5 Ways To Make Your Dog Happy

 5 Ways To Make Your Dog Happy




Five Border Collies lay on the grass in the sun in a line facing the camera


Time

Spending quality time with your dog is the first step towards ensuring their happiness.  Our dogs look to us for everything they need in life so it is our responsibility to ensure that we spend as much time as possible with them.  In doing so, we will not only strengthen the bond that we share with them, we will also further enrich their lives, if they are included in our day to day lives as often as we are able to. 

If your dog is comfortable enough to go with you to a dog-friendly cafe for a coffee, then let them come with you.  If you have a day off work without any plans, why not go on an adventure with your dog, somewhere you have never been before? Or if you are walking to pick your children up from school, why not take the dog too? For sociable dogs, they are sure to love being out and about with you, no matter what destination you have in mind.  

For those of us with nervous dogs, or those that are more comfortable at home, they may prefer an afternoon of cuddling on the sofa, or helping you out in the garden, so always consider your own dogs personality and preferences to ensure you are not putting them into situations they may be uncomfortable with.


Fun

Allowing your dog to do things, simply because they are fun, is crucial to their long term happiness.  If your dog loves playing tug of war, or enjoys shredding up a cardboard box, then be sure to let them do so regularly.  Although this is not necessarily structured, it is important to remember to let our dogs do things that are fun for them to do, without any other reasoning behind it. 

As we often control a huge percentage of our dog's lives, it is imperative that they are allowed to simply behave like a dog at times, without the stress of them conforming to our demands and expectations. Consider the things that your own dog loves to do most of all, let them do it as much as you can and they are sure to be happier because of it.  

Enrichment

As we have previously looked at in the last section, it is vital to our dog's happiness that we let them be dogs and in doing so, allowing them to practice natural canine behaviours.  Actions such as digging, rolling, sniffing, chewing, chasing and running are not only totally natural behaviours for our dogs, but they are also crucial to their happiness and mental wellbeing. 

There are hundreds of different enrichment techniques and products available to purchase or make yourself at home, making it really easy to factor these in to your dog's day to day routine.  By providing them with outlets for their natural behaviours, it will not only make our dog's happier, but also calmer due to the increased levels of mental stimulation they are experiencing, making them much more enjoyable companions.

Training

As our dogs are not born with an extensive understanding of our human language, behaviour and lifestyles, this can make it difficult for them to navigate our world effectively.  Through training and teaching them essential life skills, including how to interact with other dogs, people, other animals and the outside world, we are setting them up for success instead of failure which is crucial to their happiness.  

By helping them to understand how to live in our often complex lives, it is likely to decrease stress, frustration and anxiety, which can only be a positive outcome.  A well trained dog often has a great deal more freedom that one who has received no training whatsoever. 

Relaxation

The amount of time your dog has to relax, decompress and sleep is often overlooked in favour of more exercise and increased activity.  However, our dog's require much more sleep than you may expect, with adult dogs needing roughly 12- 14 hours of sleep per day and puppies needing up to 20 hours per day!  

Puppies especially are not always able to effectively limit their own activity levels effectively, meaning they will often continue playing and being active long after they are physically and mentally tired.  Therefore, it is our responsibility to make sure they have plenty of opportunity to rest.  

A dog that is well rested is sure to be happier than one who is over-tired and unable to relax.  




If you would like to learn more about how to make sure your dog is as happy as possible, then take a look at my book Canine Contentment - The Essential Guide
for more useful tips and advice.

You can also sign up to my mailing list here to keep up to date with all the latest blogs and announcements. 




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