Small, Positive Changes You Can Make to Your Dog’s Lifestyle
Every dog deserves the best. But what’s best for your dog’s lifestyle can change over time depending on their needs and preferences. It’s important to always re-evaluate what you’re doing and to meet your pup’s needs as best possible. At the end of the day, they’re a loyal companion, a bundle of love and entirely dependent on you for everything from food to exercise, attention and love. So, here are a few areas to focus on that could help to improve their day-to-day life!
Switch Up Their Walk
Routine is good for dogs – just as it’s good for everyone else. Getting your dog into a routine means they know what to expect and can feel secure and at ease throughout the day. The part of a dog’s routine that most dogs love the most? Their daily walk. It’s absolutely essential that you walk your dog every day, rain or shine. Different breeds require different amounts of exercise, and this should be something that you looked up before getting your particular pooch in the first place.
But if you are in doubt as to how much you should be walking your dog, or if their health has changed and you’re unsure if they should still be walking the same distance, it’s always a good idea to check in with your vet. Try to walk your dog at the same time each day. This way they’ll know when it’s coming and can get excited for it. But it’s also a good idea to switch up the location of their walks. The same route can get dull after a while and they’ll be excited with all of the new smells and sights they’ll encounter. It’ll be an interesting change of experience and atmosphere for you too!
Switch Up Their Diet
Many people make the mistake of thinking dog food is just dog food. But in reality, not all foods are made equal. Of course, you’ll buy what you can afford for your dog. But if you’re buying basic tins and can stretch your budget little more, you might want to consider making the switch to natural dog food. This has better quality ingredients and less filler, making it healthier and better for your pup!
Challenge Their Minds
Lying around the house all day can be boring if you have no distractions like we do. Most of us play with our dogs to counteract this. Teddies. Balls. Tug ropes. The list goes on. But you might want to try out toys that really challenge your dog’s mind and intelligence. There are plenty of challenge and puzzle toys on the market that require your dog to use logic and practice to access different treats. Test your dog with some!
Giving our pets the best care tends to be many of our top priorities. Hopefully, some of the suggestions above will help you to give your dog the best quality of life possible! They’re easy to implement and can make all the difference.
16 Comments
heather
Great tips for pet parents thanks for sharing this one. We need to switch it up a little for our girl.
Kate Sarsfield
Almost 6 months since the UK pulled out of the EU (Brexit) and there are still supply problems in Ireland. It’s nigh impossible to find Idris’ favourite pet food so he’s had to have whatever’s available. Of course the more expensive brands were snubbed in favour of the cheapest. Checked the ingredients & they’re just as good as the gourmet brands!
Tamra Phelps
I miss having a dog. I’d like to get physically well enough to take care of a dog again. Hopefully I will, lol.
Kelly Kimmell
Good things to keep in mind, makes sense.
Rosie
I’m getting some chuckles from these comments. No dog here, but hope to have one someday, but can’t have one here. At least I won’t be surprised if they’ll only eat Kobe Beef followed up with a helping of garbage.
Allison Swain
What a great post! We have been having to change up ours meals, lately, they seem to be getting bored. But. like humans, I am sure they don’t want to eat the same thing every day.
Thank you for sharing!
Connie: The Head Peanut
I dunno, I think I would be okay with steak everyday.
Tamra Phelps
It’s been a long time since we had a dog. I remember our last dog, he insisted his food be liver flavored. It was all he would eat.
Connie: The Head Peanut
Bear is getting to be picky! She’s a duck girl. She’s gonna be a hungry girl if she doesn’t finish this other bag. Stupid expensive food and she doesn’t like it so we mix it with the duck and I swear she picks OUT the pieces and leaves the beef.
mami2jcn
We just got a new puppy a month ago. I’m going to look into the challenge and puzzle toys.
Connie: The Head Peanut
We got one of the puzzle toys for Bear. She LOVES it.
Kate Sarsfield
We haven’t had a dog in years but have noticed a few natural foods appearing on the market. Tried some for Idris, the WonderCat – wouldn’t touch it. He prefers ‘fresh’ food, as in getting his own 🙁
Connie: The Head Peanut
We did the natural for Bear. Nope. She likes grass, turkey poop and cheap food.
Kate Sarsfield
Oops! Laughed so much I peed!
Crystal K
I know that natural dog food would be best for my dog, but I have trouble shelling out more money…especially considering that my dog will happily eat out of the garbage can :::facepalm:::
Connie: The Head Peanut
LOL that made me laugh so hard I snorted.