Do you have a fur baby at home you absolutely adore? Who wouldn’t? Look at that face.
This guide could be very short. Dogs are happy if you’re happy and they’re being treated well. The bar is very low for them. But if you want to up your treatment of your dog, you can look over our guide to keeping your dog happy for some tips. Read on for all the details.
With regular exercise
We don’t need to inform you that your dog needs exercise. You know that. And you know that the level of exercise depends on the breed and size of your dog. So, once you’ve established what is just the right amount for your dog, let’s start thinking of what you can do together. You need exercise just as much as them, and a once around the block probably isn’t enough for either of you.
Think about taking your dog on a run. Get the blood pumping in both you and your dog or find the bike and get in touch with nature by going on a trail or a hike. Or you can go for a cycle. You can even incorporate that one into a stop at the supermarket. Break out the rollerblades instead of the bike and get moving.
If you’re brave, you can try open water swimming. It’s likely to be cold, depending on where you are in the world and how used to heated pools you are, but it’ll be a great workout for you and your doggo. Or bring the paddleboard and get an upper body workout.
By not losing all their money to the vet
Your pup is going to need a lot of work done. If you’ve got an angel straight from the womb there is vaccines, neutering, and their microchip installation to think about. Down the road, your dog’s legs need looked after, their teeth need looked after, and that’s all before any unfortunate surprises down the road occur.
That can all add up but needs to be done. But don’t worry. You can offset some of the pain of paying the vet with pet insurance. Pet insurance will cover your vet fees up to a certain amount, and if you get a good policy, it will include pre-existing conditions so you can support your fluff baby even if they are having trouble with their health. If you’re looking for pet insurance, click here to find the best rates.
With lots of love
This one is a given. Dogs are incredibly loyal and loving and it would be very hard to not reciprocate that love. But you can show it in positive ways, like making sure you’re praising good behavior, in turn aiding their training.
Other ways you can show your love for them is with toys and indoor fun. You can treat them to some cold water swimming or a cycle once in a while, but make home life fun too. Play games like tug of war and hide and seek and rotate their toys to keep things interesting.
You can also look into giving your dog a massage. We all know how dreaded bathtime is, but a massage has less potential for mess – it doesn’t even take oils! It’s a step up from petting, and will relax your dog, increasing their circulation and they will love you for it.
Put them to work
Most dogs were bred to do specific jobs, like herding, hunting, guarding, and finding. You can keep them feeling productive by giving them something to do. Something that is their job that will gain them some praise, or even a treat, like fetching the paper, your slippers, wake up a family member or closing the doors.
