We often believe that all our dogs need to be “happy” is a roof over their heads and food. These are the most important things you need to do to stay alive. But to be really happy, like the kind that makes your tail wag, keeps you calm, and helps you live a long time, you need to think a lot more.

We don’t just give our dogs food and water; we also make sure they are healthy in mind and body. We need to see the world through our dogs’ eyes in order to help them grow. Here are six simple things you can do to make your dog happier and healthier.

1. How you move and sleep

The dog talks by moving. Every dog, big or small, needs to explore their surroundings because of their genes. But working out is more than just “burning off energy.” It’s about how well your joints move, how fast your metabolism works, and how clear your mind is.

The Balance of Activity

Endorphins are chemicals that make dogs feel better when they run, play fetch, or go for a walk. If a dog doesn’t get enough exercise, it can become anxious or destructive because it doesn’t have a way to let out all of its energy.

The “After-Burn” Rest’s Strength

A lot of owners don’t know how important it is what happens after the move. Dogs need to both play and rest to keep their nervous systems healthy and help them learn. If your dog is always “on the go” and doesn’t get enough deep sleep, they could get too hyper and angry. They will be able to remember what they learned that day and their muscles will heal if they get enough sleep.

2. Making a Safe Place

Make sure your dog is safe before you start training them. If a dog doesn’t feel safe, it can’t learn. Not everyone knows what it means to be safe. We might think our dog is safe in a yard with a fence around it, but pack animals can be scared when they are alone.

Feelings that don’t change

Not being consistent is the worst thing for a dog. If you let your dog jump on you to say hello on Monday when you’re wearing jeans, but then scold them on Tuesday when you’re wearing a suit, they won’t feel safe. They don’t know how to follow the “rules of the world” anymore.

A dog needs a leader who is always there to protect them. Be honest, keep your word, and be fair. They trust you more and feel less anxious when they know exactly what to expect from you.

3. The need to be acceptable

A “big backyard” will never be as good as talking to people.

Becoming a part of the family

If a dog is standing at the back door and looking in, it wants to be with you. Being part of the “family pack” is a big part of staying healthy. You don’t have to keep them busy all the time, but you do need to be with them every day. They feel like they belong to your tribe when they’re close to you, like when they sit at your feet while you work or go for a walk with the family at night.

4. How strong positive feedback is and how it validates

Like people, dogs do better when they feel loved and capable. If you always tell your dog what to do, nag it, or ignore it, it will stop listening. The dog gives up because it thinks it will never get it right. This is what people call “learned helplessness.”

Improving Your Self-Esteem

When your dog does something good, tell him or her “Good boy” or scratch behind his or her ears. This will make him or her feel better about himself or herself. Give them problems to work on so they can feel better about themselves. If you’re teaching them a new trick, make it easier for them to win by breaking it down into small steps. A dog that is confident is a healthy, happy dog, and a dog that is successful loves to learn.

5. Mixing things up to keep boredom at bay

We often call a dog “bad” when it digs up the petunias or chews on the couch. Dogs don’t really do things to hurt people. Dogs often act out because they’re bored and don’t know what to do.

The Taste of Life

A dog’s world can get very small if it only has the same four walls and backyard to play in every day. Cognitive health needs a lot of things to be good. You can make things more interesting by: • New smells: Go on “sniffaris” with your dog, where they lead the way and smell everything.

• New Toys: Switch out the toys so they feel like new again.
• New Places: Take your dog to a store or park that you’ve never been to before.

You can help them calm down by giving them new things to do. This stops them from doing things that are bad for their health.

6. Living with a Purpose: Being Happy

There was a reason why each dog was bred, and those reasons are still there. We feel good when we let our dogs do what comes naturally to them in a way that is good for them.

Finding the right thing for your dog type

• The Socialites: Most of the time, Labradors and Golden Retrievers are happy when they are around other people. They would be great for therapy or community visits because they want to make other people happy and be with them.
• The Seekers: Terriers and hounds love to use their noses to find things. They can feel very good about themselves when they do scent work or play hide-and-seek.

When a dog does what it naturally does, it enters a state of “flow” and deep happiness that no amount of treats can replace.

Do you need a place to stay that feels like home?

If you want a place that knows these six things that make dogs happy, you don’t need to look any further. We’re here to help, whether you want your dog to have fun or you’re going on vacation.