Is Your Pet Happy?

Digg

Del.icio.us

Stumble

Is Your Dog Happy?

By: Dr. Nicholas Dodman

Pages 1

Steps to a Happy Dog

Most animals are happier if they have a set routine and know what to expect.

Exercise is a great stress reliever and should be encouraged. Dogs should be exercised aerobically for at least 20-30 minutes each day.

Food should be healthful and supplied on a regular basis at mealtimes. It is probably a good idea to change flavors from time to time to prevent boredom of a certain type of food from setting in.

Clear communication with dogs is helpful as a means of building a strong bond between owner and dog and as a way of alleviating stress. Dogs should be taught the meaning of one new word each month and it can be expected to develop a vocabulary of some hundreds of words. The better communication the less confusion.

Medical matters that are bothering the dog should be addressed.

Parasites should be controlled, endocrine disturbances should be addressed, pain should be alleviated, and allergies should be attended to. You can't be happy as a dog when you're in pain or discomfort.

For dogs that are withdrawn, they should be coaxed out of themselves and encouraged to join in and be more social. You an do this by playing with them and encouraging them to interact with you or other dogs. Their involvement should be rewarded in no uncertain terms.

For dogs that are over attached and are unhappy or distressed when they are separated from their owners, they should be encouraged to develop independence and, literally, to stand on their own four feet.

Summary

The happy dog that arises as a result of the aforementioned adjustments will sleep well at night and look forward to and enjoy each day and the entertainment that it brings. Aggressive behavior should melt away, fears will be quelled, and annoying habits will be replaced by constructive alternatives. Once this happy Utopian state has been achieved, an owner will enjoy his or her dog even more and, perhaps more importantly, the dog will look up to its owner as it positively radiates appreciation and, what else, happiness.

Pages 1

Printable Version

Digg

Del.icio.us

Stumble

Share this Article with a Friend Email To:

Have a Pet Question?

Send Your Pet Question to Dr. Jon
and His Staff of Veterinarians

Dr. Jon's Newsletter

Yes! Send Me the Latest Health Information, Pet Tips, Pet Stories and more...

Search Over 15,000 articles

1 Why Do Dogs Smile?
Ask an expert in dog behavior why dogs smile, and you may get a somewhat complicated answer involving facial muscles, submissive behavior, automatic response, etc. It all adds up to a rueful “Dogs don’t...
Read More
2 Does Your Dog Need More Exercise?
In his own doggy way, Jake, a chocolate Labrador retriever, tried everything to tell his owner he needed more exercise. When his owner arrived through the door each day, Jake would play bow, bark, jump,...
Read More
3 Sleep Behavior of Dogs
There’s no doubt about it: dogs sure know how to sleep. The amount of time spent napping varies from dog to dog and depends on the dog’s age and personality.
Read More
4 Exercising Your Dog
Exercise is as important for your dog as it is for you. Young dogs need a regular daily workout to maintain their physical and emotional health. Learn about basic recommendations.
Read More

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles

Dogs & Puppies

Dog Breeds

labrador retriever, golden retriever, yorkshire terriers, german shepherds, beagle, boxers

Dog Medication

dog allergy medication, dog pain medication, dog anxiety medication, dog flea medication

Dog Products

dog bowls, dog crates, dog toys, dog beds, dog ramps, dog food storage, dog tags

Dog Symptoms

dog vomiting, dog limping, dog diarrhea, dog bad breath, dog coughing, dog seizures

Dog Health

dog cancer, dog diabetes, dog epilepsy, dog hip dysplasia, dog health, sick dog

Dog Care

dog vaccination, dog microchipping, dog grooming, dog neutering, dog spaying, dogs mating

Dog Training

dog aggression, dog barking, dog chewing, dog behavior, dog jumping, dog whisperer

Dog Pictures

puppy pictures, funny dogs, cute dogs, dog breeds, sleeping dogs, silly dogs, small dogs

Cats

Cat Breeds

persian, siamese cats, devon rex, ragdoll cats, sphynx, maine coon cat

Cat Medication

cat flea medication, cat heartworm control, cat tick medications

Cat Products

cat litter box, cat food, cat bed, cat flea collar, cat carrier, cat urine odor

Cat Symptoms

cat vomiting, cat limping, cat diarrhea, cat bad breath, cat coughing

Cat Health

cat health, cat liver cancer, cat diabetes, cat scratch fever, cat aids, sick cat

Cat Care

cat vaccination, cat grooming, cat microchipping, cat neutering, cat spaying

Cat Behavior

cat urine marking, cat furniture scratching, cat litterbox training, cat toilet training, cat fears

Cat Pictures

cute cats, funny cats, playful cats, fat cats, jumping cats, lazy cats, sleeping cats, cute kittens

1Does Your Dog Need More Exercise?
In his own doggy way, Jake, a chocolate Labrador retriever, tried everything to tell his owner he needed more exercise. When his owner arrived through the door each day, Jake would play bow, bark, jump,...
Read More
2Sleep Behavior of Dogs
There’s no doubt about it: dogs sure know how to sleep. The amount of time spent napping varies from dog to dog and depends on the dog’s age and personality.
Read More
3Exercising Your Dog
Exercise is as important for your dog as it is for you. Young dogs need a regular daily workout to maintain their physical and emotional health. Learn about basic recommendations.
Read More
4Why Do Dogs Smile?
Ask an expert in dog behavior why dogs smile, and you may get a somewhat complicated answer involving facial muscles, submissive behavior, automatic response, etc. It all adds up to a rueful “Dogs don’t...
Read More

Is Your Pet Happy?

Is Your Dog Happy?

Related Articles

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles