Top Tips: keeping your dog happy and healthy

Dogs are easily pleased - give them good food, clean water, exercise, and love and they’re happy. However if you want your dog to get the most of life, and be happy and healthy, here are our top tips and things to think about:

Diet

Most dogs love their food, and will eat pretty much anything. However, some foods are better than others and it’s always worthwhile checking that what you feed your dogs is actually nourishing. Much tinned and complete biscuit food these days does contain all the nutrients your dog needs, but this isn’t the only option - look out for more organic versions such as the mincemeat from brands such as Natural Instinct, for instance.

What’s more, there’s nothing to say your dog has to eat dog-specific food - it could be an idea to add tuna, or sardines, to their diet, as well as fruit and vegetables. Try chopping a carrot into their dinner, perhaps, or an apple into their breakfast. Many dogs love the variation, and you get the added benefit of cleaner teeth and fresher breath (much needed when you feed them fish for breakfast, trust me!). The oils in the fish and the vitamins in the fruit and veg work wonders on the dogs coat, so you can literally see the good work all that nourishment is doing. Why not give it a go?

It’s also important to mention the quantity of food you give to your dog, as it’s important not to overfeed and cause weight gain. Being overweight puts unnecessary pressure on your dog’s joints and heart, causing a whole myriad of problems that can so easily be avoided. Of course, the amount of food your dog needs varies according to breed and size, so it’s best to speak to your vet for advice on just how much, and how often, they need feeding.

And don’t forget to include treats in the above - it’s so easy to over-treat a dog, causing unnecessary weight gain even when you’re feeding the correct amount at mealtimes.

Exercise

All dogs need exercise, from chihuahuas to labradors. Just how much they need is dependent on breed, age, and fitness levels but it’s key that your dog gets all the running it needs to help prevent weight gain and promote overall health. You don’t necessarily need to walk your dog for miles in order for it to get the run it needs, though - play fetch with a ball or a stick perhaps, giving them a good run without having to walk too far yourself. If your dog can swim then this can be a great way to tire them out fast - perhaps take them to your nearest lake or slow-moving river. Do be careful when playing swim-fetch though, and keep in mind your dog’s swimming ability and fitness levels.

And, of course, you could always consider a dog walker. We don’t just break up your dog’s day while you’re at work, we can provide a great alternative to just morning and evening walks, giving your dog that extra bit of exercise to help them stay happy and healthy. While Four Paws offers dog walking services throughout the Nuneaton area, there are plenty of us out there and you’ll no doubt find a great walker not too far from where you live.

Play

Dogs love to play, it helps them strengthen their bonds within the ‘pack’, and creates mental and physical stimulation. Always strive to spend time playing with your dog - after all that’s why you got him! Old or young, play is a great way to keep your dog happy, but be sure to have clear boundaries in your head so your dog can learn them too - playfighting for instance can get rough! Your dog will soon learn what he can and can’t do though, so don’t worry.

Stimulation

We all have silly dogs that do silly things a lot of the time but, believe it or not, they are actually rather intelligent (even my Yorky, apparently). As such, they love a bit of stimulation, whether it’s learning basic commands such as sit, stay, and down, or working out how best to get the treat out of the Kong. Some dogs, such as collies, require a bit more and love to use their brains going to obedience training, or agility classes. This kind of mental stimulation is great for your dog and can even alleviate boredom traits such as chewing, pacing, or whining and if you don’t believe us, try out an obedience class and see how well your dog sleeps after an hour or so of thinking and exercising!

Whatever breed you have, think about adding something that makes them think into their routine. And, who knows, one day you could be competing for the national title at Flyball!

Socialisation

Dog’s are sociable creatures and, when socialised properly from a young age, love to be around other dogs. Of course, this isn’t always the case with dogs who have a less-than-perfect start in life, whether that’s not getting the chance to be around other dogs as a youngster, or having a bad experience with another dog at a young age, so do always consider your dog’s personal issues when socialising.

However for most dogs socialisation is key - giving your pooch a chance to run around and play with its own kind can do wonders for their overall happiness. Let him play with others on his walks or book him in with Four Paws so he can get a guaranteed hour of play with like-minded doggies!

Love

And last but not least, the one you don’t even need telling about! Your dog LOVES to be loved. Fuss, cuddles, respect, and fun are all key ingredients for your dogs happiness. Love is also a great alternative to endless treats for good behaviour (which, as we’ve already mentioned can cause excessive weight gain). Most dogs see a fuss as a perfectly acceptable reward and, as studies have shown, fussing your dog can be great for your own mental health, too! So get cuddling.

#dogwalking #dogexercise