The domestic dog's health is possibly one of the best-studied areas in veterinary medicine, since the dog has had such a long and close relationship with humans. Infectious diseases are prevalent in dogs and are important not just from a veterinary standpoint but also because of the risk to public health. The most wellknown example of this is rabies. Genetic diseases are common in dogs due to the selective breeding necessary to produce individual dog breeds. Due to the popularity of both commercial and homemade dog foods, nutrition is also a heavily studied subject.

Dog food is plant or animal material intended for consumption by dogs or other canines. Special dog foods given as a reward, and not as a staple, are known as dog treats.

Some people make their own dog food or feed their dogs meals made from ingredients purchased in grocery or health-food stores; many others rely on commercially manufactured dog food.

There are many different recommendations on what diet is best for dogs. Some people argue that dogs have thrived off of leftovers and scraps from their human owners for thousands of years and that commercial dog foods (which have only been available for the past century) contain poor-quality meats, additives, and other ingredients dogs should not ingest, or that commercial dog food is not nutritionally sufficient for their dogs.

Dog training: the process of teaching a dog (Canis lupus familiaris) to perform certain behaviors under various circumstances and in certain roles on command. It is a general term not describing by itself either what or how the dog is taught.

There are as many areas in which to train as there are methods. Most often certain methods, or combinations of methods are applied to any area of training. Obedience, herding, agility, tracking, retrieving, hunting, guard, and schutzhund are common areas of dog training.

• Teaching a dog basic obedience commands (part of obedience training)
• Teaching a dog to perform tricks casually or for circus acts
• Teaching a guide dog to lead the blind
• Teaching a rescue dog to find victims of a disaster
• Teaching a hunting dog to perform its instinctive behaviors at appropriate times

As pack animals, wild dogs have natural instincts that favor cooperation with their fellow dogs. These instincts have been refined and exaggerated through years of selective breeding by humans, and are manifested in the domestic dog’s adeptness at correctly interpreting and responding to signals given by a human handler. The handler is simply whoever is working with a dog at the time.

Dog owners agree that grooming is an important part of dog care, and proper grooming is essential for dogs that are used in competition. Most recommend grooming a dog frequently, although this is not always possible. However, regular grooming helps to ensure the dog is healthy and comfortable.

The main reasons for frequent grooming include:

• improved health of the skin and coat
• decreases the chance of various health problems such as thrush, scratches, and other skin problems
• cleans the dog
• gives the groomer a chance to check the dog's health

A dog collar is a is a piece of material put around the neck of a dog. A collar might be used for control, identification, fashion, or other purposes. Identification tags and medical information is often placed on dog collars. Collars are also useful for controlling a dog manually, as they provide a handle for grabbing. Collars are often used in conjunction with a leash, and a common alternative to a dog collar is a dog harness. Dog collars are the most common form of directing and teaching dogs. Like anything, misuse may cause injuries, or in the worst cases, death.

Other items include pet collars, beds, leashes, and carriers for small dogs, cats, and rabbits that are available in numerous stores. Many pet speciality stores offer a termendous variety of clothes and accessories for your pet.