Owning dogs, in particular providing care for the grand griffon vendeen, is a specialty of humans. Some zoologists theorize that dogs were domesticated sometime between 12,000 and twenty five thousand years ago—and that canines evolved from wolves. Since then, people have selectively bred more than 400 different breeds, ranging in size from four-pound teacup poodles to Irish wolfhounds, who have earned the title of the tallest dog. However, the most widespread pooches are the non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The grand griffon vendeen is also a popular choice among canine owners. Many owners are unaware, however, of many of the most important grand griffon vendeen care tips.
Typical health care cost of your grand griffon vendeen
The yearly cost of providing for your grand griffon vendeen—including meals and treats, veterinary care, toys and license—could vary between $420 and $780. This figure doesn’t include capital expenses for sterilization procedures, dog collar and leash, a dog carrier and a dog crate. Tip: Be positive you have procured all your items before bringing your grand griffon vendeen home.
Basic grand griffon vendeen Care
Feeding your grand griffon vendeen
- grand griffon vendeen puppies between 8 and twelve weeks need four meals in a day.
- Feed grand griffon vendeen pups three to 6 months old 3 meals a day.
- Feed puppies 6 months old to 1 year two bowls of food per day.
- By the time your grand griffon vendeen reaches his 1st birthday, 1 feeding per day is typically adequate.
- Many times adult grand griffon vendeens, however, prefer 2 lighter servings. It’s your responsibility to learn your grand griffon vendeen’s eating habits.
Excellent-quality dry dogfood ensures a well-balanced diet to adult grand griffon vendeens and can mix with water, broth, or canned food. Your grand griffon vendeen may also dig cooked eggs, fruits and vegetables, and cottage cheese, but these dishes shouldn’t total more than ten pct of his or her daily nutrition. grand griffon vendeen pups need to be given high-quality, name brand puppy food. Try to limit “table food”, though, since it can result in mineral and vitamin imbalances, tooth and bone problems, and may result in some extremely finicky food choices and obesity. Give fresh, clean water always, and be certain to clean food and water bowls often.
grand griffon vendeen Care Tips: Make sure to get your grand griffon vendeen some daily exercise
grand griffon vendeens must get some daily exercise so they can stay healthy, stimulate their brains, and maintain good health. Daily physical activity also really helps grand griffon vendeens fight boredom, which can often lead to difficult behavior. Some outside playtime would quench many of your grand griffon vendeen’s instinctual urges to herd, dig, chase, retrieve and chew. Individual exercise needs are dependent on your grand griffon vendeen’s age and her level of health—but 10 minutes outside and a couple of walks around the block every day probably will not suffice. If your grand griffon vendeen is a 6 to 18 month adolescent, his requirements will be much more.
grand griffon vendeen Grooming
Frequent brushing will help reduce shedding and keep your grand griffon vendeen clean. Inspect for fleas and ticks daily during warm weather. Most grand griffon vendeens don’t need a bath more than a few times per year. Prior to the bath, comb or cut out any and all mats from the grand griffon vendeen’s coat. Rinse all soap from the coat, or the dirt will stick to soap residue.
Handling Your grand griffon vendeen
Puppies are obviously easier to manage. To carry the grand griffon vendeen pup, take one of your hands and place it beneath the dog’s chest, either with the forearm or other hand supporting his back legs and rump. Never attempt to grab or lift your pup by the front legs, tail or nape. When you need to lift a bigger, adult grand griffon vendeen, lift from underneath, holding her chest with 1 arm and rear end with your other.
Housing the grand griffon vendeen
grand griffon vendeens need a warm quiet location to be able to rest apart from all the drafts and off the floor. You may wish to think about purchasing a dog bed, or make one from a wood box. Put a clean sheet or pillow in the bed. Wash the grand griffon vendeen’s bedding often. If the grand griffon vendeen will be spending a lot of time outdoors, make sure he has shade and plenty of cool water in the summer, and a warm, dry, covered shelter in winter.
grand griffon vendeen Licensing
Follow the city’s licensing regulations. You should attach the license to your grand griffon vendeen’s collar. This, together with an ID tattoo, may help you recover your grand griffon vendeen should he become lost.
Facts on grand griffon vendeen Behavior
Training Your grand griffon vendeen
Well-mannered, companion grand griffon vendeens can be a blessing to raise. But left untrained, your dog may be a pain. Teaching your grand griffon vendeen the minimums—”Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, and “Leave it”—strengthens the relationship with both your grand griffon vendeen and the house guests. If you have a puppy, begin training him on the appropriate responses asap! Little bits of food can be used as incentive and recognition. Pups should enroll in obedience class when they have been sufficiently vaccinated. Contact your community SPCA or humane society for details on obedience schools. Always keep your grand griffon vendeen leashed when, even as a puppy. Just be sure your dog will come back to you when you say so. A disobedient or aggressive grand griffon vendeen should not play with other people.
Knowing Your grand griffon vendeen’s Health
grand griffon vendeens should see the vet for a full check-up, immunizations and heartworm assessment annualy, and ASAP if she is hurt or ill.
Your grand griffon vendeen’s Dental Health
While many of us might simply dislike our grand griffon vendeen’s foul breath, we must be aware of what it may mean. Foul breath is a symptom that your grand griffon vendeen is in need of a dental check up. Plaque caused by bacteria creates a foul odor that can only be freshened with the help of a professional. After a professional cleaning, the mouth can be maintained by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and avoiding table scraps. Your vet can provide you with additional info on eliminating dental disease and stinky breath. You can use a baking soda and water paste or a dog toothpaste once or twice per week to brush your grand griffon vendeen’s teeth. Brush them with a nylon stocking wrapped around the finger, a sterile gauze pad, or a soft, child’s toothbrush. Some grand griffon vendeens develop periodontal disease, sometimes referred to as gum disease. This dreadful affliction can sometimes cause loss of teeth and also cause infection throughout her body. The vet can clean your dog’s teeth as a regular part of your grand griffon vendeen’s health checkup.
grand griffon vendeens with Bad Breath
Even though oral disease in and of itself is not critical if detected early, the foul odors may also be indicative of more serious, long-term causes for concern. A pleasant, even fruity smell can frequently be indicative of diabetes, while diseases of the intestines or liver may cause foul breath. Kidney disease might be the reason when your grand griffon vendeen’s breath smells like urine or ammonia. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your grand griffon vendeen has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
Dealing with Ticks and Fleas in grand griffon vendeens
Regular, daily inspections of your grand griffon vendeen for fleas and ticks throughout the warm seasons are vital. Use a flea comb to remove fleas. There are numerous new methods of flea control. Consult your veterinarian about her or his options.
Heartworm problems in grand griffon vendeens
Your grand griffon vendeen is at risk of developing heartworms if she is exposed to lots of mosquitoes. The insect transports this parasite from dog to dog. Several grand griffon vendeens die annualy as a result of heartworm infestations. It is wise to give your grand griffon vendeen a heartworm screen each spring—this is required to stop infections from the previous year. A monthly pill given throughout the course of the warm, wet time of the year can help to protect your grand griffon vendeen. If ever you vacation in warmer regions with your grand griffon vendeen in winter, your dog needs to be on the preventive medicine during the trip. In some more moderate areas, veterinarians recommend preventive worm medication be taken continually.
Toxins and Medications
If you’re contemplating giving your grand griffon vendeen medication that was not prescribed for her by his vet, forget it. For example, did you know that one regular-strength ibuprofen capsule causes ulcers in some dogs Make sure your grand griffon vendeen is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. If you believe your dog has been exposed to a poison, notify your vet or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for 24-hr. animal poison information.
grand griffon vendeens: Neutering and Spaying
It is recommended that female grand griffon vendeens be spayed—the extraction of the ovaries and uterus—and males neutered—extraction of the testicles—by six months of age. You will usually greatly diminish your female grand griffon vendeen’s risk of breast cancer by spaying prior to maturity. The chance of a diseased uterus, which is also a serious disease that impacts older females, will also be removed by spaying prior to six months. Neutering male grand griffon vendeens eliminates the risk of testicular and prostate diseases, some hernias and certain types of aggression.
Vaccinating your grand griffon vendeen
- The combination vaccine (also called a “five-in-1 shot”) should be given to your grand griffon vendeen at 2, 3, and 4 months old and then once every year. This shot protects your puppy from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. The grand griffon vendeen puppy’s vaccination program cannot be completed prior to four months of age.
- If your grand griffon vendeen has not been immunized and is older than 4 months, she will need two innoculations immediately, 2 to 3 weeks apart. Then you must immunize annualy.
- grand griffon vendeen pup socialization and innoculation should coincide. Most doctors recommend that new owners bring their grand griffon vendeen pups to socialization classes, beginning at 8 or 9 weeks of age. They should have received their first vaccinations by this age.
Rules vary so much around the country, the best thing is to call your community vet about rabies immunization info. For instance, New York City laws state that pets older than 3 months be vaccinated for rabies. After the initial shot, she must have a second shot the following year, and then every 3 years. There are several vaccines, many of which are effective for your grand griffon vendeen. Others, however, are not. Your vet can give you her opinion. By the way, if your grand griffon vendeen gets sick because she is not immunized, the innoculation ought to be administered once your companion animal is better.
Roundworms in grand griffon vendeens
grand griffon vendeens are often exposed to worms and possible infestation—even in urban areas. Eggs that carry intestinal worms are transmitted through a grand griffon vendeen’s stool. Even the healthiest of grand griffon vendeen puppies carry roundworms or hookworms. An accurate, early diagnosis is the secret to treatment. This will maximize the possibility that the medication is highly effective against the worms your dog has. A dewormer that eradicates roundworms, for example, cannot kill tapeworms. Your doctor can best define the culprit—and decide the effective medication.
grand griffon vendeen Care Tips: Additional Info
grand griffon vendeen Supply Checklist
- Top-quality dog food and treats designed for grand griffon vendeens and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water bowl
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Comb and brush for grooming, including flea comb
- Collar with license and identification tag
- Quality leash
- Carrier (for puppies)
- Crate for training
- Box or dog bed with sheet or towel
- Doggie or child’s toothbrush
Warnings to be Heeded
The following items should never be fed to grand griffon vendeens:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Caffeinated foods, like coffee, tea or chocolate
- Raisins & grapes
- Spoiled or moldy food
- Onions, garlic and chives
- Chicken, turkey, or any other poultry bones
- Salt & salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit or stems
- Yeast dough
The scoop on poop
Keep your grand griffon vendeen on a leash when you are outdoors, unless you are in a fenced-in, secured spot. And please, when your grand griffon vendeen defecates on your neighbor’s grass, take care of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about grand griffon vendeens
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