HERE’S HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR DOG’S WELL-BEING

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “[A] state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (weakness).”

How to Improve Your Dog’s Physical Well-being

To keep your dog physically healthy you need to prioritise quite a few things. Fortunately, most of these responsibilities are easy to uphold and will quickly become routine; others only need to happen occasionally.

• Regular exercise suited to your dog’s needs
• Effective, routine canine parasite prevention
• Annual check-ups and veterinary visits when needed
• Proper hydration (clean water in a clean bowl)
• A healthy, nutritious diet suited to your dog’s needs
• Good oral health to prevent gum and tooth diseases
• Puppy vaccinations followed by annual booster vaccinations
• Grooming is good for a dog’s coat and doubles as a mini health check

Neutering and spaying help prevent disease and only need to be done once.

How to Improve Your Dog’s Mental Well-being

Mental stimulation relieves boredom and provides stress relief which in turn can help curb unfavourable behaviour. Here are a couple of easy ways to improve your dog’s mental health:

• Switch up your walk routes
• Obedience training and tricks
• Toys with puzzle treat dispensers
• Exercises and games that stimulate the mind

Remember to offer rewards!

How to Improve Your Dog’s Social and Emotional Well-being

• Make time to play
• Don’t leave your dog alone for too long
• Consult an animal behaviourist if necessary
• Show your dog love and affection every day
• Protect your dog from stressful situations, e.g. fireworks shows
• When going on holiday without them, leave them with worthy caretakers
• Initial and ongoing socialisation: expose your dog to new sights, sounds, smells and people