Many people have had pets around them all of their lives. If you happen to be thinking about getting a dog, then there is stuff that you’re going to need to understand. The following article contains dog care tips that you need to know.

Always, have your dog spayed or neutered. Research shows that doing this can make your animal live longer and reduce their cancer risks. Additionally, dogs who undergo this procedure are much less likely to wander off and maybe get into to an accident.

Resist the urge to give your dog table scraps. This teaches dogs bad habits. “People food” can also make dogs sick and contribute to obesity. Put your dog in another room while the family eats, and do not allow him to reenter the dining space until dinner is done.

Don’t let your dog out of your property without wearing a leash, regardless of how well he behaves. He can be scared away by some wild animal, or an unforeseen provocation with another dog can result in an unpleasant situation. You are the only one responsible for your dog’s safety and his actions.

Talk to your vet about how much your dog should eat. Some people refer to the label on the package to determine the quantity of food to feed their dogs, but those guidelines are not always right and using them can cause your dog to become overweight. Talk to your vet about what is acceptable and what your dog’s particular needs are.

Offer rawhide rather than actual meat bones. Giving them actual bones may cause them to fall apart and become lodged in the digestive tract or oral cavity of your dog. Rawhide is much safer and also cleans teeth.

Try not to force your dog to do new things. If your dog doesn’t like a particular treat, don’t force him to eat it. Upon initially bringing a dog into the home, spend some time discovering its likes and dislikes.

Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise. Dogs need routine activity and play in order to stay happy and healthy. Throw a ball around the park with your dog and play fetch. You will thus offer necessary exercise, but will also build strong bonds with the animal.

Now you know how to care for your dog. Apply what you’ve learned, and you can’t go wrong. Keep this article as a handy reference, in case you find yourself wondering what to do again sometime in the future.