8 Ways to be a Better Pet Parent

1. Dog-Proof Your House

Prepare your home before your new pup arrives. Move breakables or chewables to higher ground. Make electronics and chords inaccessible to your curious best friend. Block off any area of the house that you want off-limits to her. Put the lid down on your toilet and your shoes up in your closet. Block access to any house or garden plants that may be toxic to dogs.

2. Provide Chew Toys

Dogs never outgrow the need to chew. Protect your possessions by providing a variety of chew toys to satisfy your new addition's urges.

3. Set Him on a Schedule

You should become familiar with your best friend's patterns in terms of eating, drinking, sleeping and relieving himself. Keeping your best friend on a schedule is a great idea to keeping him regular!

4. Exercise

Dogs need regular exercise to ensure continuing good health. Take your dog for walks, a run around in the yard, throw a ball around - anything to get her up and moving.

5. Talk to Your Dog

Your best friend won't understand your words, but he will enjoy the sound of your voice. Talking to her will make her feel involved. You can also use different voice levels to praise or correct your dog's behavior. High tones for praise and lower for corrections!

6. Give Your Time

You are the center of your dog's world. We all know that long days at work can leave us too pooped to play, but your friend has spent the day anxiously awaiting your return. Reward that loyalty with your time. Pet him, talk to her, play with him, laugh with her. Let your dog know you value his company.

7. Praise Your Dog

Because your dog loves you, she wants to please you. Praise her lavishly for obeying commands and behaving well. Using positive, rather than negative, reinforcement will help your dog enjoy learning.

8. Proper Nutrition

High-quality nutrition, like Bil-Jac, can make a big difference in how your dog looks and feels. 25 lbs. of real chicken is used to make a 30 lb. bag of Bil-Jac Adult Select Dry Dog Food. Our gentle Nutri-Lock™ slow-cook process helps preserve taste and key nutrients.