Even though many studies show that when you own a pet, you can help manage loneliness and depression through companionship, it is also equally important for you to learn how you can take care of your pet in the best way possible. In this article, we discuss eating and training as two major topics.
Choosing the right healthy food and eating the right amount is the first step
As all dogs are unique, a diet that works for your friend’s dog may not be appropriate for yours. If you are unsure, ask your veterinarian what food is appropriate for your dog’s current stage of life.
In general, your puppy’s best food will depend on its size and breed. The food for a puppy and a senior dog may differ as well. Senior dogs might struggle with being overweight and older senior dogs might struggle with being underweight, which is why there are so many variations. Making sure your dog doesn’t overeat or undereat is important.
Correct feeding is crucial
After you determine the food selection and portion size for your pets, you should also consider the feeding method. How you feed your pets can affect how quickly they consume food.
AKC says eating too fast is a dangerous habit that can cause everything from vomiting to life-threatening bloat. Dogs can choke on it, suffer from bloat, suffer gastrointestinal issues and vomit, etc.
Find a way to slow down your dog. Snuffle mats and slow-feeder dog bowls are popular ways of slowing down your pet’s eating pace. You should know the pros and cons of each before choosing one. While slow feeder dog bowls work by controlling the amount of food given to pets, snuffle mats allow pets to express their animal instincts. In other words, slow-feederbowls do not encourage natural dog behaviors such as sniffing, hunting, or foraging. A slow feeder dog bowl might be more convenient, but a snuffle mat mimics a pet’s natural instincts much better.
An adequate amount of training and how to do it
Keeping your dog physically active and fit requires daily exercise, such as walking, playing fetch, swimming, and hiking. In addition, you should plan some enrichment activities to train your pets both mentally and physically.
Walking is one of the simplest ways to train your dog to look up at you. When you are out walking together, reward your dog for each time he looks up at you. The reward should be immediately given so your dog understands the relationship between the action and the reward. Take some toys with you when you walk outside with your pet. Playing with your dog builds a strong bond between you.
According to the National Animal Welfare Trust, Sniffing Games are among the most popular enrichment activities. Treats can be scattered throughout your backyard and balcony, hidden under your furniture, or you can get a snuffle mat for your dog to hunt! All of these activities train the sense of smell in your pet. Scent receptors in the nose of a dog number up to 100 million. With more confidence, you can introduce more challenging containers, adding more stimulation and dynamic.
Conclusion
Just like humans, you can ensure your pets have a healthy condition by ensuring a perfect balance between their diet and exercise. However, it is also important to understand how important pet mental health is.