about animal care. This article will provide you with a great start.

While you can hug your dog, you should avoid kissing your dog. Dogs lick dirty things you don’t even want to think about. Dogs love to dig in garbage, get into the toilet, and then they lick their butts, yuck! It’s an old wives tale that your dog’s mouth happens to be cleaner that a human being. It certainly isn’t the truth.

Be wary about certain flea treatments to use for your dog. Many of them contain ingredients that can put children at risk for cancer at a rate that is 1000 times more than what the EPA considers safe! Talk to the vet to determine if there are other options for your dog.

Try not to feed your dog any table scraps. If you feed from the table, he’ll become a beggar and stop eating his own food. Table scraps can also be unhealthy and lead to excess weight and digestive problems. If you spend the time to train your dog to spend mealtimes well removed from the table, there won’t be any scrap-feeding temptations to worry about.

Always have your dog on a leash when he’s off your property. A wild animal could draw his attention and make him run off into danger, or an unexpected provocation could result in some unpleasant situation with other people and their dogs. You will be to blame if your dog gets hurt for being off his leash.

Genuine meat bones may be tempting, but it’s best to stick to rawhide. Real bones can chip and splinter, this can cause your dog to choke and wreak havoc on his digestive tract. Rawhide is completely healthy and improves the teeth, and therefore is preferable to animal bones.

Buy or build a dog house if he is going to be outside for long periods in the winter. Particularly if his feet get wet, extended exposure to extreme temperatures causes stress and can lead to health complications. Make certain your dog house has a good floor that keeps your dog up off the ground and dry.

Trim your dog’s nails on a regular basis. The nails can cause the dog discomfort if they start to curl under. You can use store bought clippers to trim them yourself. If you’re uncomfortable clipping them on your own, go to a professional groomer. Nail clipping is very affordable.

There isn’t a doubht that there are benefits to owning a dog, and that can be the start of a great friendship. If you are thinking about getting a dog, you should learn as much as you can about it. What you have learned here is going to help you out now and well into the future.