If you have always had a family dog and growing up Healthy and you were used to setting out on a walk around the neighborhood regardless of the weather, then you will already be well-versed in how to look after a dog properly.
However, if this isn’t the case, or else you are intending on introducing your first dog into your family home, then there are some important things you have to know to ensure they have the best possible quality of life. With this in mind, continue reading to learn three key ways to ensure your precious pooch is happy and healthy.
1. Physical & Emotional Stimulation
One of the most important and overarching things to remember when being the proud and fortunate owner of a dog is to ensure they are always not only physically stimulated and exercised, but emotionally stimulated as well.
Always make sure that your dog has access to a garden, is walked every day (ideally twice, but it depends on the breed for how far) and has ample room to explore in and around the family home. In addition, it is also important for your dog to bond not only with yourself, but every other person in the household.
There is a wide number of ways to ensure your dog has plenty of emotional stimulation too and the following tips will help:
- Play different kinds of games with them and vary the location
- Train your dog to do tricks
- Make your dog work for their treats
- Offer them chew treats
- Invest in slow-feeder bowls
- Let your dog explore and sniff around when you take them on a walk
2. Register With a Reputable Vet Immediately
Whether you have adopted your new dog from a reputable animal rescue center, or else have responsibly sourced a puppy from a registered and ethical breeder, your new dog should already be neutered and have had the right vaccinations.
However, it is still absolutely imperative to register with a conscientious and established veterinary clinic, such as veterinariancolumbiasc.com, as soon as you bring your new dog home; just like humans are always registered to a medical doctor.
3. Feed Them Properly
There is obviously nothing wrong with feeding your dog the occasional extra sausage from your breakfast plate, or placing some cuts of beef in their bowl when you and the family are enjoying a roast dinner, but these should be treats, rather than their actual food.
In the wild of course, dogs had to work for their food and therefore burnt off the calories from such food, but your pet dog needs a controlled diet to form the basis of their food. There are also some foods which you must absolutely avoid giving your dog in any situation, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Avocado
- Corn on the Cob
- Dairy Products such as Milk & Cheese
- Garlic, Onions & Chives
- Sugary & Fizzy Sodas
- Cooked Bones
- Artificial Sweeteners
- Grapes & Raisins
- Chocolate
- Macadamia Nuts