Some breeds are what I call wash and wear. A short coated dog such as a Toy Fox Terrier, Doberman, or Dalmatian falls into this category. A soft rubber brush , toe nail clip once a week, and a monthly bath pretty much do it for these dogs. Collies, Poodles, and Shih Tzus are breeds that take daily brushing and maybe even De-matting. Among some breeds, such as the Dachshund, there are three coat varieties, each with different levels of care. Picking the correct breed or mix for your family may be the most important first decision you make when owning a dog.
If you are not proficient at the use of clippers and scissors you may have to employ a groomer as often as once a month to help maintain the coat of your animal, depending upon the cut or shave you chose to use. All this adds up to time and money spent out of your day, every day, for as long as your pet lives with you. Yes, there are those owners who are content to get a dog and toss it out back on a chain, maybe throw it food and water once a week or so, and never give it more than that, but I would guess that the people who are reading this are not that type of careless owner.
At the least, plan to run a brush or comb through your medium or long coated dog every week, daily if the coat is left long, and weekly on a short coated breed. Toe nails should be clipped once a week, thus sparing the dog a costly trip to the vet or groomer to do it and keeping the animal comfortable with small snips of the nail. Inside of ears should be cleaned with soft cotton balls or a wash cloth weekly, more for drop eared breeds who tend to get infections. Eyes should be checked daily for any infections , maybe when it is feeding time, and also look over the general impression and demeanor of your dog. This will help you to catch health issues early before they become out of hand. Touching your dog weekly, all over, will help you detect lumps or tumors that may have formed as well as any minor injuries. Depending upon the season, paws should be checked frequently. When ice and snow is outside , the paws should be cleaned of all outdoor material after each walk. Leaving snow in between the pads can cause frost bite and the salt can burn.
If your dog is healthy you may need only to do a few things each day or week to keep your companion in tip top shape. Once your pet becomes older, arthritis, skin irritations, lumps and bumps are the more common issues to maintain a close watch on. Some pets must take daily medicines, eat special food, need specific oils in their foods, etc and all this takes time. During the shedding season ( twice a year a dog will shed more than what it does daily) there will be extra brushing. In the spring, summer and fall fleas and ticks are active and a vet approved treatment as well as heart worm medicine must be given, some daily, some monthly.
If you don't see it yet, what I am saying is having a pet can cost a lot of money. Be prepared to spend that money for not just feed and yearly shots, but also for good animal hygiene, emergencies, boarding, and any other of the things your pet needs during a life time of service to you. Read and research as much as you can before you make a choice on any dog, mixed or purebred. It will save you heartache, headache and make you aware of how much of your time you have to devote to the animal who shares your life.
© PawEarFull Legacys
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Hello fellow animal lovers. I welcome comments and questions. Thank you in advance.