Taking Good Care of St. Bernard Dogs with the Right Amount of Exercise
Just as humans need proper care, it is also important to know the basic care needed to keep your St. Bernard dog in the pink of health. Here are some of the things that you should know about if you want to take care of a St. Bernard pup.
Be Mindful of Obesity Problems
As a prevention to obesity, St. Bernard dogs need exercise. However, only a moderate amount of exercise will do. Take note, too much weight can lead to joint problems, which cause orthopedic problems or arthritis.
For this reason, you need to limit the amount of exercise you give your puppy until it reaches a mature size. Make sure that putting on weight too quickly can cause some serious injuries, particularly on their hips. So, make sure they are properly having some exercise routines.
Difficulty Withstanding Heat
Your breed of dogs may not endure too much heat, as they can have heatstroke and heat exhaustion. If you have one, make sure to avoid letting them exercise under the heat of the sun. Instead, provide some access to fresh water and shade.
There are signs of fatigue that you should also be aware of. Such would include dark green gums, heavy panting, and collapse or weakness.
Proper Training Required
Training your St. Bernard is essential because without doing so, it can cause a mess to your house dragging you at the sidewalk. Simply imagine the eagerness of this breed of canine to greet people on the street. However, you can prevent this from happening with a happy and relaxed approach. Thus, you should lay down some ground rules and make sure you will be consistent in letting your beloved pet to follow them.
Although St. Bernards are friendly in nature, they can benefit from puppy socialization classes, as it will help them know how to react properly to strangers and other dogs. Thus, you must allow your pets to get to some obedience and kindergarten classes. Likewise, you can spend at least 10-15 minutes of your time practicing your St. Bernard at home. Thus, it should be worth your money, time, and effort.
Another important tool used by breeders is crate training. This can help in housetraining, keep your puppy and your belongings safe, and is a safe haven where your dogs can retreat when feeling tired or overwhelmed. However, it must not be used to punish your pet, but it should be viewed as a comfy refuge.
Take note that a St. Bernard that is well trained can be a wonderful family companion. At the same time, it can go on to do a lot of fun activities, including obedience trials, cart pulling, and dog shows.
However, it should be noted by owners that St. Bernards or any other dog breeds for that matter must not be bothered when they are asleep or while eating. This is because no matter how well trained or trustworthy a dog is, it should not be left unsupervised with children.
As Always,
Michael
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