Dog care guide

A dog gives more than almost any other pet, and asks for more too. It needs your time every single day for many years: walks, play, training and company. A dog that is left alone and bored becomes unhappy and noisy. If you can give that time, few companions are as loyal.

This is a care guide, not veterinary advice. It covers housing, food, routine and safety. It does not diagnose or treat illness. If your pet seems unwell, is hurt or behaves differently, take it to a qualified veterinarian without delay.

At a glance

Lives

Commonly 10 to 15 years. Small dogs often live longer than very large ones

Time each day

1 to 2 hours or more: walks, play, feeding, training

Space

A flat can work for a calm or small dog that is walked well. Large, active dogs need more room

Cost

High: food, vet visits, vaccinations, grooming, boarding when you travel

Good with children

Usually, with training and with an adult in charge

Is a dog right for you?

What you need before the first day

• Food and water bowls (steel is easy to keep clean)
• Good quality dog food suited to the dog's age
• Collar or harness, leash, and an identity tag with your phone number
• A bed or mat in a quiet corner
• Brush, dog shampoo, nail clippers
• Safe chew toys
• Poop bags or a scoop for walks
• A vet you have chosen before the dog comes home

The right home

Give the dog its own resting place, away from doorways and direct sun, where nobody disturbs it. Dogs are social and should live inside with the family, not tied up outside. Before the dog arrives, lift electric wires, medicines, cleaning liquids and small objects out of reach, and make sure balconies and gates are secure.

Food and water

Feed a complete dog food, or a home diet planned with your vet, at fixed times: puppies several small meals a day, adults usually two. Keep fresh water down at all times. Measure the food: extra weight is hard on a dog's joints and heart. Change from one food to another slowly over about a week.

Never feed

• Chocolate, coffee and tea
• Grapes and raisins
• Onions and garlic, raw or cooked
• Anything sweetened with xylitol, such as some sugar-free gum and sweets
• Alcohol
• Cooked bones, which splinter
• Macadamia nuts
• Very salty, spicy or oily food from the table

Care routine

Tick off today's jobs. Ticks are kept in this browser and the daily list clears itself each morning.

Every day

• Fresh water, and meals at fixed times
• At least two walks, with time to sniff
• Play and a few minutes of training
• A quick look at eyes, ears, paws and coat
• Pick up after your dog outside

Every week

• Brush the coat (daily for long-haired dogs)
• Wash bowls and bedding
• Check and clean ears if your vet has shown you how
• Check the collar still fits: two fingers should slide under it

Every month

• Bath with dog shampoo, or as often as your vet advises for the coat type
• Trim nails if they touch the ground
• Weigh the dog and note it
• Check the dates for vaccinations, deworming and tick and flea control in the record your vet gave you

Handling and behaviour

Teach with rewards: praise, play and small treats the moment the dog does the right thing. Never hit or shout: fear makes dogs unpredictable. Start early with simple words such as sit, stay and come. Let a puppy meet many kinds of people, sounds and places calmly. Teach children not to pull ears or tails, not to disturb a dog that is eating or sleeping, and to ask before touching any dog.

When to see a vet

Do not wait and watch if you notice any of these. Go to a qualified vet:

• Not eating or drinking for a day, or drinking far more than usual
• Vomiting or loose motions that continue or have blood
• Limping, swelling or crying when touched
• Scratching all the time, hair loss or ticks you cannot manage
• Coughing, heavy breathing or unusual tiredness
• Any bite, accident or swallowed object

Find a vet before you need one, and keep the phone number where everyone at home can see it. Follow the vaccination and parasite-control schedule your vet gives you.

In India: climate and rules

Heat is the biggest risk: walk early in the morning and late in the evening, press your hand on the road for a few seconds to test it, give shade and water, and never leave a dog in a parked car. Fireworks at Diwali frighten many dogs: keep them indoors with doors and windows shut. Many city corporations require pet dogs to be registered and vaccinated against rabies: check the rule where you live. Consider adopting an Indian native dog from a shelter. They are hardy, clever and well suited to the climate.

More guides

Cat, Rabbit, Guinea pig, Hamster, Budgerigar, Cockatiel, Goldfish, Betta fish, Tropical fish tank. Also: the first week with a new pet, foods pets must never eat, summer care.

Written in November 2026. Life spans and sizes are the ranges commonly given for well-kept pets. Individual animals differ.