Top 5 Resolutions for Dog Parents in 2023
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”– Josh Billings (humourist)
Play with your dog. Rejuvenate your bond with your best friend by playing with them regularly. Spending time with your pup can boost your bond, as well as your pup’s trust in you and your love for them. Try to choose something your dog loves. It can be playing tug, fetch, chasing, hide and seek, or doing agility courses together. Playing with your pup can also provide exercise and serve as a way to burn off pent-up energy, preventing boredom and destructive behaviors. Many dog parents feel a deep joy when spending time with their canine companion, which can help alleviate feelings of their own stress and even depression.
Focus on wellness. Along with making sure your dog is up to date on all necessary vaccinations as recommended by your vet and feeding them a balanced nutritious diet, it's also important to take your dog in for routine check-ups to check for any signs of health issues. In order to maintain both your health, make sure to take time to walk your dog and get yourself some exercise twice a day. While being active together is important, it’s equally important to learn to be around each other, enjoying each others company even when doing nothing. When it comes to focusing on wellness, both you and your dog’s mental well-being is equally important. The next three resolutions will help with just that!
Assign a Pet Care Provider (PCP). It takes a village to raise a healthy and happy dog! Along with having supportive family members, a knowledgeable veterinarian, and vet techs near you, taking the time to assign a reliable Pet Care Provider is the best addition to you and your dog’s support system. Having a Pet Care Provider(PCP) is helpful because they can support you with essential daily exercise needed for your pup, mental stimulation, and socialization with outdoor environment. Having a PCP come by regularly takes the physical burden off you to constantly find time for your pup to get some exercise throughout the day. They can provide you with peace of mind that your pup is not left alone all day, giving them someone else to positively engage with. Most importantly, when you need to travel, your pup already has someone they feel comfortable being left with. Finally, they can provide valuable feedback on the health and behavior of your pup, so that you can ensure they remain healthy and happy.
Invest in puzzle toys. Puzzle toys can be beneficial to dogs in a number of ways. They promote mental stimulation, keeping your dog occupied and entertained when they're bored. Puzzle toys boost problem-solving skills, improving a dog's memory and cognitive abilities. They can also help dogs become less destructive. They provide a positive outlet for channeling excess energy, reducing destructive behaviors such as excessive barking or chewing. Lastly, puzzle toys can help dogs with separation anxiety by easing their stress.
Teach a new trick. While many may ask, why spend time teaching tricks, I would say why not? While it takes a great deal of effort to properly communicate between pet parent and dog to coordinate learning a new trick, it can be both mentally and physically beneficial. It builds the dog’s confidence, creates an interactive bond between the dog and the owner, and keeps the dog’s mind stimulated and active. Tricks can also be used to reinforce basic obedience commands like “sit” and “stay”, helping them to be a better behaved pet.
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