If you have a dog, you obviously want to make sure that you are looking after it as well as you can. That is the motivation that most dog owners will have, but it is one thing wanting that and quite another actually knowing what it entails. It is often the case that people inadvertently do something that is against their dog’s best needs without knowing it, or that they just completely miss out on something that they should be doing for their dog in some way. In this post, we are going to take a look at some of the most essential aspects of dog care that you should be focused on as well as you can be, so that you can be sure that you are going to take the best care of them possible. This should lead to the healthiest and happiest dog possible, which is exactly what you want to see.
Exercise
We all know that exercising your dog is important, but how often and how much should you be doing this? The answer to that is that you need to look into your dog specifically, your dog’s breed, and a few other factors besides too. Getting them enough exercise means that you are both giving them enough but not too much, which is something that can take some time to perfect, but you can get there if you try for it.
Balancing Exercise Needs and Restrictions
I’ve mentioned before that we have a dog named, Bella, who is a Viszla. The Viszla breed has some specific issues around anxiety and a tendency toward hip dysplasia. The anxiety issue makes it imperative that she gets daily exercise, but because of the threat of hip dysplasia, that exercise has to be kept at a minimum for the first year. It’s definitely a balance!
You will want to research your dog’s breed to see what kind of amount of exercise they should have, and you should make sure that you are doing whatever you can to keep the frequency high. However, if you have a dog that has some physical limitations within the breed, you will want to adjust your plan.
As long as you do keep a close eye on those needs, you will find that you are likely to get them the exercise they need. The real sign that you are meeting their needs is that they are tired by the end of the session, but not so worn out that they look like they are in real trouble. If you can manage that daily, your pup should be happy and contented.
Food
Their diet is something that a lot of dog owners struggle with too, and yet it is not too hard to get right as long as you know what you are doing. Again, it varies a little from breed to breed and between individual dogs, but as long as you are focused on both doing your research and also paying attention to your dog itself, you should find that you can work this out easily enough.
The first thing you will want to make sure you are doing is feeding in proper amounts. You can usually find that information on the package of dog food, and it will usually indicate amounts by weight of your dog.
Next, you will want to find a dog food that he or she loves and won’t mind eating each day. However, even if you do find one, keep in mind that feeding your dog human food frequently can change their tastes and cause them to “poo-poo” their dog food (pun not intended). This happened to us with Bella, and once I quit giving her human food, she was much more ready to eat her dog food.
What About Allergens?
One more thing that you will want to consider are food allergies. Chances are you will not need to be too concerned with this, however, some dogs’ systems are more sensitive than others. This makes finding the proper dog food more difficult.
In Bella’s case, she seems to have a systemic yeast issue that we’re working with the vet to figure out. For now, she is on a grain-free diet, which includes a only low amounts of chicken and beef, which the doctor has mentioned can be allergenic to dogs. We don’t know for sure that this is the case for Bella, but she is quite sensitive, so we’re trying to eliminate what we can to see if she can get some relief. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary for Bella’s comfort and health.
As long as you are paying attention to your dog’s food needs, and any physical manifestations of other needs, you should find that you are able to keep them healthier and happier.
Other Health Concerns
These days, it is becoming increasingly common to try and improve your dog’s health with other means beyond mere exercise and diet, and it is worth looking into some of these if you are keen to try anything you can for your own pooch. Something that is gaining particular popularity at the moment is CBD products. You will have heard of these for humans, but it might come as something of a surprise to you that people are using it for their pets. Actually, it’s not that much of a mystery why this might be a good idea.
CBD merely helps with keeping inflammation down throughout the body, which is a major cause of disease in dogs and humans alike. Clearly, it can be beneficial therefore, and if you shop CBD for pets you will see that there is already a marketplace for it.
Love & Attention
Of course, you can’t expect your dog to be happy and healthy if you are not providing them with this most essential thing: love and attention. A dog really needs this, more than many other pets, and if you find that you are providing it in good amounts, then the relationship between the two of you will be much stronger as a result. Give your dog all the love you can, you should find that they are perfectly happy.
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