How to have a happy dog

1. Teach your dog to be the best version of themselves so that they can be included in activities and do lots of things with you.

When dogs don't know what you want them to do or they don't know how to be the best behaved version of themselves, they can get left out of activities and going places with you just because it is too hard/stressful to take them. By training your dog and building your relationship together you can both enjoy spending time and doing things with each other.

2. Health. I could do en entire blog post on this topic but there are many aspects of your dogs health to consider. If they aren't feeling their best then they won't be at their happiest, but most dogs are great at hiding physical discomfort until it has progressed far along.

For your dog to be at their healthiest consider feeding the highest quality diet you can afford, full of nutritionally balanced fresh food. Make sure that your nails are kept short and well trimmed otherwise it will be uncomfortable for your dog with their nails digging into the ground as they walk. Keep your dog at a healthy, lean weight because excess weight contributes to health issues and will make your dog uncomfortable. Take your dog for regular vet checks to make sure that they are healthy.

3. Give your dog outlets for what they enjoy and were bred to do.

I have German Shepherds, and although they all have different favourite activities, there is a commonality that they are a working breed designed to do a job. Most breeds have a "purpose" and for them to be fufilled, they need to do activites that align with their genetic purpose.

For hunting dogs you can do nose work/scent work with them. For protection dogs you can play games where they get to bite like games of tug, or even do bite sports with them as a hobby. For terriers and other dogs bred to chase and kill animals, you can play games with them like with a flirt pole so they get to stalk, chase, strike and fight with the toy. Do some research into what your dog was bred to do and have a think about something that you can do with them each day to help them be fufilled.

4. Teach your dog an "off switch". Understanding how to settle and rest comes naturally to some puppies and dogs but not to all. If your dog struggles to switch off and just chill, you may need to teach them so that they can have balance and recharge their batteries.

5. Spend quality time together, quantity isn't always enough. If you spend a lot of time at home and your dog is around, it isn't the same as spending quality time with them. Your dog will love you for scheduling in time to do things together that your dog loves, like going to the beach or for a bush walk, playing or doing some trick training as examples.

6. When choosing which dog to introuduce into your family, pick a breed and then individual that fit within what you are after from a dog. If you don't live an active lifestyle now, don't get an active breed that needs a lot of exercise to be fulfilled. If you love going on adventures, don't get a couch potato. If you are highly anxious, getting a very emotionally sensitive dog may negatively impact them and a more chilled out dog could be a better match. We owe it to our dogs to be the most appropriate home for them.

I hope that this has either confirmed that you are on the right track, or given you some inspiration about changes you can make to enjoy your dog even more.

From Sarah and the team.