15 Easy Ways to Make Your Dog Happy
by dogtoyadvisor | Last updated on November 18, 2020
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Dogs are simple creatures.
Their entire life is dedicated to their humans and, when they’re not doing that, they’re probably eating or sleeping.
But, what if we could do more?
Is there a way to make sure our dogs live an absolutely happy life?
And shouldn’t it be our goal to make it so?
What Could a Dog Possibly Want More?
A healthy dog will live a very long life.
Not nearly as much as we’d want him to, but over a decade.
It’s a lot of time to be living a lukewarm existence, doing the same things everyday, without much excitement.
Dogs need variety, affection and fun!
Make each day count when it comes to your dog, leave nothing to do, no efforts wasted.
And rejoice to see your best friend life his life to the fullest.
It’s Not About Spoiling Your Dog
Actually, spoil dogs aren’t that happy.
Dogs need boundaries and rules they know and understand.
They need structure that lets them know what you expect of them.
Spoiling your dog, with no rules and no limits, will make him anxious and sometimes aggressive.
It also makes interaction with other people and animals hard, which doesn’t contribute to his happiness.
Much like children, they need you to show affection while keeping them leveled and behaved.
Each Dog is Different
In our particular case, our three dogs couldn’t be more different from one another.
What makes Tommy happy (playing fetch, tug of war, etc) won’t work with Dobby, who isn’t interested in any of these things.
One thing Tommy and Dobby do have in common that other dogs don’t have is, they don’t particularly like other dogs, they much prefer people.
Luckily , they all get along, so I guess they have all the dog company they need.
How to Make Your Dog Happy
There are so many ways we can make our dogs happy.
We sincerely hope that, after reading this, you will think of even more things you can do to make sure your dog is the happiest puppy on this Earth.
1 – Let Him Sleep With (or Near) You
Regardless of how domesticated our dogs are, they still have a pack mentality.
And one of the things packs do is sleep together. It makes them feel protected and calm.
Also, your dog loves you and wants to be around you every single second of the day, so of course he’ll want to sleep with you.
The degree of closeness is up to you. If you don’t allow your dog to be on your bed, it’s fine, just get him a comfy dog bed and place it in your room.
Seriously, these dog beds these days are so fluffy and nice, it makes us want to own one too!
2 – Never Chain Him
If you’re reading this article, odds are you’d never do it, because you care about your dog. But sometimes, you may think you have no other choice but to chain your dog.
Sometimes for his own safety, like when you’re afraid he’ll escape or when you leave the house and don’t want him to destroy your home.
Well, there is absolutely nothing dogs hate more than to be chained, prevented from moving or from being around the people they love.
If you absolutely must restrain your dog, crate train him!
Crates don’t have to be prisons! If you train him well, it will be his safe haven instead.
3 – Keep Him Exercised
A dog with accumulated energy is a nervous dog, anxious even.
While the required amount of exercise a dog needs depends on the dog, all dogs need exercise, one way or another.
They need to burn energy, to play, to get tired!
And, if it’s a high-energy dog (like the two Jack Russells we own) know that they don’t get tired easily, they require a lot of exercise and not exercising them will lead to mischief.
A lot of mischief.
Read also: 15 Fun Games to Play With Your Dog
4 – Find Time for Cuddles
Have you ever had one of those days that it just goes by so quickly that it ends and you haven’t had the time to do half of what you wanted?
Well, on such days, time for cuddles isn’t really a priority.
And, while your dog will be fine if he goes without it for a day, it’s when it gets too long that things get tricky.
Or maybe you have so many pets, it gets hard to give that special attention to each of them.
A dog needs more than food, shelter and walks.
He needs special time with his human, time where it’s all about the two of you and no one else.
5 – Go On Hikes
Hiking with your dog is like dog walks on steroids!
Not only does it provide excellent physical exercise, it’s also a way to do something different, explore no routes, new sceneries and, of course, new scents for your dog to smell.
Just remember to start with small hikes before taking your dog for longer, harder ones.
And, of course, don’t forget to bring lots of water for him.
6 – Use a Food Dispensing Toys for His Meals
Because, why not make feed time as fun as possible?
The premise is very simple, you place you dog’s meal inside a food dispensing toy and hand it over to him.
It’s a challenge, it’s extra fun and it helps him eat slower.
We’ve tried a few options with our dogs, but this is the one we prefer:
Just the fact that you can adjust the open to make it easier or harder for your dog to remove the food makes it much more interesting.
7 – Teach Your Dog Some Tricks
Training a dog or teaching him tricks is a great way to strengthen the bond between you and your dog.
Also, pleasing you is something that makes your dog very happy, so doing what you request and being complimented (and rewarded) for it is something your dog loves.
Just remember to make it fun, have patience and respect your dog’s learning speed. Not all dogs are the same and that’s perfectly okay.
High Quality Dog Training Course Featuring 21 Games To Improve A Dog’s Intelligence And Behavior, Plus Easy Instructions For Training Obedience Commands! Created By A Well Known Professional Dog Trainer!
8 – Let Your Dog Sniff What He Wants
And for however time he wants, we should add.
Life is hectic and sometimes dog walks mess up our time schedule. But please remember that this is probably the high of your dog’s days, where he gets to take a walk with you, meet other dogs, do his business and, of course, smell everything around him.
Particularly if you live in an apartment, walk time is the best stimulation your dog gets and these walks are for his benefit, so let him sniff away, for as long as he’s interested.
9 – Pick New Walking Routes
Mix it up a bit.
Going on the exact same walk everyday, more than once a day, is not the most stimulating thing for your dog.
Yes, we know that new routes excite dogs, making them sometimes pull on their leashes or maybe even forget to go potty.
But, the benefit of going on different routes and keeping things new and interesting for your dog is worth it.
Maybe change the route after he’s done his business, to make sure he gets it done.
10 – Get Your Dog a Pool
Nothing makes a dog happier than water, particularly in the summer.
If you have a yard or a garden, get your dog a pool and watch him have the time of his life.
Dog pools are excellent ways to keep your dog refreshed and hydrated during those scorching hot days, but you can also fil it with plastic balls for some cold weather fun.
This is the model we have. It’s collapsible and super resistant, something we desperately need with our dogs.
11 – Arrange Playdates
With whomever your dog loves!
For some dogs, it’s other dogs and for others, it’s people!
It really doesn’t matter, playdates with someone they love being with will leave your dog with a smile on his face.
Maybe you call them over to your home or even arrange to meet somewhere fun or go for a walk. Whatever you pick, make it fun!
And, if you’re lucky enough to be with someone you love as well, even better!
12 – Give Your Dog a Job
A lot of dog breeds are natural workers.
This means that, not only do they learn tasks easily, they love doing it.
If that’s the case for your dog, know that he needs to be given jobs.
Nothing much, just small tasks or tricks you’ll ask of him in return for a treat or even his meal.
13 – Teach Your Dog How to Relax
Some dogs don’t really know how to relax.
They’re either sleeping or doing something or they just won’t know what to do with themselves.
Much like for humans, learning to relax is a big part of your dog’s happiness. Just being in the moment, relaxed, with nothing to do.
Just keep your dog by your side as you relax and ignore every attempt he makes to stir you.
Eventually, he’ll get the picture.
Also, if you have a somewhat anxious or insecure dog, teaching them to relax in situations that usually make them feel nervous is of the utmost importance.
Dobby, our older dog, is a bit of a scary cat. Teaching him to relax and building up his confidence took a bit of work but the results were well worth it.
Read also: How to Train a Dog to Stay Calm and Relaxed
14 – Keep Your Dog Mentally Stimulated
Dogs need exercise, not only for their bodies, but also for their minds.
It is said that an hour of mental stimulation will tire a dog out more than the same amount of time of physical exercise.
Staving off boredom is one of the most important things you can do for your dog’s mental health and, of course, his happiness.
To mentally stimulate your dog you can train him or challenge him.
In our search for toys that keep our dog stimulated, we’ve discovered a lot of available products, from puzzles to treat dispensers.
You can get different sizes, levels of difficulty and materials.
You can take an egg carton, place tasty (and smelly) treats inside, close it and watch as your dog fights to get them.
As you challenge him, he’ll get more and more used to puzzles and you’ll need to amp up the difficulty level.
Outward Hound Dog Puzzles have toys with 3 levels of difficulty: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced.
15 – Always Leave Your Scent Behind
Dogs are particularly unhappy when you leave them.
A great way to turn that frown upside down is to make sure that you leave something with your scent on his bed or near him.
Pick something you’ve worn recently and maybe something you don’t particularly love.
Leave it with your dog and he’ll be less anxious by your absence, in fact, you may even notice a big difference in his reaction to your departure, because it will be almost like you never left!
Read also: 10 Tips to Keep a Dog Happy While Alone
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