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How to Make Your Dog Happy – 5 Easy Tips

By Michelle Marine

on Jan 12, 2016, Updated Oct 28, 2023

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This post is sponsored by Bayer® ExpertCareTM and the BlogPaws Influencer Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Bayer ExpertCare products but SimplifyLiveLove only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Bayer ExpertCare is not responsible for the content of this article.

If you’re a dog owner, keeping your dog happy and healthy is high on your priority list. A happy and well-behaved dog is much more pleasant to be around can do a lot of fun things! If you’re looking for tips on how to make your dog happy and healthy, this post is for you!

How to Make Your Dog Happy

Train your dog

A well-behaved dog that you can trust is very important. Not having to worry about your dog around other people makes taking your dog public places easier. Many dogs enjoy going places with their owners and dog-friendly places like PetSmart and dog parks can be a lot of fun for your dog! Training and socialization is very important. It’s also not that hard with consistent effort and a reward-based program. The best dog training tips I’ve learned over the years are to be consistent, use food rewards, and always follow through. Dog training tips are a lot like kid training tips, best I can tell. 🙂

Play with your dog

I’m sure you’ve heard that dogs are man’s best friend. Most dogs are social creatures. They enjoy being around their people and they want attention and love from you. Ignoring your dog can insure bad behavior, so strive to give your dog positive attention as often as you can and play with your dog often – fetch with sticks, games with toys, tug games, teach your dog tricks. Make a concerted effort to play with your dog each and every day and see how happy it makes him!

Healthy dog food

You are what you eat, and so is your dog. I avoid artificial food colors in the food I feed my family, and also in the food I feed my dog. Chemical preservatives like BHA, BHT, nitrates, and nitrites in both people and dog food are also ingredients I avoid. Other harmful chemical preservatives sometimes found in dog food include propyl gallate, ethoxyquin, and TBHQ. Additionally, corn, wheat, and soy are among of the biggest allergens to dogs, so consider that when choosing a healthy dog food. By-products and animal fat are also ingredients to avoid. Powdered cellulose, dried beet pulp, and rice hulls are fillers. And as always, sugar content should be reduced as much as possible.  Bottom line, just like you read labels on food you eat, also read labels on dog food. The terms NATURAL and HEALTHY really mean diddly-squat. Feeding your dog a high quality, healthy dog food will give her the best shot at a happy, healthy life.

Dog Grooming

I wrote a post specifically about grooming Great Pyrenees dogs here, but dog grooming needs to be in everyone’s routine if you want a healthy and happy dog. Part of dog grooming is of course bathing, and Bayer Expert Care Grooming products like  Oatmeal Shampoo, available only at PetSmart, are great products for dog clean and itch free. I do recommend that you research how often your dog should be bathed, as bathing too often can strip useful oils from their skin and create more problems than having a clean dog solves.

Pet Neutering

It’s important to do your own research when it comes to neutering your dog. Some dogs, like my giant Great Pyrenees, really shouldn’t be neutered before they reach sexual maturity. Many vets recommend neutering your dog very early, but some research suggests a dog that is neutered before maturity has an increased risk for different cancers. I certainly believe in animal neutering because of pet overpopulation, but the timing is up for debate. Make sure you research before having your animal spayed or neutered because a dog with bone cancer certainly isn’t very happy.

These are my best tips for keeping your dog happy and healthy. What would you add to this list?