Is Your Dog Truly Happy
Most dog owners assume that their beloved four-legged babies are living a happy life but, sadly, this is not always the case. In this article, I will discuss the most common mistake that dog parents make when determining their dog’s happiness.
Happiness can be defined in a variety of ways based on someone’s personality and lifestyle. It’s easy to mistake your dog as happy when they have a big yard to play in or you’ve hired a dog walker to stop by the house once a day. However, there are many other factors that play a role in your dog’s happiness. These include discipline, training, the amount of affection and attention the dog receives, where they live, their diet, and the amount of exercise they get every day.
Discipline:
Dogs that have experienced proper obedience training are proven to live happier lives. These dogs have been trained to behave in public and have been socialized around other dogs. Therefore, they have more freedom to enjoy the outdoors with their owners, introducing them to more people and dogs every day. Involving your dog in your daily outdoor life – instead of measly 30-minute walks every day –also increases the bond that the two of you share.
Dog parents must have an attitude of “firm but fair” when it comes to training and discipline. They should set defined rules and boundaries for their dog that remain consistent throughout their life. With that in mind, emotional dog parents do not make good owners. Emotions must never take over logic when it comes to training your dog.
Some owners seem to hate the idea of disciplining their dogs and, instead, justify their dog’s misbehavior. Dogs that have no discipline are more detached and excluded from the family or during social gatherings. They usually are crated more often and put into isolation because they have never been taught right from wrong. This turns them into unsafe, unpredictable dogs that should not be around other kids, dogs, and people.
Affection And Attention:
Balanced love and affection are very important for your dog’s mental wellbeing. Dogs need love and they should feel like they are part of the family. Personally, I do not believe in the concept of an “outdoor dog.” My dogs are part of my family and they stay indoors with access to the backyard at all times. Indoor dogs are mentally more stable and are known to be more obedient compared to dogs that are limited to the outdoors.
On the other hand, spoiling your dog and obsessing over their every move can result in an ill-behaved animal as well. In the dog world, we call these animals “brats” and we all know that brats are no fun to be around…
Living Location And Condition:
Just like people, dogs can become stressed if they live in a busy, unhappy environment. Rowdy kids, screaming babies, domestic fights, lots of traffic, and constant tension can cause behavior issues in your pet.
Diet:
Nowadays, people seem to modify their pet’s diet drastically from what it used to be in the past. Diet preferences such as veganism and paleo not only heavily influence our societies’ menus, but it has affected the food we put in our dog’s bowl as well.
Dogs have no molars nor the digestive track or enzymes to break down vegetable protein. For example, if you give your dog carrots a cut in the shape of star, it will show up in their stool in the exact same shape, meaning that it did not break down in the digestion process.
Forcing your dog into a vegan diet is selfish and cruel. A dog must eat what his instinct desires and that is meat.
On the other hand, different dyes and grain-rich dog foods can also be harmful to your dog. Most dog foods have high amounts of carbohydrates which can cause obesity in dogs. In the future, look for dog foods that are free of added dyes, preservatives, grains, carbs, protein, and fat to maintain your pet’s health.
Exercise:
Daily exercise and outdoor activity are essential to a dog’s mental and physical stamina. Playing fetch, running, and going on daily walks are great ways to keep your dog happy and healthy.
Some dog owners think that if they have a big property where their dogs can run around, they can avoid taking their dogs on walks, but that is not entirely true. Spending time outdoors with your dog is an excellent way to connect and bond with them.
Hiring a dog walker is a good for your pet’s energy, but it should not substitute your bonding time with your dog. Dogs crave their owner’s attention and need to follow their leaders from point A to point B to feel like they are traveling with their pack.
Conclusion:
- Dogs without proper obedience training are more isolated by their owners
- Isolated dogs are not happy dogs. Free dogs are happy dogs.
- Dogs that can hang out with the family during gatherings and parties rather than staying in a crate or outdoors are happier
- Balanced affection and discipline makes for a balanced dog
- Dogs are not happy in a hectic environment
- A vegan diet is not fulfilling your dog’s instinct for meat
- Dogs prefer to spend time with their owners doing outdoor activities