Nutrition

• Many dogs welcome treats in addition to their normal diets.dog bones image by Janet Wall from Fotolia.com
  
  Your dog clearly needs to eat, and he needs to do so at least daily. The question, though, is what to feed him. In order to be nutritionally balanced, your dog needs a variety of fats, proteins and carbohydrates in his diet, much like a human. Feeding him "people food," however, can be detrimental to the health of his digestive system. Stick to a ready-made kibble, or research raw food diets specifically for dogs.
  
  How much food your dog should eat a day is determined by his size and activity level. The back of the bag is a good place to get a rough estimate, and from there, watch his weight, and adjust quantity of food given accordingly. Always ensure that he has plenty of fresh, clean water available.
  
  

Grooming

• This dog's owner spends hours a week grooming him.samoed"s dog image by Alexander Maksimov from Fotolia.com
  
  Grooming your dog will keep his skin healthy and his fur shiny. It will also prevent excess shedding. While short-coated dogs are easier to take care of, a long-haired dog that is used to being groomed will be a delight to work with daily. Use the grooming time to bond with your companion. Familiarize yourself with your dog's body so that lumps or other irregularities are quickly noticed. If lumps and/or discoloration are found, make an appointment with your dog's vet to have the abnormality checked out.
  
  Short-coated dogs need a boar brush or a spiked rubber glove (both are readily available at pet stores) run over their coat at least three times a week. This will improve circulation to his skin, remove dead hair and skin and keep his coat shiny.
  
  Long-haired dogs will likely need a rake run through their coat on a daily basis and a shedding comb run over the topcoat to finish. This will prevent mats, which are thick, unsightly knots of hair.
  
  

Health

• Your dog needs regular checkups with a vet, and needs to be vaccinated against canine disease. He can begin receiving his shots as a puppy, and after his puppy shots have been completed, he will need shots on a yearly basis. Check with your city; he may need to be licensed once he receives his shots.
  
  After he is dewormed as a puppy, he will need a worm preventative, especially to ward off heartworm. Heartworms are deadly and are difficult to treat. He will also need to be on a flea and tick preventative.
  
  

Basic Training

• This owner works on a "stay" command with his Dachshund.training-the-dog image by Ivonne Wierink from Fotolia.com
  
  In order to be a welcomed member of the family, your dog will need basic obedience training. This will help him become well-mannered and socially acceptable. Join a local obedience class. Not only will your dog learn basic commands at an obedience class, but he will be exposed to a variety of people as well as other dogs, an important aspect of socialization. Socialization ensures that your dog is not fearful or aggressive.
  
  

Advanced Training

• This Australian Cattle Dog clears a jump with no problems.jumping dog image by Earl Robbins from Fotolia.com
  
  There are many canine sports you can do with your dog once he knows basic obedience commands. Not only does this deepen the bond between you and your dog, but it gives your dog a job and prevents boredom, thereby warding off misbehavior. Options include agility, tracking, competitive obedience, freestyle, rally-o, weight pulling, backpacking and swimming.