10 Ways to Add Happiness to Your Dog’s Life
After meeting your dogs’ basic needs, there’s a ton of other ‘stuff’ you can do together that won’t break the bank or take hours to do.
1. Make Life An Adventure
Explore new walks, woods, open heathland and let them sniff out new places.
2. Let Your Dog Make Choices
Give your dog the freedom to make its own decisions. Let your dog choose where to run and how fast, whether to roll or frolic and what is worthy of extensive sniffing.
3. Play, Play and Play Some More
If dogs could talk, many of them would probably say that play time is the best part of the day. When dogs play, they have fun, which is often the most direct route to happiness. In addition to the obvious fun, play also provides mental and physical exercise and socialising opportunities.
4. Make Toys and Chews a Priority
Enriching objects and activities prevent dog boredom while providing mental exercise. Chewing is a very natural activity for dogs.
5. Learn More About Your Dog
The more you understand dogs, the easier it is to avoid misreading them and to successfully communicate with them. Brush up on your dog’s body language or learn more about cognition, training, and behaviour.
6. Vary Your Dog’s Food
If your dog can tolerate changes in its diet, mixing things up a bit and adding fresh food will bring them extra joy. This applies to treats as well. (Note: You know your dog; if GI issues require them to eat the same thing on a regular basis, this suggestion doesn’t apply.)
7. Protect Your Dog From What They Dislike
Whether your dog objects to the ring of the doorbell, the movement of the hoover or the neighbours cat teasing it from the top of the fence, there are usually ways to avoid minor domestic irritations. Every dog is different, but if you figure out that something bothers your dog, find a way to shield them from it.
8. Keep On Training
Every day is an opportunity to learn. If your dog is awake, there's an opportunity to engage with it. Dogs who are well trained can be given more freedom and have more opportunities to go to more places.
9. Rub Them The Right Way
Many dogs love to have their ‘special’ spot rubbed - it might be their belly, chest or the area just above their tail. I guarantee your dog will thank you for it.
10. Accept Them For Who They Are
I saw a sign yesterday that resonated with me. It said “Be comfortable with who you are”. When you are loved for you, as you are, it feels great doesn’t it?! It’s no different for dogs. So, if your dog loves to snuggle, let them; if your dog prefers its own space, don’t force them into cuddle time that only you enjoy. If your dog loves tug but is quickly bored by retrieving it, accept that you have a dog who’s not interested in endless games of fetch.
Your dog is who they are, and there’s no more profound way to increase their happiness than to let go of attempts to change them, and love them just the way they are!
Yours warmly, Zita x
Zita Wells
Pet Patrol 365
If you found this blog post helpful, be sure to ‘subscribe’ to receive news and valuable tips and advice at https://www.petpatrol365.co.uk/. And don't forget to share this post with your friends and family who might also benefit from this information. Together, we can keep our furry friends safe and healthy!
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After meeting your dogs’ basic needs, there’s a ton of other ‘stuff’ you can do together that won’t break the bank or take hours to do.
1. Make Life An Adventure
Explore new walks, woods, open heathland and let them sniff out new places.
2. Let Your Dog Make Choices
Give your dog the freedom to make its own decisions. Let your dog choose where to run and how fast, whether to roll or frolic and what is worthy of extensive sniffing.
3. Play, Play and Play Some More
If dogs could talk, many of them would probably say that play time is the best part of the day. When dogs play, they have fun, which is often the most direct route to happiness. In addition to the obvious fun, play also provides mental and physical exercise and socialising opportunities.
4. Make Toys and Chews a Priority
Enriching objects and activities prevent dog boredom while providing mental exercise. Chewing is a very natural activity for dogs.
5. Learn More About Your Dog
The more you understand dogs, the easier it is to avoid misreading them and to successfully communicate with them. Brush up on your dog’s body language or learn more about cognition, training, and behaviour.
6. Vary Your Dog’s Food
If your dog can tolerate changes in its diet, mixing things up a bit and adding fresh food will bring them extra joy. This applies to treats as well. (Note: You know your dog; if GI issues require them to eat the same thing on a regular basis, this suggestion doesn’t apply.)
7. Protect Your Dog From What They Dislike
Whether your dog objects to the ring of the doorbell, the movement of the hoover or the neighbours cat teasing it from the top of the fence, there are usually ways to avoid minor domestic irritations. Every dog is different, but if you figure out that something bothers your dog, find a way to shield them from it.
8. Keep On Training
Every day is an opportunity to learn. If your dog is awake, there's an opportunity to engage with it. Dogs who are well trained can be given more freedom and have more opportunities to go to more places.
9. Rub Them The Right Way
Many dogs love to have their ‘special’ spot rubbed - it might be their belly, chest or the area just above their tail. I guarantee your dog will thank you for it.
10. Accept Them For Who They Are
I saw a sign yesterday that resonated with me. It said “Be comfortable with who you are”. When you are loved for you, as you are, it feels great doesn’t it?! It’s no different for dogs. So, if your dog loves to snuggle, let them; if your dog prefers its own space, don’t force them into cuddle time that only you enjoy. If your dog loves tug but is quickly bored by retrieving it, accept that you have a dog who’s not interested in endless games of fetch.
Your dog is who they are, and there’s no more profound way to increase their happiness than to let go of attempts to change them, and love them just the way they are!
Yours warmly, Zita x
Zita Wells
Pet Patrol 365
If you found this blog post helpful, be sure to ‘subscribe’ to receive news and valuable tips and advice at https://www.petpatrol365.co.uk/. And don't forget to share this post with your friends and family who might also benefit from this information. Together, we can keep our furry friends safe and healthy!
