As the saying goes, ‘everyone thinks they have the best dog in the world, and none of them are wrong.’ These wholesome little creatures add so much to our lives; they’re sweet, loyal and funny. They’re great company, they cheer us up when we’re sad and make us laugh every day- what did we do to deserve them?! When you have a dog, you understand just how much a part of the family that they are, and keeping them healthy throughout their lives is always a priority. Here are just a few ways to go about it.
Find a good vet
Whether you’ve just got a puppy or adopted an older dog, your first port of call when you’ve brought a furry friend into your life is to get them signed up to a vet. Have them weighed and checked over, and let the vet advise you on the best care for them, based on their individual needs. Ideally you’ll want something local, that way in an emergency you can easily get to the vet hospital. Once you’ve narrowed down your list of options, do your research to find out more about each one. It can be helpful visiting each, reading reviews and checking out their social media.
Get them insured
No one wants to consider anything bad happening to their pet, but our animals can (and do) get ill. Depending on the condition, illness or injury it can cost thousands in vet bills to put right, and so insurance is crucial. That way if something happens, you’re covered and won’t end up out of pocket which can be a huge reassurance.
Keep their boosters up to date
Vaccinations keep dogs healthy throughout their lives, providing them immunity against diseases which can be painful and dangerous if contracted. As long as you keep them up to date, a booster is one simple vaccination a year, otherwise they’ll need to have two with a few weeks in between each. If you plan on boarding your dog in kennels, you will need to have proof that they’re up to date on their jabs.
Make sure their walks are adequate
Just like in humans, exercise is so important for dogs. It provides mental stimulation, preventing boredom which can lead to things like toileting, destruction and anxiety. It keeps them strong and fit and can increase their longevity. However, dogs come in all shapes and sizes and so it’s definitely not a ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to their walks. More energetic breeds might need long walks or plenty of running off the lead. Smaller, older or less energetic breeds might prefer shorter and more relaxed walks. It’s important to know what your dog can do, walking them for too long or too much exercise can be bad for their joints. Dogs are great at hiding their pain, and so you won’t necessarily know you’ve done too much as they won’t always cry or let you know about it. Ask your vet for specific advice.
Continue working on their training
A dog that is mentally stimulated is a happy dog. And one way to go about this is to continue working on their training throughout their lives. You can watch Youtube tutorials for ideas, you could attend agility training or even work one-on-one with a dog behaviourist. Some dogs are motivated by toys, others food, others games and once you know what your dog likes it’s easy to motivate them to work towards new skills to the reward that they want.
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