How to Be a Better Dog Owner

Be a Better Dog Owner

We all love our dogs but there is always a small adjustment that we can add to the way we care for them. Just a small tweak can bring on fantastic health results and make you into a better dog owner.

I put together a series of concise bullet points that I use with my own dogs. Links are included to more detailed posts from this blog if required.

I hope you find them useful.

1.  How is your dog’s diet?

• Give green beans instead of treats.  They can be raw, cooked or even frozen.
• Add coconut oil to the food. Just half a teaspoon to start with, they do seem to like the taste.
• Add some fish oil to their diet by occasionally adding sardines (my dogs favourite)  tuna or salmon.
• Make some healthy dog treats. Using just a few ingredients, tasty and healthy snacks can be made instead of shop bought treats. There are hundreds of recipes online and they are all super quick and inexpensive. My dogs love frozen dog treats in the summer

Natural and Healthy Weight Loss For Dogs

Benefits Of Coconut Oil For Your Dog

Superfoods For Dogs

2.  Does your dog get enough exercise?

• Next time you go for a walk, take a ball with you, the dog will cover more ground chasing after it and you can get some recall training done at the same time.
• Change your route, your dog will pick up different scents and get more stimulation from a different area.
• Walk with a friend who has a dog, this will make your dog more sociable.

3.  Is your dog Insured?

Take out a policy or open a savings account for your dog’s care and add to it each week. Many health problems can be solved if spotted early. With insurance in place you can get symptoms checked as soon as you spot them, and save valuable time.

4.  Is your dog mentally stimulated?

We know how important physical exercise is for your dog. However, mental stimulation through play is just as important. Boredom busting toys are widely available and stop destructive behaviour. Interactive puzzles keep the dog’s brain active and make playtime fun.

 

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• Make your dog work for his food or treats by adding a food puzzle.
• This interactive dog toy has kept my miniature dachshund amused for hours. I bought this two years ago and it is still in good working order.
• Use a dog enrichment toy, like a snuffle mat, to hide food. This acts as a slow feeder, increases brain power and is great fun for your dog.

Dog Enrichment Toys For Instincts and Senses

5.  Is your dog chipped?

• All dogs should be chipped by the breeder. Ask when you pick up your puppy for all chip details. This will help you get your dog back if he/she is lost or stolen.
• Always check chip details are up to date with your vet. My own rescue dog has been chipped twice by different owners, we needed to ensure that the correct details were on file.

Things To Do When Your Dog Goes Missing

How To Avoid Dog Theft

6.  Grooming.

• Brushing or combing will not only improve the dog’s appearance. It will give you the chance to get a close look to see if he has any skin irritations, fur loss, hot spots, sore paws etc
• Keep your dog’s nails trimmed with specially designed dog clippers. If you struggle with nail clipping ask your groomer or vet to show you.

Simple Dog Bathing Solutions

 

 Find nail clippers on Amazon

7.  Massage.

You don’t have to be an expert to massage your dog. Just gently stroking and running your hands over the dog’s muscles will make both of you feel bonded and relaxed.

How To Massage Your Dog

8.  Toys.

• Buy good quality, durable dog toys that cannot be destroyed or chewed up, possibly causing a blockage in the intestine.
• Try to buy toys that will stimulate the dog and relieve boredom.
• Toys designed for puppy chewing will save money in the long run by stopping destructive chewing. Many are designed to put in the freezer to soothe sore gums.
• Ball throwers will vastly increase how much exercise your dog gets on a regular walk.

9.  Teeth

Dog dental health is so important. By cleaning your dog’s teeth regularly you will save money on expensive surgical doggy dentals.

I find the dog finger toothbrush easier to use than a normal toothbrush. They are gentle on gums and my dogs prefer them.

Check your dog’s teeth and gums regularly, brush with some special doggy toothpaste if you can.

Everything You Need To Know About Dog Dental Health

The following post shows how to recognise a healthy dog’s mouth. It gives a checklist of symptoms to look out for by checking  the tongue and gums.

Inside A Dog’s Mouth

 

Find Fish Skins From Amazon

Make sure they have regular dental chews. Mine love  fish skin cubes, they are natural and work on teeth, gums and improve the breath of your dog.

Coconut oil will help with dental hygiene.

Just the addition of some raw carrot or apple can cut down on dental plaque and freshen breath.

10.  Observe.

Always keep an eye on your dog and watch out for anything out of the ordinary.

Check that the dog is eating, drinking, urinating, emptying bowels and playing as normal.

Detecting early signs of illness could save his life.

Conclusion to How To Be A Better Dog Owner

Small changes can really help you be a better dog owner.

Take care of nutrition and dental health to keep your dog healthy.

Keep dog’s minds and bodies in tip top condition with exercise and interactive toys.

Observe, touch and use your intuition to spot signs of illness and get symptoms checked early.

 

Do you have any tips to keep your dog healthy? 

I would love to know in the comments.

 

A note to my readers.

You may have noticed that I have added Amazon affiliate links to my blog, this has not affected my opinions in my reviews and I will continue to provide honest assessments of all products.  I hope this doesn’t affect my follower’s enjoyment of my blog.