New Life Dog Adoptions
Care Tips and Tricks
This is not professional veterinary advice***
Ear Cleaning - when needed! Dogs don't need us to clean their ears on a schedule. Check your dog's ears regularly. If their external ear (pinna) has dirt built up from playing/rolling or a natural excessive wax build up, you can take an ear cleanser and cloth/cotton to gently cleanse the area (warm water and a soft wash cloth will work, too). Make sure you never enter the inner ear, if there is ever an odor or excessive redness, please contact your vet.
Some dogs have never had their ears cleaned, if this is something your dog is uncomfortable with, start slow! Work with them to sit patiently while you touch their ears and work your way up to adding cleanser. This should be a positive experience for them, be patient!
Here is a helpful 'how-to' video on how to clean their ears. Click here.
Nail Clipping- Your dogs nails should never touch the ground when they walk. It causes their toes to start bending in unnatural positions to make room for the nail hitting the floor and can lead to long term issues. Clipping dog's nails should be done with a lot of precaution. They have cuticles (just like humans!) if you cut these cuticles, it will cause the dog pain and bleeding that is very difficult to stop. If you're dog is not comfortable with their nails being clipped, they may have had bad experiences in the past. Start with working with your dog until they are comfortable with their paws being handled. Take it slow, one nail at a time, until they are able to have their nails trimmed stress free. If this is not possible, most grooms and veterinary offices offer nail trimming services.
Here is a step by step guide on how to complete the nail clipping process. Click Here.
Grooming- Your dog should be groomed regularly. It affects their coat health, comfort, keeps the risk of flees/ticks low, and keeps the pet hair in your house low! There are so many different types of dog hair, we can't even fit them all in this section. Not to worry, if you're looking at a possible new family member or looking into understanding your current pet better, start by looking up your breed's coat type. Click here for a really informative breakdown of how to care for each coat type. Do lots of research on your dog's coat type or locate a qualified groom to clean up your dog regularly.
Tips
Potty Training:
Eating Too Quickly:
Jumping:
Impulse Control: