Wondering what type of dog care your furry BFF requires? Here’s a list of general dog care tips that can help you be the best dog parent to your favourite child!

Feed Your Dog The Recommended Amount (Not More!)

Maintaining a healthy weight and lean body is one of the most important things you can do for the overall well-being of your dog.

“Obesity is the number one health threat pets face, and the most important pet health decision owners make each day is what and how much they feed.” Dr. Ernie Ward

Overweight dogs are at increased risk of metabolic abnormalities, cardiovascular disease, joint diseases, lowered immune systems, and many other health problems.

Overweight dogs are also less mobile, and can’t run, play, or do other activities as much as they would like. 

Feed your pooch based on calories and not volume. Consult your veterinarian if you’re unsure of the proper amount of food for you dog.

Slow Down A Fast Eater

If your dog or puppy eats their meals very quickly, they could increase their risk of having stomach issues and vomiting.

Slowing down your dog’s eating is good for their digestive system and can be easily done.

A puzzle toy is a good option that can slow down a fast eater.

Putting a tennis ball in their food bowl is a no-frills option that works well too.

Both require your pooch to work around inedible objects to eat their meal.

Annual Veterinary Appointments

An annual vet appointment allows your veterinarian to screen your pooch for any health issues that may arise. They collect valuable info to provide you and your pooch with the best care.

Maintaining proper vaccinations is also important.  Vaccinations prevent diseases that can be passed between animals and also from animals to people.

Consider spaying or neutering your dog. Spaying and neutering help with population control. It can also help protect your pooch from certain diseases.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, early spaying of female dogs can help protect them from serious health problems later in life such as uterine infections and breast cancer.

Flea, tick, and heartworm medications are also available through your vet. 

Make A Dog First Aid Kit

Prepare yourself with an at-home and portable first aid kit with basic supplies.

Here’s a list of essential supplies to have on hand.

• first aid manual
• gauze pads
• medical adhesive tape
• stainless steel scissors
• stainless steel tweezers
• medical gloves
• cohesive bandage
• triangle bandage
• whistle
• baking soda (clots blood if pup gets a cut or nails trimmed too short)

You can DIY one, or purchase a doggy first aid kit already done.

Pet Insurance

Pet insurance helps cover medical expenses if your dog gets sick or injured. Do some Googling and decide if it is right for you. 

Brush Your Dog’s Teeth

Getting your dog used to toothbrush and toothpaste sooner than later is ideal. Unfortunately, there are no bones or chew toys that will do the same great job at cleaning your dog’s teeth as a toothbrush and toothpaste.

Prepare An Emergency Plan

While not nice to think about, it’s important that you have a plan in place for your pooch in case anything happens to you.

Make a list of important information about your dog’s habits including:

• How often they’re fed
• How much food
• Medications
• Veterinarian
• Trainer
• Pet Insurance Provider
• Dog Walker
• Groomer
• Dog Sitter
• Boarding Facility
• Family Contact

And any other important information you want to add.

Give copies of this list to someone in your life that could take care of your dog in case of an emergency.

It’s also a good idea to ask around and see if one or two neighbours could help with your dog on short notice.

Routinely Check Your Dog Over

Get your pooch used to their paws being touched, ears looked at, fur rubbed forwards and backward, basically anything a vet or groomer may do to your pup.

This will help them get used to touch and hopefully make their experience a little nicer.

Monitor any changes if there are any. For example, if you notice a growth that wasn’t there last time, you can make an appointment with your vet right away to get it checked out.

Regular Grooming

Regularly grooming your dog ensures they are clean and pest-free. Some dogs only need a bath every few months while others require regular grooming.

If your dog sheds, you’ll want to brush them often.

Nail trimming is a must. Neglecting to trim your dog’s nails can cause health problems such as injured tendons and deformed feet.

Puppy Proofing

Making your home puppy-proof is essential for a safe and happy start with your new puppy.

• Put up dryer sheets, as they are toxic to dogs
• Hide shoes, socks, and other small, precious, tempting items
• Keep electrical cords out of sight and reach
• If cords must be on the ground, tape down any loose ones to avoid chewing and tripping
• Move houseplants – some of these are toxic to animals
• Decorations should be put away, think tinsel….
• Invest in garbage cans with snap lids or hide them in a cabinet
• Lock cabinets containing food, medicine, and chemicals
• Keep any plush toys out of reach since these should be used only when supervised

Get your puppy’s perspective and crawl around on all fours to see what your pup might get up to.

Check out your backyard as well and pick up any small toys or items that you think a puppy could chew or choke on.

Exercise and Mental Stimulation

Regular exercise promotes bone, joint, muscle, and organ health.

Walking can eliminate boredom and provide mental stimulation.

You can also create an exercise routine with your dog, such as climbing stairs, going for a hike, or running around the yard.

Dogs need plenty of mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy

Puzzle toys are great for mental stimulation indoors. You can also teach them new tricks, and play games to keep them engaged. 

Dogs have a heightened sense of smell, they love using their nose to explore. Try scattering a few treats around the house for your dog to find.

By giving your dog a constructive outlet you may find that bad behaviours such as chewing, barking, or digging decrease.

Variety Is The Spice Of Life

Your dog gets bored. Stave off boredom by switching up your walking routine.

Try to introduce different or new toys to your dog every so often. Doing these will help provide more mental stimulation for your pooch.

Poop and Scoop

Clean up that poop ASAP so your pup does not go back and eat it. Also so your neighbour doesn’t chase you around with a big stick!

Bonding With Your Dog

Exercise Together

Exercise your dog every day. One of your dog’s favourite things to do is go for a walk, no matter what the weather!

Enjoy this time with your pooch as it is a great way to bond and you both get exercise at the same time.

Training

Bonding and training your dog go hand in hand. By doing both, you are building a relationship of respect, communication, and companionship.

Consider positive reinforcement training. Practicing positive reinforcement training means you reward your pet for good behaviours and ignore the bad. This training method builds your dog’s confidence, encourages cooperation, and increases tolerance. On top of that, it can enhance your bond with your pooch.

Training a dog takes a lot of patience and consistency. If you’re struggling, consult a local trainer or ask your vet for guidance.

Be A Friend

Treat your dog as one of the family. Pet them regularly, give them treats, and genuinely enjoy their company. Prioritize one on one time with your pup. Dogs flourish on love and affection from their humans. 

Patience Is A Virtue

Be patient with your dog, especially a puppy!

Recognize that puppies are full of energy and constantly test your patience.

They play-bite, chew, pee, and poop in the house (until house trained), and require a good amount of your attention all the time.

They also think it’s fun to randomly attack your legs, chew on your hands, etc. This will decrease with consistent training on your part, but your pup will definitely test your patience in the beginning.

Seasonal Dog Care Tips

Summer Tips

Keep Cool

Dogs don’t sweat like us, they sweat through their paw pads and rely on panting to release heat.

Give your dog access to shade and a way to cool down like a kiddie pool. Your dog can enjoy the outdoors and have a safe place to chill out.

If they are panting excessively, move them indoors and offer water to prevent heat stroke and dehydration.

Provide Unlimited, Constant Water

Dehydration is dangerous to dogs and can happen very quickly.

Make sure your dog has access to clean, fresh water throughout the day inside and outside.

Avoid Toxic Algae

Did you know that algae, if ingested, can be harmful to dogs? I didn’t until researching this article.

Check with your local Parks and Rec department for any environmental warnings about toxic algae before bringing your pooch to the lake for a swim.

Watch Those Paws

Dog’s paw pads are sensitive to heat and can be burned when walking on hot surfaces.

If you can’t comfortably place your bare foot on the hot ground outside, the surface is too hot for your dog as well.

Opt for grass or dirt when the pavement is hot.

Car No No

Don’t leave your dog in a hot car. Even if you’re just ‘popping in’ to a store for a couple of items.

The temperature in a vehicle rises quickly. When it’s 70 degrees outside, your car will be 100 degrees in 20 minutes. Your dog could quickly succumb to heat stroke at that temperature.

Don’t make passersby-ers break your windows to save your dog. Leave your dog at home instead.

Winter Tips

Moisturize Your Dog’s Paws

Cold weather can cause your dog’s paws to crack due to the dry air.

Try moisturizing your dog’s paws with pad moisturizer products topically to relieve the discomfort.

Beware Of Ice And Winter Salt

Both ice and winter salt on sidewalks can cause your dog’s paw pads to develop cracks or burns.

Wipe your dog’s paws off after any venture outside and make sure they don’t try to eat salt off the ground or lick it off their paws. 

Dog booties protect their sensitive paws if salt is an ongoing issue.

Consider using pet-safe salt for your own property as it is nontoxic to dogs and not harmful if they accidentally eat some. 

Limit Exposure To Cold

Dogs are susceptible to getting frostbite, especially their paws, ears, and tails. When you start to feel chilled outside, take your dog back inside with you because they are feeling the cold as well.

Sweater Weather

Many dogs have thick coats to keep them warm outside even in the coldest months, but not all pups have enough fur to take on the cold.

Any dog can get hypothermia, and depending on where you live and your dog’s breed, your pooch may benefit from a coat or sweater in the winter.

Early signs of hypothermia indicating your dog might need a sweater are:

• Rapid breathing
• Ears and feet cold to touch
• Increase urination
• Shivering
• Hair standing on end

Dog Safety

Pickup Truck No No

Never let your dog ride in the back of a pickup truck. According to American Humane, an estimated 100,000 dogs die each year riding in truck beds. This does not include other injuries veterinarians see from dogs being driven around in the back of trucks. 

As an aside, my brother-in-law was killed from riding in the back of a pickup truck that crashed when he was 21 years old. For this reason alone, I will not let any human or pet ride in the back of a pickup truck EVER. I don’t care if it’s just around the corner, not gonna happen.

Keep your dog inside with you, preferably restrained using a harness, dog seat belt, or travel crate.

Identification Tags

All dogs need identification tags. They may even be mandatory where you live. 

There is a higher chance that your curious dog will stay out of the shelter and return safely if they are wearing some sort of identification tag.

Important info to put on your pup’s ID tag:

• Their name (or first initial)
• Your phone number
• The city where you live
• Your full address
• The words “needs meds’ if your pooch requires medication
• The word ‘microchipped’ if your pup is microchipped

Check out your local pet store for a DIY dog tag maker and design your own custom dog tags.

License

Along the same lines as ID tags, licensing may be mandatory where you live. Better give it a Google and find out.

In many municipalities, licensing can be simply done online and you will receive your tags in the mail (after you pay a fee of course!)

Microchip

Getting your pup microchipped will improve your chances of getting them back home safely if they let curiosity win and make a break for it.

Leash In Public

Dogs are unpredictable sometimes. They can take off after a dog, human, squirrel, or a leaf blowing in the wind.

Be responsible and keep your dog leashed in public places to avoid losing your dog, upsetting other people, dog fights, and car accidents, just to name a few possible outcomes of a loose dog in public.

Keep Food Consistent

Switching your dog’s food abruptly can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased appetite.

Any time you decide to change your dog’s food, you should transition to the new diet gradually in order to give your dog’s system time to adjust to the change.

Create A Safe Space For Your Dog

Dogs can feel anxious or stressed in certain situations. Creating a safe space for your dog can provide comfort and security when they need to chill.

Have a place in your home with a bed, blanket, toys, and fresh water where your dog can get away from it all.

Clean Your Dog’s Toys And Bowls

Washing your dog’s toys, blankets, bedding, and bowls regularly removes dirt, pollen, and other things that can irritate your dog.

Keep Food Out Of Reach

Food items such as avocados, chocolate, onions, and garlic are toxic to dogs. Keep these items out of their reach to help avoid a trip to the vet.

Senior Dog Care

Dogs older than seven years old are considered senior pets.

I was honestly shocked when my vet called my dog, Ollie a senior last year at his annual exam. I never considered him a senior dog at just 7 years old.

While I don’t need to make any drastic changes at home quite yet, there are a few things to keep in mind as your dog ages.

At Home Care

Surfaces can be slippery, use yoga mats or carpet sliders to prevent your senior dog from slipping on the floor when getting up.

Booties with a non-slip grip can also work if your dog will tolerate them.

For senior dogs that are losing their eyesight, place different smells in each room of the house so your dog can associate those smells with a particular room. Different smelling air fresheners in each room would do the trick.

Raise your dog’s food bowl so they are not bending all the way down to the floor to eat and drink.

Orthopedic dog beds can help make laying down and getting up easier than a fluffy dog bed.

Grooming

Clip toe nails so they barely touch the floor. Your dog can use the pads on their feet for a little extra grip.

Groom them regularly and pay attention to any new lumps or bumps that may arise.

Seasonal

Sweaters or coats may be needed in the colder months due to muscle loss, decreased circulation, or arthritis.

Mobility

A ramp for stairs or getting in and out of the car may be helpful for your senior dog.

Keep Vigilant

Keep cognizant of any mood or behaviour changes, for example not wanting to play with dogs they used to. Do not ignore any warning signs such as drinking more, or less energy, etc.

Get these issues diagnosed and addressed early to help your dog live their best life in their later years.

Health

Wellness Exams

Yearly or biyearly wellness exams should start at 7-8 years old. Typically your vet will perform the following:

• Monitoring blood tests: this will create a baseline to compare the following years’ tests
• Vaccinations: According to VCA Animal Hospitals, senior pets typically receive most vaccines every three years
• Monitor arthritis
• Paplpate stomach: looking for anything enlarged internally
• Feel skin and lymph nodes
• Check out teeth
• Check eyes
• Listen to heart and lungs
• Blood work for monitoring any medications your pooch may be on
• Perhaps x-rays depending on your pooch’s medical history

The earlier your vet can catch any potential problems the better so your dog can be treated quicker and feel better faster.

Maintain Healthy Weight

Keeping your dog in a healthy weight range is ideal at any age. For senior dogs, this is especially important.

Their dietary requirements are different than a younger dog and may require a senior food to meet those requirements. Check with your vet at your annual wellness exam if you’re unsure.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

Your dog’s dental hygeine is a gateway to their overall health. Poor canine oral health contributes to serious heart, lung, liver, kidney, and brain conditions.

Help keep your senior dog healthy by brushing their teeth every day.

A regular dental routine keeps your dogs teeth and gums strong, their breath fresh, and can prolong their life by several years.

Exercise Is Good

Your senior pooch still needs exercise everyday. Keep the level of exercise appropriate to their mobility level.

For some senior dogs, a half hour slow walk around the neighbourhood is great. For others, they may be up for a hike in the woods. You know your dog best to judge what’s appropriate.

Mental Stimulation

Keep your senior dog’s mind active. Let them try Sudoku and see how it goes!

Seriously though, keep their mind sharp by providing them with problem solving and interactive toys. You can also teach an old dog new tricks, contrary to popular belief.

What Next?

Not sure how much exercise your dog needs? Check out this article for some guidance. Now go give your dog some love!