3 Healthy Habits With Your Dog to Start Today
Health & Wellbeing
Most good intentions for a dog die somewhere around 6 p.m. Dinner is late, it looks like rain, and the brush is still sitting in a drawer. The good news is that healthy habits with your dog don't need an empty calendar. Each of the three below takes about as long as boiling the kettle, and you'll feel the difference too.
Daily Dog Brushing as a Shared Ritual
Brushing pulls out the loose hair before it ends up on your black jeans. It also spreads the coat's natural oils, which is where that soft shine comes from. If you're not sure which one to buy, this guide to the best dog brush for every coat type breaks it down by coat.
Matching the Dog Brush to the Coat
A Beagle or a Frenchie can get by with a rubber brush twice a week. Doodles, Shih Tzus and anything with a thick undercoat are a different story. Their tangles form down at the skin, so most days is safer, and daily during the spring and fall shed. Your floors will thank you, and these tips to keep a house clean with a dog deal with whatever fur still escapes.
If Your Dog Dislikes the Brush
Go smaller than feels necessary. One stroke on the shoulder, a treat, done for the day. Tomorrow, two strokes. If you find a mat lying flat against the skin, leave it for a groomer, and this dog grooming directory has gentler tools for the in-between days.
Gentle Dog Massage Before Bed
Five minutes of slow hands on the couch at night is enough to make many dogs sigh, stretch out and go heavy. A dog used to being handled also makes far less fuss at nail trims. Older dogs with stiff hips often love it most, and this guide to senior dog care has more ideas for keeping them comfortable.
A Simple Five-Minute Dog Massage Routine
- Wait until your dog is already lying down, ideally after a walk.
- Keep your palm flat and the pressure about the same as a slow pat.
- Make small circles from the neck down over the shoulders and back.
- If they shift away from a spot, leave it.
Lumps and Sore Spots to Show Your Vet
A new lump, a patch that feels warm, or a flinch when you reach one leg is worth a vet visit, not more massage.
Daily Dog Walks That Do You Both Good
A long walk tomorrow is an easy promise to make and an easy one to break. The daily walk is still the habit that matters most for your dog. You benefit as well: in one study of adults over 65, dog owners walked about 22 minutes a day more than people without a dog. A harness that doesn't rub makes the whole thing nicer, and this guide to choosing a dog harness walks through the fit.
How Long Should a Dog Walk Be?
For most healthy adult dogs, 30 minutes a day is a fair starting point, in one stretch or two. A young Border Collie will want a lot more. Puppies, seniors and flat-faced breeds like Pugs usually do better with shorter, slower outings, especially in the heat. If your dog is panting hard or dropping behind you, turn for home.
Two brisk ten-minute loops still count on busy days. If your dog has started digging in their heels at the front gate, these calm fixes for a dog that won't walk on leash help you work out why.
How to Make a New Dog Routine Stick
Start Small and Attach It to Your Day
- Begin with a few minutes. You can always add more later.
- Tie each habit to something already fixed, such as the walk before breakfast or the massage once the TV goes off.
- Expect it to feel like effort for a month or two.
Adding the Next Habit for a Happy Dog
When these three have become second nature, a sniffing game from these boredom busters for dogs is an easy fourth for rainy days. Teeth are worth adding too, a few seconds with a finger brush straight after the coat brush.
Start with whichever one you'll actually do tonight.
Source: Dall et al., BMC Public Health, dog ownership and physical activity in older adults
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