Owning dogs, in particular providing care for the artois hound, is a specialty of humans. Experts believe that dogs were first domesticated between 12,000 and twenty five thousand years ago—and that all canines evolved from wolves. Since then, we have selectively bred more than 400 different breeds, which vary in size from 4-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, whose 3-foot stature earns them the title of the tallest canine. However, the most popular pooches are the non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The artois hound is another favorite choice among canine owners. Many owners are uninformed, however, of many crucial artois hound care tips.
Typical cost of care for your artois hound
The yearly cost of taking care of your artois hound—which includes food, veterinary care, toys and license—can range between $420 and seven hundred eighty dollars. This does not even include capital expenses for sterilization operations, collar and leash, carrier and a crate. Tip: Be sure you have all the required items before you get your artois hound home.
General artois hound Care
artois hound Feeding Routine
- artois hound puppies between 8 and 12 weeks need four bowls of food in a twenty-four hour period.
- artois hound pups 3 to 6 months old should be fed three meals every 24 hour period.
- Feed pups six months old to one year two bowls of food daily.
- When the artois hound hits his first birthday, one feeding per day is adequate.
- Sometimes adult artois hounds might prefer two lighter servings. It is your duty to adapt to your artois hound’s eating schedule.
Premium-quality dry dogfood provides a balanced diet to full-grown artois hounds and can mix with broth, water, or canned food. Your artois hound may love cottage cheese, cooked egg, fruits and vegetables, but these should be less than 10 percent of his daily food. artois hound puppies ought to be fed top-quality, brand-name puppy food. Try to cut down on “table food”, however, since it can cause mineral and vitamin deficiencies, tooth and bone issues, and might create some extremely finicky food choices and obesity. Give clean, fresh water only, and be sure to clean water and food dishes frequently.
artois hound Care Tips: Make sure to give your artois hound some daily exercise
artois hounds must get some physical activity so they can stay healthy, stimulate their brains, and remain in good health. Exercise also really helps artois hounds avoid boredom, which often has the potential to lead to to destructive behavior. A little fun and games would satisfy many of your artois hound’s instinctual urges to chew, dig, chase, retrieve and herd. Individual exercise needs will vary based on your artois hound’s level of health and her age—but ten minutes outside and a couple of walks down the street every day probably won’t suffice. If your artois hound is a 6 to eighteen month adolescent, his requirements will probably be much greater.
Grooming tips for artois hounds
Regular brushing will help reduce shedding and keep your artois hound clean. Inspect for fleas and ticks daily during the summer or other warm weather. Sometimes artois hounds don’t need to be bathed more than a few times during the year. Prior to a bath, comb or cut out any mats from the artois hound’s coat. Rinse all soap out of the coat, or the dirt will stick to the soap.
How to Handle Your artois hound
Pups are obviously easier to manage. When carrying the artois hound pup, take 1 hand and place it beneath your dog’s chest, either with your forearm or your other hand supporting the hind legs and rear. Don’t try to lift or grab your puppy by his front legs, back of the neck or tail. If you need to pick up a larger, adult artois hound, pick it up from the underside, holding his chest with 1 of your arms and rump with your other arm.
artois hound housing
Your artois hound needs a comfy quiet place in order to rest apart from all the drafts and away from the ground. You may wish to purchase a doggie bed, or try making one out of a wooden box. Place a clean sheet, blanket, or pillow inside the bed for cushion. Wash your artois hound’s bedding often. If the artois hound will be outdoors much, be certain she has plenty of cool water and shade in the summer, and a dry, warm, covered shelter when it’s cold.
artois hound Licensing and Identification
Make certain you follow your community’s licensing rules. Make sure you affix the license to your artois hound’s collar. This, along with an identification tag or tattoo, can possibly help you recover your artois hound should she go missing.
artois hound Behavior Information
Thoughts on Training Your artois hound
Well-behaved, companion artois hounds can be a blessing to raise. But left untrained, your artois hound could be a big headache. Teaching your artois hound the fundamentals—”Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, and “Leave it”—will bolster your relationship with both your pooch and the relatives. If you’re the owner of a pup, start training him on the appropriate behavior quickly! Use treats as an incentive and a reward. Puppies can start obedience classes when they have been sufficiently vaccinated. Contact your local SPCA or humane society for information on training class recommendations. It is best to keep your artois hound leashed while in public, even while a puppy. Be positive your dog will come back to you when you call him. An aggressive or disobedient artois hound is not yet ready to play with kids.
About your artois hound’s Health
Your artois hound should visit the vet for a thorough check-up, vaccinations and a heartworm blood screening each and every year, and as soon as possible when he is ill or injured.
artois hound Oral Health
While many of us may simply dislike our artois hound’s bad breath, we should pay attention to what it may represent. Bad breath is a sign that your artois hound should get a dental check up. Dental plaque , which is a result of germs creates a terrible odor that necessitates treatment by a professional. Once your artois hound has had a cleaning done by a professional, the mouth may be maintained by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and avoiding table scraps. The vet can supply you with other tips for reducing oral disease and halitosis. You can use a baking soda and water paste or a dog toothpaste once or twice per week to brush your artois hound’s teeth. Brush them with a sterile gauze pad, a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched across the finger, or a soft, child’s toothbrush. Some artois hounds develop periodontal disease, another name for an infection between the gum and tooth. Often, loss of teeth happens due to gum disease. Disease can sometimes also propagate to other areas of your artois hound’s body. Veterinarians will most likely brush your dog’s teeth at a routine checkup.
artois hound Breath Gone Wild!
Although the foul odors caused by dental disease might not be serious if found early, sometimes those odors may indicate serious, chronic issues. A sweet, even pleasant smell may frequently be a sign of diabetes, while diseases of the intestines or liver may cause foul breath. If your artois hound’s breath smells like ammonia or urine, kidney disease is a possibility. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your artois hound has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
Fleas and Ticks in artois hounds
Throughout the warm seasons, it’s important for you to perform daily, regular checks of your artois hound for ticks and fleas. Use a flea comb to find fleas. There are many new technologies of flea and tick management. Speak to your veterinarian about these and other options.
artois hounds With Heartworm Issues
Your artois hound is at risk of heartworms if he is exposed to mosquitoes often. The insect carries the worm from dog to dog. Several artois hounds die annualy because of heartworms. It’s extremely important you make sure your artois hound has a blood test for this parasite annually each spring. A once-a-month pill taken throughout the warm, wet time of the year will help to protect your artois hound. Should you ever vacation in a warmer-than-usual climate with your artois hound during the winter, your dog ought to be on the preventive medicine during the trip. In some more moderate areas, veterinarians advise preventative parasite medication be taken continuously.
Poisions and Medicines
If you’re thinking about giving your artois hound medication that was not prescribed for her by his veterinarian, don’t. Just one ibuprofen tablet is known to create stomach ulcers in artois hounds. Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your artois hound. When you suspect that your dog has been exposed to a poison, call your veterinarian or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 twenty-four hours a day for information.
artois hound Reproductive Surgery
It is recommended that male artois hounds should be neutered – the removal of the testes – and females spayed – the removal of the uterus and ovaries – by six months old. Spaying before maturity significantly reduces the breast cancer risk, which is a common and often deadly condition for more mature females. Spaying also eliminates the possibility of a diseased uterus, a very serious problem in more mature females that demands surgery and intensive medical care. Testicular cancer, prostate diseases, certain aggressive behavior and some hernias can be prevented by neutering male artois hounds.
Shots for your artois hound
- Your artois hound pup should be vaccinated with a combo vaccine (called a “five-in-1”) at 2, three and 4 months old, and then once annually. This shot protects your artois hound puppy from hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and distemper. Your artois hound must be immunized for at least the first 4 months of her life.
- If your artois hound has not been immunized and is older than 4 months, he will need to be given 2 innoculations immediately, two or three weeks apart. Then you must innoculate every year.
- Your artois hound pup’s socialization should coincide with the immunization program. You may bring your artois hound pup to socialization classes by 8 or 9 weeks of age, as recommended by most doctors. They should have received their first immunizations by then.
Because statutes vary so much between different areas, contact your neighborhood vet to get instructions about rabies shots. As an example, New York City regulations state that pets older than 3 months must be immunized for rabies. After the original immunization, he must get a second vaccination the following year, and then every 3 years. There are a variety of innoculations that could be appropriate for your artois hound. Ask your artois hound’s vet for her recommendation. By the way, if your artois hound gets sick because he is not immunized, do not administer the immunization until the dog has made a full recovery.
Worms in artois hounds
artois hounds are often exposed to worms—especially in rural areas. Tiny eggs created by intestinal worms are passed in an infected artois hound’s stool. Even the healthiest of artois hound puppies carry hookworms or roundworms. An accurate, early diagnosis is the secret to treatment. This will make certain that the medicine is successful against the worms your artois hound has. A dewormer that eradicates hookworms, for example, can’t kill tapeworms. Your doctor can best figure out the culprit—and prescribe the right treatment.
artois hound Care Tips: Additional Information
Checklist of artois hound Supplies
- Excellent-quality dog food and treats specifically designed for artois hounds and similarly-sized dogs
- Food bowl
- Water bowl
- As many safe toys as you can provide, especially chewable
- Comb and brush for grooming, including flea comb
- Collar with ID tag and license
- Leash
- Dog carrier (for pups)
- Crate for training
- Dog bed or box with quilt or towel
- Dog toothbrush
The no-no list
Do not feed your artois hound the following:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Coffee, tea, or chocolate
- Grapes and raisins
- Moldy or spoiled food of any kind
- Onions, garlic & chives
- Poultry bones
- Salt or salty foods
- Tomato leaves, stems & unripe fruit
- Yeast dough
Final Thoughts
Unless you are at home, or in a fenced-in, secured place, always keep your artois hound on a leash. And please, when your artois hound defecates on your neighbor’s grass, dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about artois hounds
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