If you are an inexperienced dog handler, then learn these tips so as to keep your dog happy and in good health. The article covers everything from dog food to medications to behavioural patterns that you should observe in your pet animal.

Just like humans, the upbringing of canines too is extremely important as behavioural patterns developed through the formative years tend to greatly influence their life thereafter. Therefore as dog owners, you have a moral responsibility of bringing up the canine in the right way. This article gives a guide on how to take good care of your beloved dog.

Firstly if you are bringing a young puppy home, then bear in mind that it could be severely traumatised due to being separated from its mother. The alien new surroundings may freak it out and it may howl and whine as a result of it. At such times, you need to understand the plight of the animal and make it as comfortable as possible. Place a reassuring hand around it and give it lots of love and care. This will make it feel secure and also increase its confidence levels.

In the first few days, only feed it with milk and easily digestible food because fibrous food these can cause diarrhoea and vomiting. Puppies also tend to be extremely inquisitive and want to explore everything that they see. Eating and chewing items is a way via which they test out new objects but often these can be shoes, utensils or even wastes. So you need to observe them keenly and see that they don't gulp down anything untoward.

An animal learns quickly when it is young and therefore this is the best time to discipline it. Make it learn specific commands such as 'Sit', 'Run', 'Come Here' and 'No' because this would promote good behaviour in the pet and also help you to control it better. However learning your commands may take the pet time and for this reason you need to be patient with it. A good way to accelerate the learning process is to reward good behaviour.

Also take your animal for regular walks because a dog that isn't active tends to become obese and generally has a shorter life span. You should also feed it with healthy nutritious food and periodically nourish it with calcium and vitamin supplements. Regular checkups and vaccinations is a must because it prevents pets from contracting infections. Additionally if your pet is a furry one, then make it a point to inspect its body whenever it comes back after going outdoors because fleas and other pests lodge themselves inside the furs, draining the animal of its energy and nutrition.

'A dog is a man's best friend' goes the saying but you too must return the favour if you are a true animal lover.