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The last thing you want when you bring your new dog home is to add stress to his new environment. Diet is paramount here. If you choose to change his food, please do so slowly. Continue to feed him as usual for the first week then gradually reduce his old food to 50 percent of the old content and add 50 percent of your choice to his diet. If he does well on this, then follow up the next week with a 75/25 percent ratio. Eventually, he will be able to tolerate the new diet with no complications. Check out ingredient labels prior to changing his diet -- verify that he is receiving the needed nutrients. If questions arise, contact your veterinarian or breeder for verification. Wet food is an option but keep in mind that dry food does a better job of cleaning his teeth. Consider a mixture if this is what he prefers.

Naturally, your little pal needs fresh water -- a lot of it. Change the water frequently in his bowl and take care where you place this resource. Shade is a better option because the sunlight can cause the water to heat up rapidly. As for bowls, stainless is probably the best option because they are super easy to clean and therefore, more sanitary.

Short-haired dog or long-haired dog? They both need grooming. A short-bristle brush will help contain shedding in a short-haired dog but the long-haired guy needs a brush with long bristles. A good approach is to begin with the foot area, using a downward motion with the brush and continue upward several inches at a time until you are satisfied that he has no matting in his undercoat. Shampoo? Nix the baby shampoo! Instead, purchase a quality dog shampoo because his pH is very different from yours.

"No Way!" is the first expression that may come to mind when confronted with brushing your dog's teeth. But this does not have to be a worrisome event. On the contrary, with the right amount of pats and love, it can be very rewarding for you both. Choose a brush, paste and rinse made specifically for dogs, and brush his teeth in a vertical motion. He eventually will become accustomed to this ritual and you will be saving him from the discomfort of tooth decay in the future.

Your dog needs to have his nails trimmed on a regular basis. If they become broken or ripped off, this can be a very painful experience for your little friend. If you are uncomfortable with this, by all means, take him to a groomer or veterinarian. However, if you choose to do this yourself, be advised that his nails contain a pink and a white portion. Trim only the white portion and leave some excess in order to not cut into the pink area. The pink portion contains nerve endings and blood vessels and can be very uncomfortable if cut into. If your baby possesses black nails, don't even bother. Just take him to the groomer or the veterinarian to have those little toes pedicured.

It is imperative that you find a veterinarian that you can trust -- one who will help you keep your friend in optimum health. The first time you bring your new dog home, please take him immediately to your veterinarian for his first check up. If adopted from a kennel, he will definitely be checked for "kennel cough," fleas, ticks and probably worms. If this is your first experience with a dog, inform your veterinarian of this. He will be more than happy to share his expertise with you, inform you how often your dog needs to be checked and how to keep his vaccinations up to date. Now, your little guy is not able to tell you verbally when he isn't feeling up to par. But if you take the time to establish a firm relationship with him, you quickly will be able to catch abnormalities in his behavior and make a quick visit with his friendly doctor. A little tip -- always keep your veterinarian's phone number and the number of a 24-hour emergency clinic in an area where anyone who is caring for your dog will be able to see it.

Every dog owner needs to be fully aware of these simple guidelines. If you faithfully adhere to this program, your dog will surely live a long and healthy life, and you will be rewarded with his unending trust and love.

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Joel Silverman has trained killer whales at Sea World and hosted the TV series "Good Dog U" on Animal Planet. For online dog training videos and other dog training tips and techniques, visit the CompanionsForLife website.

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