Understanding how to properly care for and clean your dog is an important step towards good pet stewardship. Many people assume that dogs essentially groom themselves. In the case of wild dogs this is true. However, because of human interference with the dog’s natural form (aka “breeding”), most of our loyal pets require a little human help and grooming to stay healthy.

You’ve done your research and carefully selected a new dog or puppy to bring home. The day of the big arrival is at hand, but are you really ready? There is some essential equipment that every dog owner needs, so before you bring home your new dog, take a minute to be sure you have these items on hand.

Whenever someone complains to me about their dog’s behavior issues, I always ask the same question first: Do you walk your dog every day? About 90% of the time, the answer is no. Before I suggest anything else, I always tell people to start walking their dogs at least 30 minutes every day. Often, a daily walk is enough to calm a restless dog or socialize an aggressive one. I’m not suggesting that walking your dog is a magical cure all for behavior problems. However, a daily walk will do wonders for any dog, and many dog issues can be addressed by a little daily exercise and socialization.

If you have a child, you are probably diligent about taking her to the doctor for an annual physical, and you would never let her go without proper vaccinations. You most likely take your child to the dentist on a regular basis and make sure she keeps her teeth clean. Why should your dog be any different?

If you have a dog at home, many of the supplies in your regular first aid kit will come in handy. However, the best thing is to have a separate kit for your pets so you don’t get medications confused or spread infection. Your doggy first aid kit should contain the following:

The day a new dog comes home is full of excitement, but all the fuss can be stressful for a dog or puppy. First impressions are vitally important to dogs and coming into a busy house full of new people and animals can scar a dog or puppy for life. Take the time to introduce your new dog slowly and calmly into his forever home, and he’ll soon feel like he has been there forever.

According to the national Centers for Disease Control (CDC), every year in America over 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs. 800,000 of those bites require medical attention, and over 350,000 dog bite victims end up in the emergency room. In rare cases, dog attacks even cause fatalities. Furthermore, the CDC states that the odds of a dog bite victim being a child are 3.2 to 1, meaning it is more important than ever that parents educate their kids about dog safety.

It’s understandable that after paying 5, 6, or even 8 hundred dollars for a puppy someone might be tempted to breed it thinking they can get a nice return on their canine investment. It’s true that pure bred puppies can sometimes sell for outrageous amounts of money, but the truth is the vast majority of people who decide to breed their dogs at home (commonly known as backyard breeding) don’t realize the ultimate costs involved. Allow me to dispel some of the myths surrounding backyard breeding, and to encourage you to think twice before bringing more dogs into the world.

Those of us who own a dog will probably agree that Rover’s companionship and unconditional love are priceless, but the hard truth is that caring for a dog and keeping it healthy costs money—sometimes more than we are willing to pay. A common reason given for surrendering a dog is that it was just too expensive to take care of. Every year, thousands of dogs are turned into shelters and humane societies because their owners can’t afford the care they need. As hard as it may be, don’t bring home a new dog until you have sat down and looked over your budget. A little financial planning in the beginning can save a lot of heartache in the end.

Dog shelters and rescues use the term “forever home” when looking for potential adoptees, but, sadly, many dogs end up coming back. No one who adopts a dog ever intends to bring it back to the shelter, but often families find themselves unable to make things work out with their new dog. Generally, people return dogs for one of a few reasons. If you take a minute to read about these reasons and ensure that they aren’t a problem for you or your family, it’s much more likely that you’ll provide the “forever home” for which every shelter dog yearns.

So you’ve finally brought home your new puppy and are ready to being your beautiful life together. Have you already made an appointment to have your new friend spayed or neutered? If not, do it today. Spaying or Neutering your dog is the best possible gift you can give it. Read on to learn the answers to all the basic questions surrounding spaying and neutering.