Do you have a dog who can be a bit of a …. nuisance? Did you know that many problem behaviors arise because your dog doesn’t have all of his needs met? If you have a problem behavior, make sure to check that these five needs are being properly met:
1) Adequate Exercise – most dogs need about 20 minutes of walking, jogging, fetch, or playing with other dog friends a day. Some breeds may require more exercise, but for the average dog, 20 minutes is perfect!
2) Proper Nutrition – Did you know nutrition imbalances can lead to a whole host of issues? Check out your dog food’s rating on Dog Food Advisor, or talk with someone at The Pet Place in Boone or My Best Friend’s Barkery in Banner Elk to find a great food!
3) Mental Stimulation – In addition to exercise for their bodies, dogs also need exercise for their brains! They can’t read books, listen to podcasts, or carry conversations like we can, so they need other ways to stimulate their brains! I suggest using food puzzles like a Kong, snuffle mat, or even scattering their food in the yard for a scavenger hunt!
4) Social Interactions – Not every dog needs other dog friends. I’m sure you know at least one dog who doesn’t like other dogs. But they DO need social interactions with their housemates! Spend quality time with your dog. Enjoy an interactive game together like tug, fetch, or hide and seek. Take a walk, but leave the headphones and phone at home. Snuggle on the couch with a good movie. Making sure your dog has quality, distraction-free time with you can prevent a whole host of issues!
5) Meeting their need to Chew – Dogs are made to chew! They have strong jaws and strong teeth. If you can help them meet this need in a productive way, it will keep them busy and meet a deep, biological need they have. Provide safe, natural chews in a random rotation to keep things interested. I like Bully Sticks, Split Antlers, Himalayan Chews, No-Hide Chews and RAW bones as safe chew options!
This handout below also has some great suggestions for keeping your pup out of trouble!
Recent Comments