What dogs really want? The answer may surprise you!

Dogs definitely want much more than that fancy batman costume, or flavored dog treats. More often than not pet parents end up doing things for their pet that are more in-tune with what pleases or satisfies them. May be the dog is unaffected by its new hair cut that you were so excited about it getting done and that blingy crystal collar that you just bought is even  less exciting than his park buddy’s poop. Yes, you spend a lot of time researching about good quality dog foods online and are definitely a conscientious dog parent but to be the best you got to offer a wholesome living condition that your dog truly enjoys and thanks you for. Here’s a lowdown on what dogs really want in life to be happy.

Good Dog Food: Certainly! No. 1 on the dog wish list and the single biggest driving force in a dog’s life.  Treat your pooch’s sensibilities to top quality food that is meant for its breed, age, and current health status. Most dogs usually eat twice a day, during morning and evening time. Your vet can offer suggestions on the kind of food to be given to the canine in case it suffers from allergies or joint pain or any other ailment for that matter. Yearly visits to the vet are strongly recommended and essential.

Do not include raw meat in the dog’s diet; evolution has hardwired their digestive system to repel any such food. Raw diet can lead to getting infected with Salmonella or E. Coli bacteria. Image – www.perropet.com

Rules and Restrictions –  Your dog will be happier and fulfilled in an environment where there are rules and boundaries. A full grown dog’s mental capabilities are comparable to that of a 2 year old human baby. Therefore they need our guidance and frequent training sessions from the day it steps into our world. The duration of a training session should be no more than 10 minutes. Include a healthy treat to reward once the training ends along with praise to reinforce positive behaviors. A calm leadership with consistent rules equal to a well mannered and pleased pet.
Early socialization with other dogs and humans, is important part of healthy living: But there’s a right way of going about it. A fact that all dog owners must know is that most canines will not mingle with just about any individual or dog. They may feel nervous or stressed amid chaos. Do not force your pooch to be part of a place filled with unfamiliar people and dogs. This may provoke it to be aggressive out of fear. A dog that is outgoing may not necessarily enjoy a noisy and crowded dog park. While the dog is out for a daily walk allow interaction with other friendly calm dogs and people. Never force your pet to carry out this mingling activity and instantly remove it from any situation that makes it uncomfortable. Car rides are overly enjoyed by dogs so this is one thing you must surely include in your dog’s weekly schedule.

Isolation is one thing your dog should never experience. Always encourage outdoor play sessions and daily walks, these not only enrich the dog mentally and socially but also promote good health.

Mental Stimulation: This aspect is just as important as physical exercise. Your pooch needs to exercise its brain too. New smells and environments provide opportunities to explore. Every once in a while change the route you use for your dog’s walks, this will allow it to discover new things, sights and smells on the trail. Apart from this rotating its toys presents variety and prevents boredom. Dogs are naturally inclined to solve problems. Treat releasing puzzle toys that are filled with kibbles and treats work well in sufficiently engaging and entertaining the pooch. The Foobler dog toy is one of a kind self reloading puzzle cum interactive toy. Especially helpful when you have to leave your dog home alone for a few hours. It comes with an adjustable timer and sections for upto six different snacks.

Play games like fetch with your pet or hide its favorite treats and encourage it to find them. Activities that lead them to think, use their senses and focus their brains are greatly beneficial in channelizing their energy in the right direction. Image: animal-instincts.ca

A secure space indoors: Your pet dog deserves a comfortable space of its own inside the house. Majority of animal experts are now in favor of the dog living inside than in a dog house situated outdoor in the yard. A number of threats loom large outdoors, first off there are extreme weather conditions that can cause immense damage to its health. There is always a danger from poisonous snakes, chemicals/pesticides used in the garden or pesky intruders. A little outdoor play session is a different thing altogether. However living outside alone through the night is not advisable for the pet.

Image: http://www.cabelas.com

Owners that talk less: You can surely share all those latent emotions with your best friend, your dog. But while training your pooch, it is important to use the right body language for effective understanding. Communicating with the dog using gestures is a better way of conveying a message or a command to the canine.

Using gestures to communicate with dogs is an effective way to bond with the canine. Image: http://shv-kiel.de/

Desirable rewards are better when earned: Praise and reward help reinforce a certain behavior. It encourages the dog to repeat it. But if praise or treats are showered for no reason that may lead to the dog pushing you every now and then for some indulgence. Give the canine an opportunity to work for/earn a reward that could also mean a pet from you. For instance ask him to sit first and then offer tasty snacks. If it eagerly wants to be petted, let him first come to you. Also be careful not to encourage fearful behavior. Stormy weather can instill uneasiness or fear in the dog. When you comfort it during such times, you inadvertently encourage its fearful behavior. Since consolation is seen as a reward. Dogs are better off when the praise is earned by them.

It’s best to reciprocate accordingly to promote the right conduct in your pet and offer a life that is complete in the true sense of the word.

#Author is a doting dog parent since 12 years.