What Dogs Really Want - 2
Imported Treats:Fancy treats, often, are just a result of your guilt for not giving pets enough time and attention. Unless used for reward, treats should be kept to the minimum. Your dog does not know the difference between an expensive treat and a carrot stick, unless you have never introduced him/her to the latter. Untimely treats also make a dog obese, so watch out.
Instead:
Introduce your pet to crunchy healthy things such as carrot sticks, plain, unsalted biscuits and fruits. Through a method of trial and error, you will see what s/he prefers most and these can be used as rewards while training. As for food, a healthy meal - home-cooked or packaged pet food - is what the vet prescribes.
Parlour Grooming:Few hours of brushing, washing, clipping and shampooing later, your dog emerges smelling like roses and with a bow in the hair. But she/he might not have enjoyed the process even though you might be thrilled at the makeover. A dog's own smell is individualistic. A strong smell irritates the dog's nose. If you have noticed your dog run around and rub his/her face on surfaces just after a bath or grooming, understand that she/he is just trying to rub the smell off.
Further, clothing is also irritating, unless its extremely cold. There is also the fear of your dog swallowing a bow or trinket that she/he is trying to get off of his/her body.
Instead:Clip overgrown nails regularly. Better let a professional do this, or learn how to clip them at home from your vet. But to keep nails short, just let your dog play and run; this files the nails to size. Use a soap or shampoo that does not have a strong smell, medicinal or floral. Though it is believed that you should bathe your dog regularly, it's not imperative for house dogs; they can go up to three weeks without a wash. Brushing them regularly helps stimulate the natural oils keeping the coat dean.
Take a professional's help because an expert may be able to spot a skin infection that you may not notice.
Walks:
You have got a dedicated house-help to take the pooch down every few hours, and all you are doing is petting him/her on the head when you walk in through the door. Bad habit!
Instead:
Give your precious time to your pet. Just like a child, your dog wants attention and some amount of play time with you. This could be in your home or in the park - it could be a game of fetch, or hiden-seek, just sitting on the bench together. A house-help might not be careful or sensitive to his/her needs.
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