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There is no one thing you can do to have a happy and healthy dog. But there are many things you can do to make sure your dog has an amazing quality of life and really make sure that you are giving them everything they need and want. So, let’s look at some things you can incorporate into your dog’s life to keep them happy and healthy.
Daily Exercises and Walks
You have to ensure that your dog gets lots of exercise every day. Depending on your dog’s breed, they may need more or less exercise. So, knowing what your dog needs is the most important. For some dogs, a walk is enough, but some breeds need more. Keeping your dog active and engaged is great for their physical and mental health! Here are some fun exercises you can do together:
Outdoor Activities
- Fetch – Sticks, balls, frisbees, anything can work; this will depend on your dog and if they like playing fetch and returning the item to you.
- Agility course – Many dog parks have rudimentary obstacle courses you can train with your dog. If you have a backyard, you can make your own for at-home fun.
- Hiking or trail running – If you are an outdoorsy person and like hiking and trail running, and you have a dog with a lot of energy, doing those activities with them will be helpful to both you and your dog.
- Dog park playdates – Organizing playdates with other dogs is not only a fun activity for your dog but also gives you the chance to socialize with like-minded pet parents.
Indoor Activities
- Tug-of-war – Whether it’s just a rope toy you hold and let your dog tug on the other end or a suction toy you put on the ground for your dog to play with, tug-of-war is a great indoor activity for your dog.
- Hide and seek – Hide in another room and call your dog’s name. They’ll love the challenge of finding you.
- Stair climb workout – Pretty self-explanatory; it’s fetch but with stairs. Just make sure both you and your dog are safe
- Puzzle games and treat hunt – Hide treats in towels or boxes or use puzzle toys to engage their brain while keeping them moving.
- Training drills – Work on sit, stay, and spin for fun mental and physical exercise.
Healthy and Varied Diet
A meal plan for your dog must include a balanced diet with high-quality ingredients, which is essential for their health, long life, and happiness. High-quality proteins like chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, and venison provide essential amino acids. At the same time, fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel offer skin and coat support. Eggs (chicken, quail, duck) are another excellent source of protein and nutrients you can give your dog in any form.
Healthy carbohydrates, including sweet potatoes, brown rice, quinoa, and pumpkin, provide energy and support digestion, as with humans. Fruits and veggies such as blueberries, carrots, spinach, kale, apples (without seeds), and green beans offer essential vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. Healthy fats like coconut oil, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and olive oil promote skin, coat, and brain health.
Incorporating natural probiotics to give your dog in their diet will support digestion, supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin can support joint health, and calcium from sources like crushed eggshells can contribute to healthy bones.
Treats
Dog treats are an amazing tool for training and rewarding your pup. But you need to make sure you don’t overfeed your dog with treats, and then they don’t eat any of their regular food. Treats are especially good with very food motivated dogs.
Knowing how much to feed your dog is a very important part of a healthy diet. Portion control and keeping an eye on your dog’s weight is a significant part of keeping your dog happy and healthy for as long as possible.
Regular Vet Visits
Not even the best diet, best exercise, and best supplement can’t substitute for regular vet visits. Regular vet visits are very important to keep your dogs healthy and detect potential health issues early.
Puppies should have their first vet visit within a few weeks of adoption, followed by checkups every few weeks until they are about four months old. Adult dogs should see the vet at least once a year for a physical exam and proactive care. Senior dogs, typically seven years and older, may need visits twice a year to monitor age-related issues.
Love and Socialization
Loving your dog is the most important thing you can do to keep them happy and healthy. Give them a safe and warm environment to live and thrive in your home. Part of that is proper socialization with other dogs.
Organizing playdates, doggy birthday parties, or even taking your dog to a dog park will do the trick. Any dog needs to have friends and be socialized from a young age to have the proper behavior when interacting with dogs they don’t know. Plus, look at it this way: doggy playdates are just an excuse for you to hang out with your friends while your dog burns through all that excess energy with other dogs.
