Professional Dog Trainers Reveal Tips to Keep Your Dog Healthy

Your dog is loving, loyal, smart, curious and totally accepting of you, warts and all. If you want to add “happy and healthy” to the list of your dog’s attributes you have to be proactive in your approach toward their health. But it’s not always easy to know exactly what “proactive” means when it comes to canine health. So we’ve done the homework for you by talking to top dog training school to determine exactly what you should be doing to insure your dog’s continued vitality with advanced German shepherd training commands.

Take These Canine Health Tips to Heart: For Your Dog’s Sake

Take the following tips from professional dog trainers to heart to make sure your pup always has a spring in his or her stride:

• Eye care – Virtually every dog will have gunk around their eyes from time to time. This is no big deal and can be cleaned away using a damp cotton ball. If your dog is pawing or scratching at their eyes and/or squinting, that’s another story. It means it’s time to get them to the vet and get their eyes checked asap. It could be clogged tear ducts, infection or worse.

• Ear care – It’s not uncommon for some dogs to be born with hearing defects. White dogs especially or dogs with speckled coats are prone to going deaf at a young age, unfortunately. In addition, if your dog has floppy ears they are at an increased risk of ear infection. If you notice your pooch scratching at their ears or shaking their head a lot, or if the inside of their ears are scaly and red take them to the vet asap. Infections when caught early can be easily cleared up.

• Dental care – Chew toys should have a bit of give in them but not too much. Beyond that the right treats and kibble can help control plaque and tartar. Just make sure nothing your dog puts in their mouth is too hard. Choose low-calorie and healthy treats made from real ingredients. Avoid anything with questionable ingredients, like artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. Also, remember to pick a treat that’s suitable for your pup’s age to avoid injuries and digestive problems. Check your dog’s teeth on a regular basis to make sure everything looks okay. And keep in mind that treats = calories. 

• Cardio health – In order to maintain a healthy heart and lungs your dog will need a properly balanced diet and lots of exercise. If you hear your dog coughing or wheezing when he or she breathes, or if they run out of breath while exercising, it’s time to see the vet. It could be any one of a number of things, including heart disease. Moreover, combining clicker training with play can yield powerful results in behavior modification and dog sports training. In fact, clickers can make training easier and ultimately result in better physical and mental health. However, choosing the right dog clicker for training is important for the right kind of stimuli in dogs.

• Healthy coat – Regardless of the length of your dog’s coat you should brush them on a regular basis. This means at least once a week. This will help remove dead, dry skin and excess hair and keep their coat looking shiny and new. Professional puppy trainers also recommend you bathe your doggie every 2 or 3 months as well using a dog shampoo, not your shampoo.

Your dog is your best friend and ever faithful companion. Treat them as such by keeping an eye on their health and taking them to see the vet if anything doesn’t look right.