Translated by Nick R
Dogs are great companions and become part of your family, so it’s only natural to worry about giving them the best quality of life and making them happy.
So if you are interested in a healthy lifestyle for your canine, keep reading the tips I have for you.
Table of Contents
Physical activity for dogs
Dogs need daily exercise to stay fit and have a strong immune system. This way, diseases such as obesity, arthritis, and diabetes can be avoided.
In addition, by releasing all their energy and entertaining themselves through physical activity, your pet will be less prone to aggressiveness, stress, anxiety, or unwanted behaviors.
The amount of time your dog should exercise varies depending on its breed and age: some dog breeds require more exercise due to their anatomy, and even depends on their personality. For example:
- Mini or small breeds: dogs like the Toy Poodle, the Chihuahua, the Yorkshire terrier, or the Pomeranian, need 20 to 30 minutes of physical exercise a day.
- Medium breeds: breeds such as the Cocker spaniel, the Beagle, the Boxer, the Poodle, or the Chow Chow may require from 30 minutes to 1 hour of daily physical activity.
- Large or giant breeds: dogs such as the German Shepherd, the Newfoundland, the Great Dane, or the Labrador Retriever need 1 hour or more of exercise every day.
This is general data since as I said before, it also depends on your pet’s personality; he may need more or less exercise time than what you are providing him with.
To find out, simply observe what he does when coming home. If he still wants to play and seems restless, he needs more time of physical activity, if, on the contrary, he lies down and rests, the exercise he is getting is more than enough.
Important: when I talk about physical activity or exercise I don’t include walks, since physical exercise must be an activity that seriously tests your furry and even you.
Here I’ll give you some activities and sports that you can do to exercise with your pet:
- Park: you can take him to a park and play with him, throw him the ball, a frisbee, or the toy of his choice. That way your canine will run and have fun for a while.
- Bikejoring: this is a great way to start exercising. You can ride a bike with your dog running next to you so that both of you can exercise! Of course, you must first teach him to run by your side without tripping over the wheels of the bike or getting in your way.
- Canicross: this sport consists of running with your dog tied to your waist, you must get a special harness for this activity since the one you use for walks can be uncomfortable and cause problems. Also, do not put a collar on your dog as it can cause damage.
- Agility: this is a sport in which you train your canine to perform a circuit with different elements or obstacles to pass, such as ramps or tunnels.
- Swimming: it can be a perfect sport for you and your pet to get out of the routine. However, not all dogs like swimming so it will depend on your canine. For example, my dog Amber is a bit afraid of swimming pools so I prefer to do another type of activity with her.
Recommendation: remember to always take water with you when you go out so your pet can drink. Also, it’s always good to take bags with you in case your canine needs to relieve himself in the street.
In addition, if you have a senior dog, he should also exercise, but due to the morbidities he suffers due to age, it should be a more moderate activity, such as a short walk several times a day. Even so, consult your veterinarian to find the best exercise for your dog.
Daily walk
Now, many would say that daily walks and daily exercise are the same, however, I do differentiate, here we’ll tell you everything you should know before going out with your dog.
The physical activity seeks to tire the canine and you can do harder sports to get all the accumulated energy out and keep him in good physical condition.
On the other hand, the walks can be seen as a moment to relax, test his sense of smell, do his needs and even meet other canines.
So, normally a puppy needs 3 to 4 outings of 20 to 30 minutes, but you can include in one of these outings the time for physical activity. Adult dogs may need at least 3 outings a day, even if you include sport in one of them.
Senior dogs need short and moderate outings, because of their advanced age they don’t have the same energy or capacity to do high-impact sports.
Recommendation: if your dog doesn’t suffer from anxiety and tolerates routine changes well, you can vary the route in which you walk, so your canine will have more stimulation such as, for example, getting to know different smells and the possibility of interacting with different environments.
Sociability
Dogs are sociable by nature, of course, this may vary from one dog to another. However, it’s important to stimulate this part of their life, both their interaction with other canines and with humans.
Something that can affect your canine’s relationship with other dogs is weaning him too early or separating him from his mother and siblings at a very early age; during this period, the puppy learns to play and interact properly with other puppies.
This is fundamental, since “what a puppy learns during this time has a lifelong effect on his personality and reactions to people, other animals, and environments (…) Negative experiences during this socialization period can cause permanent psychological damage” (puppy socialization: more than just exposure).
You can take advantage of daily walks in places where other people walk with their pets and so he begins to socialize. You can also look for a park where other canines go and allow him to play with them.
The socialization period lasts until 12-16 weeks of the canine’s life. This means that after this time the canine can develop certain personality traits that may or may not help him to socialize with other animals or humans. In case of trauma or problems of any kind at the moment of socialization, it will be difficult for him to be sociable later on.
Some people don’t let their dogs socialize with others because they don’t have all their vaccinations. But, if you know a well-behaved dog that is dewormed and vaccinated, he can play with your puppy, so you can take advantage of the socialization period. In any case, remember that these encounters must be controlled and in environments where your dog is not in contact with potential diseases.
This means that while he is undergoing his vaccination schedule, you should not take him out to the street or parks where there are many dogs; he better play at home.
Games and mental stimulation for canines
Games stimulate your pet mentally and help him reinforce various skills or instincts he has such as the sense of smell, the hunting instinct, bite moderately without hurting the person or animal they are playing with. In addition, the games will test his mind.
On the other hand, playing with your canine will also reinforce the bond between you and your pet. You can play with your pet in your free time, even for 5 minutes several times a day, or you can take advantage of your outgoings.
Some games that you can consider to give him a change in his routine are:
- Hide and seek: as its name says, it consists of hiding toys or treats (snacks) in the house so your dog can use his sense of smell to find them. With my dog, I throw a toy for her to chase, and then I hide, so she will look for me all over the house, and when she finds me, I give her a treat or congratulate her.
- Kong: the point of playing with your dog is not to throw him a ball and hope he doesn’t get bored at some point, you should also vary the activities to keep your canine entertained. For example, there are toys, such as the Kong that you have to fill with food or snacks for your dog to find a way to take it out.
- Carpet or blanket: there are special carpets your dog can play on; he will use his sense of smell to find a way to take out what is inside, like food. It’s similar to the Kong but in a different presentation.
- Ball or JW hole roller: it is a ball with several slots through which you can introduce food or other toys that your dog likes, and he will have to find a way to get everything out of it.
- Puzzle: this toy can come in different presentations and levels of difficulty. It has several compartments in which snacks are hidden, your canine must open them to get the prize.
All these games are also ideal to combat the anxiety and stress that your canine may suffer when he is alone. If this is the case of your pet, here are 7 tips to reduce anxiety in dogs.
Canine training
Training, at least for basic commands, is important for the canine to feel safe and know how to behave in different situations. In addition to improving the bond and communication between the owner and his dog.
On the other hand, if your dog is educated, he will react better when meeting new people or animals, and he will listen to you in critical moments, for example, when you order him to stay still in the street and not to run away because something frightened him or caught his attention.
You can ask for help from a professional to train him, enroll him in a dog school or do it yourself at home. You can start with these easy tricks to train your dog at home, such as sit, stay still, paw, lie down or go where you tell him.
It’s recommended to use positive reinforcement, such as giving him treats or congratulating him and petting him when he does something well.
Some people use negative stimuli during training, which will only generate fear and anxiety. Besides the fact that it is not fun to think about punishing your dog either physically or mentally, causing harm to your bond and your pet’s stability. It’s better for your pet to have fun and enjoy the training than to be afraid of you.
Also, remember to be patient and keep the training sessions short and spread out throughout the day so that neither you nor your dog get bored or frustrated.
Quality feed
Something extremely important for your pet’s health and quality of life is his food. Choosing the best food for your dog (complete guide) will ensure that he gets the nutrients he needs.
Dogs are facultative carnivores, which means that their diet should be based mainly on animal products, although they can eat some fruits and vegetables to a lesser extent.
And, of course, to choose what kind of food you will give your canine you must take into account what stage of life he is in (if he is a puppy, adult dog, or senior) and if he has any morbidity that you should consider.
There are different types of food such as:
Dry food
This is what we know as “dog food” or “concentrate”. There are many brands divided into economic, standard, premium, and super premium qualities, being the super premium the most recommended as its main ingredient is animal protein.
They are also available in specific presentations for each breed, age, and condition such as pregnancy, obesity or diabetes.
Wet food
We find this type of food in cans or sachets. Also available in various brands of different qualities. This food is preferred by pets because it has a better taste and smell than dry food, and it provides more hydration. However, the amounts should be regulated because they can cause obesity if not controlled.
BARF diet
Also known as natural feeding, it consists of raw food, bones that provide calcium, animal protein such as fish, chicken or red meat, fruits, vegetables, and offal. This feeding can bring great benefits, but it must be properly managed, preferably by a professional.
It should be given in adequate amounts depending on the weight, physical activity, and age of your canine.
Dental hygiene in dogs
Brushing your pet’s teeth is essential, not only to eliminate bad breath but also to prevent health conditions such as:
Gingivitis: an infection that produces gum inflammation, causing pain, and if not treated in time, it can become a more serious disease.
Periodontitis: is when the gingivitis infection spreads and affects the bone structure that supports the teeth, causing them to fall out. In addition, this infection can reach vital organs and, therefore, can cause death.
You can start with these 7 tips to brush your dog’s teeth, just get dog toothpaste (yours can intoxicate your dog), which comes in different flavors such as meat or chicken. And, of course, a dog toothbrush.
Try to teach him from puppyhood, it will be much easier, instead, you must be patient if he is already an adult and it is his first brushing.
Introduce the objects you will use and let your dog lick the toothpaste so he doesn’t get scared or stressed. He will probably like it, my dog loves the taste and that’s why it’s easier for her to stay still.
General hygiene
For your dog to enjoy good health it is essential to have a proper hygiene routine, lack of hygiene can cause health problems such as ringworm, otitis, different infections, mange, etc.
Here are some tips to improve your dog’s hygiene:
Bathing
Dogs don’t need bathing so often, however, they should be bathed at least once a month to remove all the dirt that accumulates. You can take into account the following article on How to bathe your dog at home for the first time in 9 steps.
Brushing
The frequency of brushing will depend on the amount of fur your canine has, for example, my dog is a Cocker Spaniel, her hair grows a lot and gets tangled quickly, so I have to brush her every day. This way you remove the dead hair and also the dirt that sticks to the coat.
Clean the ears
You should constantly check your furry’s ears because bacteria or even parasites such as ticks can lodge there. Clean the outside of the ear and you will also prevent your canine from getting otitis.
Trim the nails
Long, unkempt nails can cause your canine pain when walking, so make sure they are the right size. If you do not know how to do it, you can ask for help from a professional or read the article on How to care for and trim nails in dogs.
Clean the eyes
Dust or dirt can cause infections, so clean the eyes (the outside of the eyes) of your pet with saline solution and sterile gauze.
Cleaning objects
It is also necessary to frequently clean the bedding, food bowls, and toys used by your pet to avoid bacteria.
Routine
Routines are very important for canines as they build stability and confidence. They know when they will eat, play, relieve themselves (if they are used to doing it in the street), when they will do physical activity or go for a walk.
It keeps them from feeling anxious about not knowing when things will happen. In addition, the routine will also make life easier for you, since you will have organized the time you can dedicate to your pet.
For example, I usually get up at 6 am to walk my dog so she can relieve herself. Then at 7 am or 8 am I serve her first meal. Around 1 pm to 2 pm, I take her out again to relieve herself and also to do some physical activity, by playing and running with her in a park.
Finally, at 8 pm I give her her second bowl of food and after waiting about 20 to 30 minutes after eating, I take her out again for a walk to relieve herself.
And when I have some free time at home, I play hide and seek with her or teach her new tricks.
Vaccination
Complying with the vaccination schedule can save your furry one’s life, vaccines shield him against several viruses and bacteria that can seriously affect his health, such as distemper, infectious hepatitis, parvovirus, and rabies.
In fact, it will protect them against many more, as it helps to strengthen their immune system and thus fight against the diseases they may fall victim to.
It’s not recommended to take them out in the street when puppies. If they are not fully vaccinated, they might catch a disease that they cannot fight.
Among many vaccinations, the mandatory ones for the sake of your canine are precisely the distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, leptospirosis, and rabies vaccines.
After puppyhood, at 2-3 months of age, he will only need to be vaccinated annually.
Deworming
Many times canines are attacked by parasites such as worms, fleas, mites, or ticks that can transmit or cause diseases such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, or heartworms.
Depending on the type of parasite you want to fight, whether it is an internal parasite such as worms or an external one such as fleas or ticks, there are various deworming products.
Internal deworming: to kill internal parasites, you can get dewormer in tablet form or even in syrup. Just ask which one is suitable for your pet’s size and weight.
External deworming: this is recommended every 3 months, although it may vary depending on whether your canine hangs out with other dogs or spends time in places with these parasites. There are dewormers in the form of pills, syrups, collars, shampoos, and pipettes.
In case your canine is suffering from fleas or ticks, here are 11 tricks to prevent and eliminate ticks and 8 tips to avoid contagion and eliminate fleas from your dog.
Visits to the veterinarian
Of course, visiting the vet at least once a year to check the overall health of your canine is crucial. However, how often you go to the vet will depend on your canine’s overall health. They will need more checkups if they are a puppy or an older dog, or even if they suffer from a disease that needs to be checked periodically.
Moreover, if you notice strange symptoms in your pet you must first go to a professional before performing any therapy with your dog, since many diseases may have similar symptoms.
You can check the following list of most common diseases in dogs to be aware of different symptoms that can be an alert to send your dog to the clinic.
And last but not least, never give your dog any medication that hasn’t been prescribed by your veterinarian.
