Owning dogs, in particular taking care of the belgian shepherd dog, is nothing new for people across the globe. Zoologists say dogs were domesticated between 12,000 and twenty five thousand years ago—and that all dogs evolved from the wolf. Since then, humans have selectively bred more than 400 breeds, ranging in size from four-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, who have earned the title of tallest canine. However, the most popular dogs are the non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The belgian shepherd dog is also a favorite choice with dog owners. Many owners are oblivious, however, of some of the most critical belgian shepherd dog care tips.
Cost of care for your belgian shepherd dog
The yearly budget for providing for your belgian shepherd dog—to include nutrition, to veterinary care, toys and license—could range between $420 and $780. This figure doesn’t include capital expenses for sterilization surgery, dog collar and a leash, carrier and dog crate. Note: Make sure you have obtained all the required items before you bring your belgian shepherd dog home for the first time.
Basic belgian shepherd dog Care
belgian shepherd dog Feeding Outline
- belgian shepherd dog puppies between eight and twelve weeks old need four bowls of food daily.
- belgian shepherd dog puppies 3 to 6 months old should be fed 3 meals every day.
- Feed puppies six months old to 1 year old 2 times a day.
- By the time the belgian shepherd dog makes her 1st birthday, 1 bowl in a day is enough.
- Many times adult belgian shepherd dogs, however, do better with 2 lighter meals. It is your duty to learn your belgian shepherd dog’s eating tendencies.
High-quality dry dog food ensures a balanced diet to full-grown belgian shepherd dogs and can mix with canned food, broth, or water. Your belgian shepherd dog may also be fond of cooked eggs, fruits and vegetables, and cottage cheese, but these additions should be less than ten percent of her daily nutrition. belgian shepherd dog pups should probably be given top-quality, name brand puppy food. Please try to cut down on “table food”, though, since it can cause mineral and vitamin deficiencies, tooth and bone concerns, and might create some very finicky food choices and obesity. Give fresh, potable water exclusively, and be certain to clean water and food bowls very frequently.
belgian shepherd dog Care Tips: Your belgian shepherd dog needs exercise daily
belgian shepherd dogs need some physical activity so they can stay in shape, recharge their brains, and keep healthy. Daily exercise also really helps belgian shepherd dogs fight boredom, which can lead to destructive behavior. Some outside playtime can quell many of your belgian shepherd dog’s desires to retrieve, dig, chew, chase and herd. Exercise needs depend on your belgian shepherd dog’s age and her level of health—but a couple of walks down the street every day and ten minutes outside probably isn’t enough. If your belgian shepherd dog is a 6 to 18 month adolescent, her requirements will probably be a little greater.
belgian shepherd dog Grooming
Regular brushing will help reduce shedding and keep your belgian shepherd dog clean. Inspect for fleas and ticks daily during warm weather. Most belgian shepherd dogs don’t need a bath more than a few times during the year. Prior to a bath, cut out or comb any mats from the belgian shepherd dog’s hair. Carefully rinse all soap out of the coat, or the dirt will stick to soap residue.
How to Handle Your belgian shepherd dog
Pups, as opposed to adults, are clearly easier to manage. When carrying the belgian shepherd dog puppy, take one hand and place it beneath the dog’s chest, with either your forearm or your other hand supporting the back legs and rump. Never try to lift or grab your puppy by his forelegs, tail or nape. When you have to lift a bigger, full-grown belgian shepherd dog, lift from underneath, holding her chest with 1 of your arms and rump with your other arm.
Housing the belgian shepherd dog
belgian shepherd dogs need a comfy quiet spot to sleep away from all the breezes and away from the ground or floor. You may want to think about purchasing a dog bed, or consider making one from a wooden box. Put a clean comforter, blanket, sheet, or pillow in the bed for cushioning. Wash your belgian shepherd dog’s bedding often. If the belgian shepherd dog will be spending a lot of time outdoors, be certain she has access to covering and plenty of cool water in hot weather, and a covered, warm, dry shelter during the winter.
belgian shepherd dog Licensing
There are licensing regulations to follow in your city. You should attach the license to your belgian shepherd dog’s collar. The license, along with an identification tattoo, can easily help you recover your belgian shepherd dog if he happens to go missing.
belgian shepherd dog Behavior Info
Thoughts on Training the belgian shepherd dog
Well-behaved, companion belgian shepherd dogs are truly a blessing. However, left untrained, your belgian shepherd dog can easily be a big pain. Training your belgian shepherd dog on the minimums—”Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, and “Leave it”—bolsters your relationship with both the pooch as well as your neighbors. If you’re the owner of a puppy, begin teaching him manners as soon as humanly possible! Use doggie snacks as recognition and incentive. Puppies can be enrolled in obedience classes when they have been adequately vaccinated. Call the community humane society or SPCA for information on obedience classes. It is wise to walk your belgian shepherd dog leashed in public, even as a puppy. Be positive your dog will come back to you if you call her. A disobedient or aggressive belgian shepherd dog should not play with others.
About your belgian shepherd dog’s Health
belgian shepherd dogs should visit the veterinarian for a complete assessment, vaccinations and heartworm screening annualy, and ASAP when she is sick or hurt.
belgian shepherd dog Oral Health
Although we may simply dislike our belgian shepherd dog’s halitosis, we should pay attention to what it might indicate. Foul breath is a sign that your belgian shepherd dog needs a dental check up. Plaque due to bacteria brings a foul stench that can only be freshened with treatment by a professional. After a professional dental cleaning, his teeth and gums may be be preserved in a healthy state by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and avoiding table scraps. Your veterinarian can provide you with more info for minimizing oral ailments as well as halitosis. You can use a baking soda and water paste or a dog toothpaste once or twice per week to brush your belgian shepherd dog’s teeth. Brush them with a sterile gauze pad, nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger, or a child’s soft toothbrush. Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, often affects belgian shepherd dogs. This troublesome affliction can possibly result in tooth loss as well as cause disease to the rest of the body. The veterinarian usually will clean your belgian shepherd dog’s teeth in his typical health screening.
belgian shepherd dog Halitosis
While oral disease in and of itself is not serious when caught early enough, bad breath may also indicate serious, long-term issues. A sweet, even pleasant smell can often be a sign of diabetes, while diseases of the liver or intestines may cause foul breath. If your belgian shepherd dog’s breath smells like ammonia or urine, kidney disease is a possible cause. If you notice your belgian shepherd dog has bad breath accompanied by other symptoms of disease, such as diminished appetite, vomiting, loss of weight, depression, a lot of drinking or urination, set up an examination with his veterinarian.
Dealing with Fleas and Ticks in belgian shepherd dogs
Throughout the summer, it’s important for you to perform daily checks of your belgian shepherd dog for ticks and fleas. You can remove and find fleas using a flea comb. There are numerous new techniques of tick and flea reduction. Refer to your veterinarian about his or her options.
Heartworm problems in belgian shepherd dogs
The heartworm is a parasite that resides in the heart and passes from an infested dog to your belgian shepherd dog by way of mosquitoes. Several belgian shepherd dogs die yearly from heartworms. It’s critical you ensure your belgian shepherd dog takes a blood test for heartworms each year during the spring. A once-a-month pill taken throughout the course of mosquito season will protect your belgian shepherd dog. Your belgian shepherd dog should be on heartworm medication throughout a winter trip to a warmer climate. There are some places, usually the places with milder climates, where veterinarians recommend worm tablets be used all throughout the year.
Poisons and Medications
If you’re thinking about giving your belgian shepherd dog medication that was not prescribed for her by his doctor, don’t even think about it. Did you know that just 1 ibuprofen caplet can easily cause ulcers in belgian shepherd dogs? Make sure your belgian shepherd dog is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. Be sure you call your dog’s veterinarian when you have reson to think your belgian shepherd dog has been exposed to a poisonous substance. You could also notify the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for 24 hr. help.
belgian shepherd dog Sterilization Procedures
Male belgian shepherd dogs should be neutered – the removal of the testicles – and females spayed – the removal of the ovaries and uterus – by six months old. Spaying before maturity significantly diminishes the breast cancer risk, a common and often fatal disorder for older females. The possibility of a diseased uterus, which is another serious disease that affects older females, can be eliminated by spaying prior to six months. Neutering males helps prevent testicular and prostate diseases, certain aggressive behavior and some hernias.
Innoculating your belgian shepherd dog
- Your belgian shepherd dog puppy should be vaccinated with a combo shot (called the “5-in-1”) at 2, 3 and four months old, and again once yearly. This vaccine protects your pup from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. Your belgian shepherd dog must be immunized for at least the first four months of his life.
- If you have an uninnoculated belgian shepherd dog older than four or 5 months, she must get a set of 2 vaccinations two or three weeks apart, followed by a yearly immunization.
- Your belgian shepherd dog puppy’s socialization should coincide with his immunization program. Many veterinarians recommend that new owners take their belgian shepherd dog pups to socialization classes, beginning at eight to 9 weeks old. They should have received their first innoculations by this point.
Statutes vary so much between different areas, the best thing is to call your local veterinarian for rabies immunization details. In NYC, for example, the law requires all pets older than 3 months must be vaccinated for rabies. The first rabies immunization must be followed up by another innoculation a year later, and then every three years after that. There are several immunizations that are right for your belgian shepherd dog. Ask your belgian shepherd dog’s vet for his opinion. By the way, if your belgian shepherd dog gets sick because he is not vaccinated, do not administer the immunization until the dog has made a full recovery.
Tapeworms in belgian shepherd dogs
belgian shepherd dogs are commonly exposed to worms and possible infestation—especially in rural areas. Eggs that carry hookworms are transmitted through a dog’s feces. Even the healthiest of belgian shepherd dog puppies carry intestinal worms. An accurate, early diagnosis is the key to effective treatment. Early, accurate diagnosis maximizes the possibility that prescribed treatment will be successful against your dog’s worms. A dewormer that eradicates roundworms, for example, can’t kill tapeworms. Your belgian shepherd dog’s doctor can best identify the culprit—and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
belgian shepherd dog: Miscellaneous Care Tips
Checklist of belgian shepherd dog Supplies
- Top-quality dog food and snacks designed for belgian shepherd dogs and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water bowl
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Comb and brush for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with license and ID tag
- Leash
- Dog carrier (for puppies)
- Crate for training
- Dog bed or box with quilt or towel
- Child’s toothbrush
Warnings to be Heeded
Do not feed your belgian shepherd dog the following:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Coffee, tea, or chocolate
- Raisins and grapes
- Spoiled or moldy food of any kind
- Onions, garlic & chives
- Chicken, turkey, or any other poultry bones
- Salt & salty foods
- Tomato leaves, stems & unripe fruit
- Yeast dough
Final Thoughts
Unless you are at home, or in a fenced-in, secured space, keep your belgian shepherd dog on a leash at all times. Whenever your belgian shepherd dog does number 2 on a neighbor’s lawn, his sidewalk or any other public location, please dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about belgian shepherd dogs
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