Taking good care of your dog is about the vital daily habits that will keep your dog healthy and your relationship in good order.
Daily canine care is about much more than providing food shelter and water. Although that is essential, there are many more things to do than just that.
It can be difficult to know where to begin. Here are some of the most important elements of daily canine care that you should introduce into your routine when you have a dog.
Lots Of Cleaning Up Is Necessary
Dogs will leave a mess in more ways than one and it will be your job to take the fall and put in the time. This begins, of course, with cleaning up their poop and pee. You will find they drool all over the place as well.
If they shred a cardboard box to smithereens, you will need to clean that too. Furthermore, there is always the risk of a dog chewing your neighbor’s garden hose, your favorite shoes or even your pillows. Cleanup is a daily thing so make sure you have the time.
Health Check
As your dog’s primary care provider you will want to be on full alert for any injuries or health conditions they may be experiencing. In addition to closely monitoring their diet and digestion, you can take a moment to provide them a quick physical check-up.
Get very familiar with their body so you can “feel” your way from head to tail and detect abnormalities, like sensitivity to touch, ticks and fleas as well as tumors or physical injuries.
Consistent Training
Training never ends and your dog will be looking to you to see that the rules you applied yesterday are still in effect today. Make sure that you take plenty of time to interact with your dog and reinforce the training you are applying.
Proper training is not just good for you as their owner, it also provides protection for your dog and society as a whole. Your dog will also feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment in their degree of education.
Daily Exercise
Your dog will need adequate physical exercise each day to keep their heart, bones and muscles in optimal conditions.
Taking your dog for a walk or to the dog park is not just good for their body, it also strengthens the bonds between you and creates a good opportunity to practice their social skills with other dogs and humans.
Finally, daily exercises allows them to release pent up energy that could otherwise be applied to misbehavior.
Encourage Their Natural Instincts
Your dog is not a human. Your dog is on a completely different plane and experience this world in a very different way than we do.
They better understand the world through exploration and sniffing or chewing on everything they find. They can also bark and lunge at anything and everyone. This behavior can go too far and must be focused where it is best applied.
Make a daily habit of providing your dog with plenty of chew toys and opportunities to engage their canine nature.
