Introducing pets into your home feels like an addition to the family. You get a companion you’ll love and enjoy playing with, but your responsibility also increases. Like with children, you will have to do your best to be the most responsible fur parent your dog can have to live a long and happy life.

Here are the top five tips to help you on your dog parenting journey.

Top 5 Ways to Be a Responsible Fur Parent

1. Prioritize Your Pets Health

As a responsible parent, you must ensure your dog is up-to-date on all vaccinations to protect them from dangerous illnesses. Also, visit the vet for regular checkups to detect diseases and other issues early.

You also need to watch what your pets eat to maintain their health. Like humans, pets need to eat nutritious foods in the right amounts for good health. Ensure you read pet food labels and avoid questionable ingredients, preservatives, and those to which your pet may be allergic.

2. Keep Your Pet Active

Regular physical activity is essential to prevent obesity and also provides an opportunity to bond with your dog. Take a walk along the neighborhood streets or play at the dog park to keep your pet active and elevate their mood. Always clean up after your dogs in public places to keep the environment safe and clean for everyone.

3. Train Your Dog

Well-trained dogs are obedient, which makes them easier to live with and safer around other pets and people. As a responsible fur parent, you should put effort into training your dog for obedience and socialization. You can sign up for obedience classes to help your dog socialize and train if your schedule is tight.

4. Keep Your Pet Safe

Any responsible parent knows that safety is key. Safety starts with equipping your dog with ID tags and microchips for easy identification. Another crucial safety aspect is pet-proofing your home, yard, and all dog play areas. 

Put any potentially hazardous items away from reach and ensure you fence your backyard correctly.

5. Clean Your Pet

Bathe and brush your pets, clean their ears, trim their nails, and brush their teeth as often as possible. The same personal hygiene rules apply to your dogs too. To ensure that their sleeping areas are clean, wash their bedding and clean after them in their play areas.

If you prefer someone else to help clean up after your dog, you can hire professionals to do it for you. The Department of Doody provides the best pet waste removal service in town. Contact us today to take advantage of these services!