If you’re looking to adopt/buy a dog, then you should know that you’re about to welcome a new best friend into your life, that’s going to be devoted to you for the rest of their life. These wonderful animals come in different sizes, and if you’ve never owned one, then it’s definitely a great decision to have a smaller breed.
They are perfect for first-time owners, or for the ones who live in smaller apartments. Now, just because you have a smaller doggo, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t lots of responsibilities involved.
If you want to have a happy and healthy fur buddy by your side, then it’s of huge importance to take a couple of steps that are going to help you accomplish that. If you’re unsure which ones are the most essential, then just pay attention to the ones that are about to be enumerated.
Pay Attention To Their Diet
Although bigger canines generally eat more, it doesn’t mean that smaller breeds are not prone to that. Another thing that you need to keep in mind is the fact that due to their size, it’s much easier to overfeed smaller dogs, than larger ones.
There are lots of pet parents who have the tendency to do this because they are too indulgent and they cannot resist not giving them a dog treat or anything that they are eating. Even though that’s quite common, it doesn’t mean that you’re supposed to do it.
By doing so, you may end up with a fur baby that’s overweight or obese, which certainly isn’t good for their health. Aside from this health problem, dogs that have excess weight become more susceptible to diabetes, heart issues, arthritis, and many other heart problems. That’s exactly why you should stick to the instructions that are put on the package.
Dogs Wear Clothes Too!
Of course, this doesn’t mean that you’re supposed to dress them in human clothes. Namely, in case you didn’t know, today you can easily come across specialty apparel for small dogs that are designed not only to make them look adorable but comfortable and safe as well. So what is the most popular type of it?
For instance, you can always opt for a safety vest, a lovely raincoat, a dog shirt, a dog hoodie, and many others.
Carefully Pick The Breed
As stated in the beginning, dogs can be found in various sizes, and every single one of these breeds comes with certain virtues and flaws (just like everybody else). If you’ve never owned a dog before (this refers to both smaller and bigger doggos) then it’s pivotal to first do your research to see if a particular smaller breed suits your needs, demands, and above everything, your current lifestyle.
If you are generally not very physically active, then you should choose a dog that isn’t a massive exercise nut. On the flip side, if you love to spend lots of time outdoors, then you should have a fur baby that’s into it too!
To put it simply, you need to understand what your future dog needs and loves and whether it aligns with your lifestyle. Only then both of you will be happy to the maximum.
Training Is Also Extremely Important!
There’s a common misconception that only bigger dogs can be problematic in terms of behavior which isn’t exactly the truth. Just like every other animal, if they aren’t properly trained, things can quickly get out of hand.
That’s precisely why you must be very diligent and responsible when it comes to this. Now, a lot of people think that training should be employed only to prevent aggressive behavior. Although that’s one of its purposes, what you need to remember is the fact that it can be effective in preventing other behavioral issues, such as separation anxiety, fear of noise, etc. Besides, those who are trained in the early stages are a lot friendlier and social with other people and animals.
Puppy Proof Your House
This is also another important step that mustn’t be overlooked if you want to make sure your doggo is protected at any given moment. So what are you supposed to do in these instances? For starters, you need to be sure there aren’t things on the floor (or anywhere else within their reach) that are potentially detrimental to them that they can easily swallow. Don’t forget that dogs generally love biting anything that’s “in their way”.
Smaller dogs have always been very high in demand because they look like puppies their entire lives which is undoubtedly adorable, however, loving a dog isn’t enough. In fact, you need to implement all the tips that were mentioned today to make them feel not only loved but happy and healthy too!
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