We all want to be the best parents for our dogs that we can possibly be. By following these five tips, you too will be a better pet parent:
- Implement a routine – animals thrive on routine because there is comfort in knowing what to expect from life.
- Let your dog be a dog – a release of serotonin results in your dog experiencing great enjoyment from being able to do what comes naturally to him. Play with your dog or allow him to sniff on a walk.
- Feed the best food you can afford – feed your pet a food that best suits his specific needs, opting for the best quality that you can afford. You are spoilt for choice by the number of brands available, so make sure you feed a food suitable for his age, breed, life stage and lifestyle.
- Be responsible – always consider your pet before making your own plans and ensure that he is firstly safe and secondly calm and comfortable. Make use of pet- or house-sitters or kennels if you’re going away; get your animal chipped; have a collar with a tag; let him wear reflective gear when going for a walk; ensure he always has clean water and adequate shelter; and also take care of his health.
- Use daily life as a training opportunity – every moment of every day is an opportunity for you to communicate with your pet and shape the behaviours you want, weeding out those that you don’t. Having 10 to 20 minutes of focused training a day is vital, and allows you the opportunity to develop and condition a method of communication which, when pulled through to the rest of daily life, can have massive benefits for your relationship and result in a wonderfully obedient companion.
