5 Top Tips – Guaranteed To Improve Your Dog's Life

1. It is a simple fact that what you put into your dog is reflected in how they look, act and
feel. Getting the right balance of nutrients is not entirely simple and depends on a
seemingly endless amount of variables such as breed, activity level, age and medical
condition. As a responsible dog owner, you owe it to your pet to ensure their diet is
perfectly matched to their lifestyle, age and activity level.
Many dog owners simply select a food and stick with it, never trying anything different and
refusing to change even as the dog's lifestyle changes. Be prepared to change, mix, match
and monitor – dogs enjoy variety as much as we do and it makes a lot of sense to see how
well our dogs respond to different foods as they grow, slow down or even if they start
acting up!
Did you know...
The fuel you put in to your dog has a massive impact on their behaviour as well as
the way they look and feel?
Feeding the most appropriate food for your dog will not only help them live longer, feel and
look better, it will also ensure they maintain that puppy-like spring in their step for a long,
long time.

2. Tooth decay and diseased gums produce bacteria that get into the animal's
bloodstream. It can result in problems to any of their organs but in particular, the valves in
the animal's heart can be damaged.
Kidneys are also very vulnerable and this could be one of the major killers of older dogs.
Brushing your dog's teeth every day helps to prevent this. Don't use human toothpaste but
entice your pet with the beef or chicken flavoured varieties because you need to keep your
dog’s teeth clean for more reasons than just ‘the dog-breath issue’!
3. Dogs like to play all types of games and have loads of energy to burn off. It’s
important though that your dog learns to calm down and “chill out” as much as how to burn
off energy. Otherwise they get stressed with the constant anticipation and over excitement.
So, teach your dog the equivalent to sitting down and having a cup of tea by putting a
command on quiet and relaxing times. This tip comes straight from Anne O’Brien, Head of
Rehabilitation at the world famous Battersea Dogs Home – so you know it's got to have
legs!
4. Insure your pet. Simple. Do your research on policies by all means but don’t consider
insurance as an optional or luxury extra. Unless you don’t think your dog is worth more to
you than your car, you should insure every year, without fail. There are too many dog
owners who are so incredibly thankful for the fact that they insured their pet and, sadly,
even more who are left to bitterly regret the fact that they didn't for this tip to go ignored.
5. Learn as much as you can about the dog you own. Whether you own a Pedigree
Poodle or a rescued ‘bits n pieces’ dog. Learn what you can about the breed, learn what
you can about parents (if possible), learn what you can about known health problems
within the breed, known health problems within the family line and so on. A little acquired
knowledge and the dog you share your life with can go a long way to you having a happier
co-existence. So, literally right now, set yourself the task of trying to learn something new
about your dog/breed every week. It's fun, interesting and you can most certainly bore
your friends with your newly acquired expert knowledge!
Bonus Tip!
A fat dog is a less healthy, less happy dog. A seriously fat dog will undoubtedly die as a
result of their weight. Owners need to take responsibility for the health of their pets,
regardless of how they lead their own lives. Always keep a close eye on your dog's weight,
it can and will help them to live longer.