How To Have A Happy Dog

If your dog is overweight he could suffer from serious health problems including arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and respiratory problems. He may also be lethargic, sleep more and ultimately have a shorter lifespan.

RESEARCH

Studies show that more dogs than ever are classed as overweight. Some of this is attributed to their owners feeding too much of the wrong kind of food; in addition, an increase in demands on owners’ time makes it more difficult for them to exercise their dogs adequately. A combination of exercise and altered eating habits (not one or other on its own) is the most effective way to achieve and maintain weight loss.

If you take your dog for an annual check-up, his weight will be assessed and your vet can tell you if he is piling on the pounds. This is definitely not a happy situation, but thankfully it can be remedied.

Read the rest of this entry »

Dogs are highly intelligent animals, which is why it is so important to try to keep them mentally stimulated. Bored, unmotivated dogs (particularly working breeds such as the Border Collie or Bearded Collie) will tend to compensate for lack of stimulation by developing their own forms of amusement - many of which are unacceptable to their owners.

An unhappy, understimulated dog may sleep excessively, chew furniture and clothing, whine and bark constantly, chase traffic or livestock, self-harm, pace up and down, exhibit aggression or become over-dependent on his owner.

Do not punish

If your dog shows destructive tendencies or other unwanted behavior, never resort to physical punishment. Shouting or hitting a dog rewards attention-seeking behavior with negative attention, and should be avoided. Try to discover the reason why he is doing something and then take steps to manage and rectify the behavior. In addition, always check with your vet to ensure that there is no underlying physical cause for your dog’s behavior.

Read the rest of this entry »

Your dog has a whole range of facial expressions that he uses very effectively to communicate with you and with other dogs he encounters. Regularly observing these expressions in play or, conversely, when he’s feeling scared or threatened can give you a good insight into your dog’s state of mind, particularly if you take into account other body language signals and the situation he is in.

By taking time to learn to pick up on your dog’s expressions early enough in an interaction, you can gauge how he is feeling and become far more adept at defusing potentially difficult situations.

RESEARCH: Studies have shown that the severity of a dog’s bite can be gauged from his growl. American and German researchers measured growl frequency patterns for 21 breeds. The growls of larger dogs tend to show patterns that are more closely spaced, whatever the dog’s head shape. It is thought that dogs may use this information to assess each other’s strength..

Read the rest of this entry »

RESEARCH: Dogs require 37 essential nutrients for a complete diet. A diet lacking in just one of these nutrients is considered inadequate. Most dry foods are ‘complete’, as are many wet foods. However, some wet foods need dry biscuit mix added, so always check food labels carefully.

Although your dog will readily wolf down human food, wagging his tail and looking excited when it’s offered to him, such a diet will not provide all the nutrients he needs and may lead to health problems. So, what exactly should you be feeding him?

Read the rest of this entry »

There is a huge difference between providing a dog with what he needs to survive, and making an effort to ensure he has a happy life. To do this, you need to know what makes a dog happy and what doesn’t.

Generally speaking, dogs are real people pleasers and very much want to be involved in our lives. Ensuring that they feel secure, loved and welcome in their ‘pack’ is probably top of a dog’s happiness wish list.

Read the rest of this entry »