🐕 Stuff Every Dog Owner Should Know: Training Guide

Plan Before You Choose

A dog is a daily commitment, not a short-term toy. The first year usually costs the most because you buy a crate, leash, training, a microchip and initial vet care. Later years still include food, routine care, parasite prevention and maybe insurance.

Your local shelter or humane society is a great first place to look. Many older dogs there are already trained and waiting for a home. The adoption fee often includes spay or neuter surgery.

If your home is empty more than four or five hours most days, a puppy may not be the best match. An older, house-trained dog can wait longer and may fit better.

Active herding and sporting breeds need a real job to stay happy. If you are away a lot or have little time for exercise, choose a calmer dog instead.

Before the dog arrives, the whole household should agree on who walks, who feeds, where the dog sleeps and which rooms are off limits. A clear schedule helps the dog trust you and keeps jobs from falling through.

The First Days Home

Plan to bring the dog home on a weekend or another time you can stay home for a few days. A new home is stressful, and a settled routine helps the dog feel safe.

Take your newly adopted dog to the vet within about a week. The vet checks health, updates shots and plans parasite prevention. This is also the time to plan microchip or spay or neuter if the shelter did not already do it.

Even a dog that was house trained before can have accidents in a new home. At first, assume the dog is not house trained. Take it out every few hours and build the routine from the start.

Decide before the dog arrives which rooms are off limits, and set a regular schedule for walks and feeding. This stops confusion and gives the dog a predictable day.

Licenses, Leashes and Finding a Lost Dog

Local rules differ. Your local or state health department is the best place to learn which vaccines your dog must have. Laws can apply even to indoor-only dogs.

Some places require every dog to be licensed. Los Angeles County requires all dogs to have a license, and Chicago requires dogs four months and older to be registered. Check your own city's rules.

Leash rules also differ. Philadelphia requires dogs in its parks to be on a leash six feet or shorter. Fenced dog runs may allow off-leash play, but always check local signs.

A microchip is helpful, but a neighbor cannot read it without a scanner. Keep a collar with an ID tag that has your phone number. The chip is a backup if the collar falls off.

If your dog is lost, call animal control, vets, shelters and rescue groups right away. Then visit shelters every day in person with photos, because a staff member may not match your description.

Normal Health and Yearly Care

A dog's normal body temperature is about 101 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. That is higher than a person's normal temperature. A vet can show you how to take it safely.

Dogs do not sweat like people. They cool off mostly by panting, because they have sweat glands only on their paws. Extra body heat leaves through breath.

A healthy adult dog should see the vet at least once a year. Dogs often hide pain and illness, so a yearly check can catch problems early.

Skipping a yearly exam to save money often backfires. Treating an illness usually costs much more, and is riskier, than preventing it.

If a surprise vet bill would strain your family, think about pet insurance while your pet is still healthy. Read the fine print because plans are not all the same.

Emergencies: Bloat and Heatstroke

Bloat, also called GDV, is a life-threatening emergency. The stomach swells, and it can twist and cut off blood flow. A dog needs a vet immediately.

A key sign of bloat is repeated dry retching, as if trying to throw up but nothing comes. There may also be restlessness, a swollen painful belly, drooling and rapid breathing. Call the vet right away.

Large, deep-chested dogs like Great Danes and German Shepherds are at higher risk for bloat. A dog with a close relative that had bloat is also at higher risk.

Heatstroke happens when a dog's body temperature reaches 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Start cooling with cool water and get to a vet. Signs can include intense panting, drooling, vomiting, weakness and confusion.

If you think your dog swallowed something poisonous, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control right away. It is open 24 hours a day, every day. A consultation fee may apply.

Spay and Neuter Basics

Neutering a male dog cuts down roaming in about 90 percent of cases. Intact males have a strong drive to find females and may escape to do it.

The traditional age for neutering a dog is six to nine months. Healthy puppies as young as eight weeks can be done. Your vet helps pick the best time.

Spaying a female dog gives the best protection against breast tumors when it is done before her first heat. It also prevents uterine infections.

Spaying or neutering can raise the risk of weight gain, but food and exercise still matter. Work with your vet on portions and exercise to keep your dog healthy.

After spay or neuter surgery, prevent running and jumping for up to two weeks or as long as your vet says. Use a cone so the dog cannot lick the cut. Call the vet if the incision is red, swollen, leaking or open.

Core and Non-Core Vaccines

Non-core vaccines are given when a dog's lifestyle or home area raises risk. Bordetella is a common example for dogs that go to boarding or daycare. Distemper and parvovirus are core for all dogs.

Puppies get antibodies from their mother, and those can block a vaccine. Nobody knows exactly when the antibodies fade for each puppy, so doses repeat until after 16 weeks.

After a booster within the first year, many core vaccines like parvovirus are repeated every three years. Annual boosters are not necessary for those core vaccines. Leptospirosis and Bordetella are different and may be given yearly.

Check your local or state health department to learn which vaccines your dog is legally required to have. Rabies shots are often required by law, even for indoor-only dogs.

Heartworm

Dogs get heartworm from a mosquito bite, not from contact between dogs. A mosquito that bites an infected animal picks up baby worms, then passes them to the next pet it bites.

All dogs should be tested for heartworm every year, even if they seem healthy. Early infection often shows no signs at all.

Give heartworm preventive 12 months a year. Mosquitoes can show up outside normal seasons, and indoor dogs can be bitten too.

Indoor-only dogs need heartworm prevention too, because infected mosquitoes can slip into homes. Heartworm has been diagnosed in all 50 US states, so this is not just a southern problem.

After an infected mosquito bite, heartworm larvae take about six months to grow into adult worms. Adult heartworms live in the heart, lungs and blood vessels, and adults can live for five to seven years in a dog.

Fleas, Tapeworms and Hookworms

Most of a flea population lives in the environment, not on the dog. Eggs and larvae develop in the home and yard. Treat the pet and also clean bedding and carpets.

Dogs can get tapeworms from fleas. Heartworm comes from mosquitoes, not fleas. Tapeworms carried by fleas can also affect people.

Many dogs are allergic to flea saliva, which can cause intense itching. Even dogs that are not allergic scratch from the irritation of flea bites. Chronic cases can lead to hair loss and thickened skin.

Hookworm larvae from dog feces can get into a person through the skin, often through bare feet on contaminated soil or sand. Bag and throw away pet feces at least once a week, and have puppies dewormed early by a vet.

Core vaccines for every dog

Core vaccines guard against the most serious diseases dogs face, so veterinarians recommend them for every dog. Rabies, distemper, parvovirus and adenovirus all sit on this core list.

AAHA says core vaccines are meant for all dogs, no matter their lifestyle or home area. This means an indoor dog or a dog that rarely meets other animals still needs these vaccines.

Dog Food Basics

A dog food label that says complete and balanced means the food is meant to be a dog's sole diet. It should supply all nutrition by itself. Treats, snacks and supplements often are not complete and balanced.

A food can back up a complete and balanced claim in one of two ways. It can be formulated to meet a nutrient profile, or it can pass a feeding trial using AAFCO procedures. Formulating means every listed nutrient must be at the recommended level.

People Foods That Hurt Dogs

Chocolate, coffee and caffeine all contain stimulant chemicals called methylxanthines. The darker the chocolate, the greater the risk. Keep all chocolate out of reach, especially baking chocolate and cocoa powder.

Grapes and raisins can damage a dog's kidneys. Tartaric acid is thought to be the toxic part, and dogs cannot process it. Never feed grapes or raisins as treats.

Xylitol, a sweetener in some gum and baked goods, can cause low blood sugar and possibly liver damage in dogs. Check labels and keep sugar-free products away. Xylitol is also in candy and even toothpaste.

Onions, garlic and chives can upset a dog's stomach and damage red blood cells, causing anemia. Cats are even more sensitive, but dogs are at risk too.

Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, tremors, vomiting and other signs in dogs. Cookies with macadamias count. Signs usually appear within 12 hours, and most dogs recover within 24 to 72 hours.

Alcohol is absorbed rapidly and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination, depression and difficulty breathing. Keep drinks, and food made with alcohol, away from dogs.

More Food and Household Hazards

Raw yeast dough rises and builds gas in a dog's stomach. The stomach can bloat and twist, an emergency. Yeast also makes alcohol inside the stomach, so raw dough can cause alcohol poisoning too.

Raw meat and raw eggs can carry Salmonella and E. coli, which can sicken dogs and the people who handle the food. Wash hands and surfaces after handling. Raw eggs also contain an enzyme that can block some vitamins.

The ASPCA cautions against giving dogs bones, because dogs can hurt their gut or get a blockage. A bone injury or blockage can be serious enough to need surgery.

Dairy products can cause diarrhea in many dogs, and fatty foods can inflame the pancreas, a condition called pancreatitis. Water is the safer drink, and greasy table scraps are poor treats.

Too much salt can make a dog more thirsty and urinate more. Signs of salt toxicity can include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors and seizures, so skip salty snacks like chips.

Avocado's biggest concern is heart damage and death in birds and rabbits, not dogs. In a home with birds or rabbits, keep avocado away from them.

Household Poisons and Emergencies

Antifreeze can easily attract pets because ethylene glycol, its main ingredient, has a sweet taste. Pets may lap up spills from garages and driveways, so clean up leaks right away.

Pet-safer antifreezes use propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol. It has a much wider margin of safety, but still keep all antifreeze capped and out of reach. Treatment for antifreeze poisoning must start as soon as possible.

Dogs are notorious for swallowing dropped pills. Take your own medicine in a safe place away from pets. Human prescription medications topped the ASPCA's list of pet toxins for several years.

If you think your dog swallowed something poisonous, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435. It is available 24 hours a day, every day.

Feeding and House Training

Puppies eight to twelve weeks old need four meals a day. Puppies have small stomachs and lots of growing to do, so several small meals work best.

A puppy can usually hold its bladder about one hour per month of age. A three-month-old puppy may need to go out about every three hours. Humane World suggests taking a puppy out at least every two hours, plus after waking, playing and eating.

House training usually takes about four to six months. Plan for months, not days, and keep a regular potty schedule for the puppy's first six to nine months.

If a puppy pees on the rug, clean it well and do not punish. Scolding or rubbing its nose in it only makes the puppy fearful and slows progress. If you catch it in the act, calmly take it to the outdoor potty spot and reward when it finishes there.

Puppies under six months old should not stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time. Adult dogs should not be left in a crate more than four to five hours during the day.

Teething, Chewing and Biting

Puppies chew extra hard while teething, and this phase usually ends by about six months of age. Frozen dog toys or a frozen wet washcloth may help numb teething pain.

If you find a chewed shoe hours later, scolding the dog now teaches nothing. A dog cannot connect punishment with something it did hours or even minutes ago. Puppy-proof the house and give allowed chew toys instead.

When a puppy bites too hard in play, give a high-pitched yelp and let your hand go limp. This teaches the puppy that human skin is tender, a skill called bite inhibition.

If a puppy keeps nipping, yelp, walk away and ignore it for 30 to 60 seconds. Puppies quickly learn that teeth on skin end the fun. Avoid waving fingers or toes in a puppy's face.

Pick up a puppy or small dog with one hand under the chest and the other under the rear. Never lift by front legs, tail or the back of the neck. For a large dog, support the chest with one arm and the rear with the other.

Grooming, Nails and Dental Care

Most dogs do not need baths more than a few times a year. Frequent brushing keeps them clean and cuts shedding. Comb out mats before a bath and rinse out all soap, because leftover soap makes dirt stick to the coat.

Trim a dog's nails when they just about touch the ground as it walks. Trim a little at a time and stop when a small circle shows on the cut surface. The quick is a vein that runs into the nail.

Never insert anything into a dog's ear canal when cleaning. Probing inside can cause trauma or infection. If the ear looks dirty, gently wipe the visible part with a damp cotton ball or gauze.

By age three, about 70 to 80 percent of dogs and cats show signs of dental disease. Dogs have 42 adult teeth, and regular checks and home care matter.

Do not brush a dog's teeth with people toothpaste. It has fluoride and may upset its stomach. Ask your vet for a toothpaste made for dogs. Dental disease can lead to heart and kidney problems.

Training Basics

Very active herding and sporting breeds need an active job to stay happy. A bored dog may escape, chew or bark. Daily training helps meet that need.

Lure your dog into a sit by guiding a treat from above its nose toward the back of its head. The moment the dog's rear touches the floor, say "sit" and give the treat. Later, use praise more and treats less.

Come is one of the most important commands because it can save a dog's life near danger. Practice short distances first, call in a friendly voice and reward every time it comes.

If a dog pulls on the leash, stop and wait until it stops pulling, then ask it to sit. Walk on only when it is calm, and reward it for walking beside you.

Keep daily training lessons short, about five to ten minutes. Short, fun lessons every day work better than rare long ones. Add a daily walk and rotate toys to keep them interesting.

Behavior Problems

Dogs with separation anxiety often start barking, howling or chewing within minutes of being left alone. Many get upset while you get ready to leave.

Punishing a dog for a mess from separation anxiety can make it worse. The mess comes from panic, not bad behavior. Severe cases may need a vet's help with medicine plus training.

Give a dog a food puzzle toy each time you leave, one that takes at least 20 to 30 minutes to finish. This helps the dog link alone time with good things.

Crating a dog does not cure separation anxiety. A panicked dog may get injured trying to escape. Slow, gradual training is the real fix, and some dogs do better in a room behind a baby gate.

If a dog barks for attention, ignore it and reward quiet. If you turn away or leave the room, the dog learns that barking does not work. To teach quiet, say Quiet, wait, then feed small treats. Praise anytime the dog chooses not to bark.

Safety at Home, in Cars and Around People

A parked car heats up fast, rising almost 20 degrees F in just 10 minutes. Cracking the windows makes no difference. If a dog does not need to come along, leave it at home.

Test pavement by holding your own bare hand or bare foot on it for about 10 seconds. If it is too hot for you, it is too hot for paw pads. Do not let dogs linger on hot asphalt when temperatures are very high. Check a chew toy by pressing a thumbnail into it; if no dent, it is too hard for teeth.

Do not allow a dog to ride with its head out the car window. Keep pets inside the car, ideally in a harness or crate. The safest way for a dog to ride is in a secured, well-ventilated crate big enough to stand, sit, lie down and turn around.

When driving across state lines, bring your dog's rabies vaccination record. Ask your vet whether you also need a health certificate. For flying, avoid it if your dog is too big for under the seat.

Chaining a dog to a post is not a good way to keep it in the yard. A tied dog can become frustrated and aggressive. Use a secure fence and supervise outside time. Many dogs climb over fences, so a fence extension tilted inward at about 45 degrees can help.

Meeting Dogs and Supporting Seniors

With the owner's OK, let a dog you do not know sniff your hand first. Then gently rub its chest, side or back. Many dogs do not like strangers patting their heads, and pulling ears, hair or tails hurts.

If a child sees a loose dog wearing ID tags, the child should move calmly to a safe place, tell an adult, and let the adult check tags or call animal control. Running can make a dog want to chase you.

If a dog seems nervous around a toddler, never force the dog to interact. Give the dog a safe spot out of reach, supervise every visit, and get an animal behavior expert if the dog ever shows aggression.

Start preparing your dog for a new baby about four months before. Introduce new sounds, smells and routines slowly with rewards, and teach solid basic commands.

Dogs have an average lifespan of about 8 to 16 years, and smaller dogs generally live longer. A dog becomes a senior when it enters the last 25 percent of its estimated lifespan, and senior dogs should see the vet every six months.

Signs of dementia in a senior dog include changes in sleep patterns, loss of housetraining, getting lost in familiar places and less interest in people. Help an older dog on slippery floors with nonslip runners or rugs, and keep gentle exercise going to loosen stiff joints.

Flat-faced dogs and heatstroke

Dogs cool off mainly by panting. Flat-faced breeds such as Pugs have a short muzzle, which makes panting less effective, so they overheat faster than longer-muzzled dogs.

Overweight dogs, older dogs, and dogs with heart or lung disease also have a higher risk of heatstroke.