Raising dogs, in particular providing care for the croatian sheepdog, is nothing new for humans across the world. Some historians theorize dogs were domesticated between 12,000 and twenty five thousand years ago—and that dogs evolved from the wolf. Since those days, humans have selectively bred more than 400 breeds, varying in size from four-pound teacup poodles to Irish wolfhounds, whose three-foot stature earns them the distinction of the tallest dog. But the most preferred pooches are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The croatian sheepdog is also a popular choice with canine owners. Some owners are oblivious, however, of some of the most important croatian sheepdog care tips.
Cost of care for the croatian sheepdog
The yearly budget for raising your croatian sheepdog—including nutrition, to vet bills, toys and license—can vary between four hundred twenty and $780. This doesn’t even include capital expenses for sterilization operations, dog collar and a leash, a dog carrier and a crate. Tip: Be positive you have all of the necessary supplies before bringing your croatian sheepdog home for the first time.
Typical croatian sheepdog Care
croatian sheepdog Feeding Schedule
- croatian sheepdog puppies between 8 and twelve weeks old need four meals in a day.
- croatian sheepdog pups 3 to 6 months old should be fed three meals daily.
- Feed puppies 6 months to 1 year old two meals in a day.
- By the time the croatian sheepdog hits her 1st birthday, 1 meal in a day is usually sufficient.
- Many times adult croatian sheepdogs might prefer two smaller bowls. It’s your responsibility to adapt to your croatian sheepdog’s eating habits.
High-quality dry dog food provides balanced nutrition to full-grown croatian sheepdogs and may be mixed with water, broth, or canned food. Your croatian sheepdog may also have a taste for cooked eggs, cottage cheese, and fruits and vegetables, but these additions should not add up to more than ten percent of his daily meal intake. croatian sheepdog pups ought to be given premium-quality, name brand puppy food. You should limit “table food”, though, because it can result in vitamin and mineral imbalances, bone and teeth concerns, and might create some extremely picky food choices as well as obesity. Give fresh, potable water always, and be certain to wash water and food dishes regularly.
croatian sheepdog Care Tips: Make sure your croatian sheepdog gets some daily physical activity
croatian sheepdogs need exercise to burn calories, recharge their minds, and maintain their health. Exercise also tends to help croatian sheepdogs fight boredom, which would often lead to difficult behavior. Getting out of the house can quell many of your croatian sheepdog’s desires to chew, dig, chase, retrieve and herd. Individual exercise needs will depend on your croatian sheepdog’s age and her level of health—but ten minutes in back of the house and merely a couple of walks around the block every day probably will not cut it. If your croatian sheepdog is a six to eighteen month adolescent, his requirements will be relatively higher.
Grooming tips for croatian sheepdogs
Frequent brushing will help reduce shedding and keep your croatian sheepdog clean. Check for ticks and fleas every day during warm weather. Many croatian sheepdogs don’t need to be bathed more than a few times a year. Before bathing, cut out or comb all mats from the croatian sheepdog’s coat. Carefully rinse all soap from the coat, or dirt will stick to soap residue.
How to Handle Your croatian sheepdog
Puppies are obviously the easiest to handle. When carrying your croatian sheepdog puppy, place 1 of your hands under your dog’s chest, with either the forearm or other hand supporting his hind legs and rear. Don’t ever attempt to grab or lift your puppy by his or her front legs, nape or tail. When you have to pick up a larger, full-grown croatian sheepdog, lift from the underside, supporting her chest with one of your arms and rump with your other.
How to House your croatian sheepdog
Your croatian sheepdog needs a cozy quiet spot in order to relax apart from all the drafts and off the ground. You might wish to think about purchasing a dog bed, or feel like making one from a wooden box. Place a clean comforter, sheet, blanket, or pillow in the bed as cushioning. Wash the croatian sheepdog’s bed covering often. If the croatian sheepdog will be outdoors often, make certain he has covering and plenty of cool water in the summer, and a covered, warm, dry shelter when it’s cold.
Licensing and Identification for croatian sheepdogs
Your city has licensing regulations to heed. Make sure you attach the license to your croatian sheepdog’s collar. The license, along with an identification tag, will most likely help you recover your croatian sheepdog if he happens to go missing.
Info on croatian sheepdog Behavior
Thoughts on Training the croatian sheepdog
A well-mannered, companion croatian sheepdog is a blessing to raise. But when untrained, your dog may be troublesome. Training your croatian sheepdog on the fundamentals—”Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, and “Leave it”—will strengthen your relationship with both the pooch as well as your house guests. If you own a pup, begin teaching him or her the right behavior quickly! Use doggie snacks as recognition and incentive. Puppies can commence obedience class when they are adequately vaccinated. Contact the local humane society or SPCA for details on obedience courses. Always walk your croatian sheepdog on a leash when, even as a pup. Be sure your croatian sheepdog will come to you whenever you tell him. An aggressive or disobedient croatian sheepdog should not play with kids.
Your croatian sheepdog’s Health
Your croatian sheepdog should visit the veterinarian for a full assessment, shots and heartworm assessment each and every year, and promptly if she is injured or sick.
Your croatian sheepdog’s Oral Health
While many of us might simply dislike our croatian sheepdog’s foul breath, it’s important to be aware of what it may be a sign of. Foul-smelling breath is a symptom that your croatian sheepdog should get an oral screening. Dental plaque due to germs causes a foul smell that can only be eliminated by treatment by a professional. After you give your croatian sheepdog a cleaning from a professional, her gums and teeth may be maintained by brushing regularly, feeding a special diet focused on dental health, and eliminating table food. Your vet can provide you with more info for reducing dental diseases and bad breath. You can easily clean your croatian sheepdog’s teeth with a dog toothpaste or a baking-soda-and-water paste a few times per week. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger. Some croatian sheepdogs end up with periodontal disease, an infection between the gums and teeth. Sometimes, teeth loss happens as a result of periodontal disease. Infections can sometimes also propagate to the rest of your croatian sheepdog’s body. The vet will sometimes brush her teeth as a regular part of your croatian sheepdog’s health physical.
Bad Breath in croatian sheepdogs
If your croatian sheepdog has smelly breath, gum disease may not necessarily be the problem, as other diseases have that symptom. A fruity, even pleasant smell may usually be indicative of diabetes, while intestinal or liver diseases may cause foul breath. Kidney disease might be the cause when your croatian sheepdog’s breath smells like ammonia or urine. Any time you notice your croatian sheepdog has halitosis along with other indicators of ill health, such as loss of appetite, vomiting and nausea, loss of weight, bad mood, too much urinating or drinking, plan a visit to the vet.
croatian sheepdog Flea and Tick Issues
Throughout the warm seasons, it’s important for you to perform daily, regular checks of your croatian sheepdog for ticks and fleas. Remove and find fleas with a flea comb. There are many new procedures of flea control. Speak with your veterinarian about his recommendations.
Heartworm problems in croatian sheepdogs
Your croatian sheepdog is at risk of developing heartworms if she is exposed to mosquitoes often. Mosquitoes transport this parasite from dog to dog. Heartworm infestations can be potentially deadly. It’s extremely important you ensure your croatian sheepdog submits to a blood screening for heartworms annually each spring. It is also good to give your croatian sheepdog a once-a-month pill during the warm, wet time of the year to be able to protect him from heartworms. Your croatian sheepdog should be on heartworm medication throughout a winter trip to a warmer climate. In some more moderate areas, vets recommend preventive parasite medication be taken continuously.
Poisons and Medications
Don’t ever give your croatian sheepdog medicine that hasn’t been prescribed by her veterinarian. Are you aware that just 1 ibuprofen tablet causes stomach ulcers in croatian sheepdogs? Make sure your croatian sheepdog is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. Be sure to call your dog’s veterinarian if you have reason to believe your croatian sheepdog has consumed poison. You may also contact the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for 24 hour help.
croatian sheepdog Sterilization Operations
It is recommended that male croatian sheepdogs should be neutered – the removal of the testicles – and females spayed – the extraction of the ovaries and uterus – by 6 months of age. You will usually significantly diminish your female’s breast cancer risk by spaying before maturity. Spaying also eliminates the chance of a diseased uterus, a traumatic condition in more mature females that demands intensive medical care. Neutering male croatian sheepdogs eliminates the risk of testicular diseases, certain types of aggressions and some hernias.
croatian sheepdog Shots
- croatian sheepdog pups should be vaccinated with a combination shot (called a “five-in-1”) at 2, three and four months old, and then once yearly. This immunization immunizes your pup from parainfluenza, parvovirus, leptospirosis, hepatitis, and distemper. Your croatian sheepdog puppy’s innoculation program cannot be completed before four months of age.
- If you have the rare croatian sheepdog who has not been immunized and is older than 4 or five months, he will need a set of 2 innoculations given 2 to three weeks apart, followed by a yearly vaccination.
- croatian sheepdog puppy immunization and socialization should go together. You should take your croatian sheepdog pup to socialization classes by eight or 9 weeks of age, as recommended by many vets. At this point, they should have already received at least their first innoculations.
Regulations are so different around the country, that it’s best to call your local doctor to get rabies innoculation info. For example, New York City codes declare that pets older than 3 months must be vaccinated for rabies. The first rabies innoculation must be followed by a subsequent vaccination the next year, and then every three years after that. There are several vaccines, many of which are effective for your croatian sheepdog. There are others that are not, however. Ask your croatian sheepdog’s vet for his opinion. Take note, if your croatian sheepdog gets ill because she is not immunized, the shots needs to be taken once your dog is back to health.
Intestinal Parasites in croatian sheepdogs
croatian sheepdogs are commonly exposed to worms and possible infestation—especially in rural areas. Eggs that carry roundworms are transmitted through a dog’s feces. Most puppies, from all environments, even those with healthy mothers, carry hookworms or roundworms. The secret to treatment is early diagnosis. This will make certain that the treatment is successful against the worms your dog has. A dewormer that eliminates roundworms, for example, cannot kill tapeworms. Your doctor can best define the culprit—and prescribe the right medicine.
Miscellaneous croatian sheepdog Care Tips
Checklist of croatian sheepdog Supplies
- High-quality dog food and treats specifically designed for croatian sheepdogs and similarly-sized dogs
- Food bowl
- Water bowl
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Comb and brush for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with ID tag and license
- Quality leash
- Dog carrier (for puppies)
- Training crate
- Dog bed or box with warm sheet or towel
- Child’s toothbrush
Warnings to be Heeded
Never feed your croatian sheepdog the following:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocoloate or any food with caffeine
- Grapes and raisins
- Moldy or spoiled food
- Onions, chives & garlic
- Poultry bones
- Salt and salty foods
- Tomato leaves, stems & unripe fruit
- Yeast dough
The “Bottom” Line
Keep your croatian sheepdog on a leash whenever you are outdoors, unless you are in a fenced-in, secured space. If your croatian sheepdog goes number two on a neighbor’s grass, her sidewalk or any other public location, please dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about croatian sheepdogs
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