Your dog trusts you to take good care of them and look out for their well being. As their human, they should feel safe and secure knowing you are doing what you can to offer them the best out of their dog years with you.
If you are looking for ways to make your dog happy and for general dog health tips to keep them in great shape, we have prepared a handy guide of 6 ways to do just that!
#1 Promote A Social Environment
As early as 7 weeks old, puppies should already start being exposed to other dogs, humans, and common everyday interactions. By boosting their social skills, they also develop healthy coping mechanisms as they grow.
The more opportunities you give them to socialize, the higher the chances of them being more controlled and comfortable in public spaces and around other animals. You can help strengthen their social skills through the following scenarios:
- Playdates with other puppies
- Dog parks
- Walking them around the neighborhood
- Taking them to the mall
- Letting them meet your human friends
- Introducing them to sand
- Having them play on grass
- And much more!
Dogs are naturally very social animals (though some may have more reserved personalities than most), and they need all the social and emotional stimulation to live their best life.
#2 Dog’s Day Out
Part of their growth and enjoyment is letting them explore the world. This is why one of the important ways to make your dog happy is by bringing them outdoors.
The amount of physical activity daily varies per breed, and it is crucial to offer them enough play time to keep their health up and release all that pent up energy. Breeds such as Belgian Malinois, Border Collies, and other high-energy canines require more exercise per day compared to Bulldogs, Basset Hounds, and other relatively calm breeds.
Bonus Dog Health Tip 1: Ensure your dog drinks enough water after physical activities to keep their hydration levels healthy.
Bonus Dog Health Tip 2: If you live in relatively cold areas, also try to incorporate indoor activities to keep them physically fit during winter and extra cold weather.
#3 Interactive Play and Training
As mentioned above, indoor activities are just as important as bringing them out under the sun. This is where interactive play and training have a role in your dog’s health journey.
Regularly introducing stimulating toys such as a puzzle ball is a great way to keep their minds running and also give them something fun to do if you are busy.
Incorporating a daily training routine helps keep commands fresh and your dogs mentally active. The more often you practice training commands, the stronger their positive behavioral traits become. This also ensures that your communication with one another remains firm, clear, and easy to maintain.
#4 Feed Them A Proper Dog Diet
Providing your canine with a proper dog diet that is both balanced and nutritious can definitely go a long way – but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a sinful treat every now and then!
Just like humans, dogs need high-quality protein to fuel them with all the essential amino acids, fatty acids, enzymes, and calcium needed to keep their overall health in tiptop shape.
Some canine owners prefer to feed their dog pure kibble, which is perfectly fine. Others prefer to mix it up with either cooked or raw meat, fish, vegetables, grains, and fruits.
Whatever diet you and your veterinarian decide is best for your fur friend, ensure that they are getting enough nutrients, not too much cholesterol, and that they avoid eating toxic food such as chocolate, onions, coconut, grapes, raisins, and so on.
#5 Back Up Their Diet With Healthy Treats
Dog treats can be both enjoyable and healthy for your fur friend. Many treats are formulated to add more protein, calcium, and nutrients to their diet, while still offering a great tool in positive reinforcement training.
Two healthy treats we highly recommend letting your dog try are:
These joint chews are soft treats especially made for bully breeds, other large dog breeds, and senior dogs. They are perfect for those suffering from arthritis and other joint problems due to age, medical conditions, and other factors.
They are made of the highest quality pharmaceutical grade ingredients and are designed to offer the following benefits:
- Increases joint health
- Anti-inflammatory
- Alleviated pain in joints
- Increases mobility
- Packed with vitamins
- Low-allergy formula
These anxiety chews are designed to help keep dogs calm and greatly reduce the anxiety they experience on a regular basis. It is infused with hemp and other natural ingredients. This specially formulated treat offers the following benefits in your dogs:
- Alleviates stress
- Reduces aggression levels
- Lessens fearfulness
- Lessens symptoms of separation anxiety
- Combats other anxiety issues
- Helps calm your dogs during storms
#6 Regular Visits To The Vet
A surefire way to keep your puppies and dogs fit and healthy is by making sure all their vaccines, boosters, and physical exams are up to date.
Schedule regular visits to the vet to prevent any serious issues from surfacing and learn more ways to help them lead a healthy lifestyle as they age. Some of the must-have core shots your puppies and dogs need are to combat the following:
- Canine Distemper Virus
- Canine Parvovirus
- Canine Adenovirus-2 (hepatitis)
- Rabies Virus
The American Animal Hospital Association’s Canine Task Force also recommend getting the non core vaccines for those that are exposed to these diseases:
- Bordetella
- Canine Influenza (dog flu)
- Lyme vaccine
- Leptospirosis
Puppies should generally start getting vaccinated at around 6 to 8 weeks of age, and the next dosage every two weeks thereafter. This continues on until their final round of vaccinations at approximately 4 months old. Booster shots will be administered and the veterinarian should confirm schedules.
Some vets also offer grooming services, which are just as important in boosting your pet’s overall health.
