Enter a keyword below to search for articles and products.
Whether your dog is a big sweetie, a big weirdo or a big athlete, here’s what you need to know about taking care of your big dog.
First, all big dogs start out as little dogs. But pretty soon they grow up — and so does their appetite, their toys, their dog bowls, the vet bill and their need for speed.
He started to grow.
And pretty soon
he was bigger than
the recliner.
Sometimes it can take more than two years for them to reach their full size.
And you won’t like to think about it too much, but their life spans are shorter, too: about 10 to 12 years.
No wonder
you'll let him push
you off the bed
at night.
If a large dog gets too much food as a pup, they’re at a higher risk of growing too quickly, which can cause joint trouble.
For large breeds, being overweight is especially problematic. All that extra weight can be a lot for the joints to carry around.
Keep your good old dog healthy by practicing portion control and feeding nutritious food like IAMS™ Mature Adult Large Breed.
How will she catch
a screaming
15-mile-an-hour
Frisbee in midair
if she has knee trouble.
Back in the day, large-breed dogs were especially energetic. They were working dogs, herders, hunters, cart pullers and people protectors.
Who are we to deny their evolution?
Make sure your dog gets exercise every day.
How do you accomplish this? Walk, walk and more walk. And add in some running, jumping, chasing, hiking, fetching, dog-park visiting, swimming and even agility courses.
Repeat this mantra:
'I am the alpha.'
When it comes to training, think of it this way: The bigger the dog, the harder it is to hide behavior problems. And if you can’t control your super-sized soulmate, they could inadvertently cause damage or hurt someone.
Living large is all
about biting the
wind and living
that sweet,
sweet life.
Having a puppy in your household never lets a dull day knock on your door. What could be more exciting than having a fur baby live with you? For some of you, it may also be a lifelong dream finally coming true. While everything about sharing your space with a pup sounds delightful, it starts going south when an untrained puppy takes over the house.
Procrastinating the process of house training a puppy can drive your pooch to eliminate in your house and ruin carpets and furniture. This is not a pretty scenario in the long run because not being able to control your little pup can put you and your family into distress. And most first-time pet parents are clueless regarding how to handle and control their furry companion. If you are one of them, here’s everything you need to do to house train your puppy.
This is not something that you take lightly. You need to be determined and consistent with the process if you want this to stay with your pup forever. House training a dog requires patience and perseverance. Create a puppy house training schedule and stick to it. Try to get your puppy used to walking on leash before you start potty training.
Note: You need to know that your dog is new to your house, it will need time to adjust in the brand-new environment. So, make sure that you do not develop a plan that is too overwhelming for your pet.
A routine always helps in the long run, whether it is for us or for our dogs, establishing a routine will help your dog to understand that there is a specific time to eat, play, sleep, or potty. So, with this, your dog will know that there is a particular time to poop as well. It is better to have a dog with a routine than the one who defecates anytime, anywhere.
Taking your puppy out at appropriate times is non-negotiable. Take it out for a walk right after it wakes up, during its play time, and after it eats or drinks because these are the times when dogs are most likely to want to go. Hence, keep a good gap between meals and water, and bedtime, so your pup does not have to hold their business in for too long.
As a dog parent, you must know that for every month of age, puppies can control its bladder for an hour! So, if your pup is 2 months old, it can hold its bladder for 2 hours. However, 6 hours is the limit. Dogs cannot control their bladder for more than 6 hours.
Commands can help pet parents in communicating with their pooch. If you use a command repeatedly for a certain action, your dog will begin to pick up on the relation between your words and the act. For example, if you keep using the phrase ‘go fetch’ while you throw a toy or a stick, your pet will start understanding that it needs to go and retrieve the object. Similarly, when you take your dog out on a leash and want them to defecate, use the phrase ‘go potty’ and point to a particular spot. This will help them realise that they need to go.
Rewards can help establish a healthy relationship between you and your four-legged friend. These rewards can be in the form of treats or playtime with its favourite toy. It will help you teach new commands while also encouraging good behaviour. Make sure you are not showering treats on your pup before the task or action is complete. For example, give your pooch a treat after it has finished its potty round and not when it is in middle of it. Wondering why? Because then, your pup might not finish what it’s doing and have an accident later inside the house.
Note: If you feel that there's little to no progress, consult your veterinarian to rule out medical issues like bladder infections.
Now that you know how to house train a dog, you must understand that it is a time-consuming process. Your pup might take time to learn, however, with consistent practice, your dog will be obedient. Here are a few things you must know before you two get down to training:
