While we love our pets unconditionally, they can also be prone to picking up some habits that are downright unpleasant. This New Year’s, plan some additional pet-positive resolutions into your goals list with these helpful lifestyle enhancement ideas for your dog.
Improve Your Dog’s Manners
One of the goals that you and your pet can set is to improve the behaviors that are commonly seen around the house, such as chewing on items that don’t belong to them, getting into the trash, and barking at the delivery driver.
You can install baby gates to keep your dog out of rooms that aren’t dog-proof, as well as make sure that your pet has plenty of toys and chews at close range to eliminate the chewing and trash-snatching habit. To combat the barking, you can try to get your dog’s attention by giving her a treat whenever she’s about to bark at the doorbell or when you see someone walking past your house to associate the doorbell and visitors with a reward. This will take patience, but it will make for a more copacetic life with your animal!
Eliminate Canine Boredom
When dogs become restless or bored, they often fight the feeling by getting into trouble with destructive behavior. Dogs require a specific amount of exercise depending on their age and breed. Without the energy release, they can quickly become troublesome and disrupt the peace within your home.
In the New Year, prioritize outdoor time with your dog. Walks around your neighborhood, hikes in the forest, or swimming when weather permits are excellent ways to keep them moving and away from the destruction associated with boredom.
Mental stimulation is also important. You can fight boredom by turning their meal into a fun and engaging activity by getting your dog a puzzle toy or bowl.
Visit Your Pet’s Veterinarian
Your pet’s health should always be a priority. This year, stay on top of your pet’s health needs by scheduling their annual veterinary check-up with your local veterinarian!
