No matter if you are a current or prospective dog owner, you surely realize all the things dog ownership entails. It's not something to be taken lightly. Read through the following guide for some hints on how you can take better care of dogs.

Make sure your house is free of doggy danger. Check your whole home to be sure it is safe prior to bringing a dog home. Hide medications and chemicals, cover your trash, and put food where he can't get to it. Some plants can be lethal, so move them out of your dog's reach.

If there are prescription and other medications within your home, keep them away from your dog. Getting into those pills could seriously impact your dog's health and even cause death. If your dog happens to get into any such pills, call your veterinarian or animal poison control immediately.

Don't take your dog off of your own property without a leash, no matter how well-behaved he is. There are quite a few things that could cause your dog to run off unexpectedly. You will be responsible for your dog's actions and safety.

If you are not sure how often you should feed your dog, ask your vet. Dog food packages provide guidelines, but they can be wrong for your particular pet and lead to obesity. Your vet will know how much to feed your particular dog.

Daily brushing your dog has more benefits that just reducing shedding. It'll also give them a very beautiful and shiny coat. Brushing distributes the natural oils of the skin throughout the hair coat for added sheen and softness.

You should always trim your nails. If they start to curl, your dog may feel a lot of pain. You can do this yourself using a pair of dog clippers from the pet store. If you are not comfortable doing it yourself, you can take him to the groomers and have them done for very little money.

The cheapest dog food may not always be the best buy when considering what food to feed your dog. After a while it's good for the dog if it has been eating nutritious and high quality fo