A regular routine helps your dog know what to expect in their day. Anticipating daily activities helps build confident and resilient dogs. It includes activities and a dog's environment.
Meal Times: Consistent feeding times help regulate a dog’s digestion and prevent unnecessary anxiety around food. It also establishes trust and predictability.
Exercise: Daily exercise is important for physical health and mental stimulation. It prevents boredom and helps maintain a healthy weight. Allow time for natural dog behaviours including sniffing during walks. It’s their way of exploring the world and gathering information essential for well being. Take into consideration your dog’s breed and energy level when selecting activities.
One-on-One Time with you. Quality time together strengthens your bond. It can include play time, training sessions, grooming, or simply relaxing together. It provides mental stimulation, relieves stress, and promotes good behavior.
Enrichment: Meeting your dog’s mental, physical and emotional needs. Mental stimulation through puzzles, toys, and interactive games and practicing natural dog behaviours, e.g. sniffing, chewing and digging, prevents boredom and unwanted destructive behavior. Rotate toys and activities to keep them interesting.
Sleep: Dogs need good quality rest for their overall health. Establishing a quiet, comfortable sleeping area and regular bedtime helps them feel secure and promotes better behavior. Have a designated safe space where they can retreat when they feel overwhelmed or tired. This could be a crate or a quiet corner.
Outings: Regular positive outings, perhaps on the weekend, expose dogs to new experiences and environments, boosting their confidence and socialisation skills. By introducing your dog to car rides early and making them part of the routine helps prevent anxiety during travel and vet visits.
Health checks & Grooming : Regularly touching and handling your dog will desensitise them to vet procedures. Handle their paws and check ears & eyes, as well as coat & limbs. This also ensures early detection of health issues and promote overall well-being.
Establishing a routine provides a predictable structure for your dog and strengthens your bond. Dogs thrive on routine, feeling secure and content when they know what to expect each day. By incorporating these activities into their daily lives, you can ensure your dog remains happy, healthy, and well-adjusted.
Your routine needs to fit your lifestyle and needs. While consistency is key, occasional flexibility is okay too.
Helpful tips! Thanks
Very useful information easily followed thank you
Thank you for making the information so concise it’s helped me gain a quick understanding of a few things I should be doing better for my puppy! The enrichment tip seems especially important to keep my him happy