Petcare Made Simple

Travel Smart: How to Keep your Dog or Puppy Safe and Happy

In order for you to keep your dog or puppy happy it is essential to give her plenty of TLC and lots of exercise. Vary the types of exercises you do so that it is fun for both of you and boredom doesn’t have the opportunity to set in. Remember that regular exercise also helps keep your dog at a weight that is reasonable and healthy. Take her for walks in your neighborhood and let her explore her surroundings. Dogs are very curious and interested in lots of things so encourage this behavior wholeheartedly and you will make her happy. Take her to dog parks and let her sniff and play with other dogs. Dogs are like people in this way- they like to communicate and socialize. Be supportive in allowing him or her to do this. Train your puppy or dog properly and always, always give her a treat as a reward. Dogs yearn for approval and when their behavior pleases their owners, they are pleased as well.

Being a responsible owner goes a long way in keeping a dog happy. Always provide plenty of fresh drinking water for your dog and make sure you buy the most nutritious dog food that you can afford. Happiness equals glowing health so take your dog to the vet as required for regular checkups and shots. As well spaying or neutering makes for a happier animal. When your dog has worms or requires antibiotics always make sure you give it to them as directed. Keep your dog’s coat clean with regular baths and well brushed.

Being safe is another important aspect of taking care of your puppy and fostering a positive environment that ensures her happiness. One of the most important tips to ensure that your puppy remains safe is to make sure she is wearing an identification tag. In the event that she gets loose you will be thankful that you thought ahead to her safety. This should also guarantee her safe return. Put enough information on your puppy or dog’s ID so that whoever finds her will have plenty of options when it comes to locating you, the dog’s owner. The most important information would include the dog’s name, your address and your telephone number. You might want to include other information as well such as your work number, the telephone number for a vet, contact information for another person in case you are away from home, etc.

Make sure that the ID tag is designed in such a way that it can be read by a stranger from a distance. Some dogs that are lost are both unapproachable and may growl if an unfamiliar person gets near them and/or they are scared because of their predicament. It is advisable to ensure that your dog is wearing a “bright plastic readable tag.” In the event that your dog gets out and is wandering aimlessly in an area not known to him or her a stranger who spots him can simply see the lost dog and upon reading the contact information from a safe distance can then call the owner to come pick up the lost animal. Regular maintenance on dog tags is a must as they can easily be chewed by the dog and/or broken through everyday use. Replace damaged identification tags as often as is necessary. Bear in mind that your dog license is not the same as a proper ID tag on the dog. Not all municipal offices keep proper records and very often dogs go missing not during weekday business hours but after 5- 6 PM in the evenings and on weekends.

There are also permanent identification options for your dog. You can have your puppy or dog’s information implanted under his or her skin by way of a small chip that is approximately the same size as a grain of rice. This special chip can contain all of your contact information and a trained veterinarian must do the procedure. If your dog is found wandering alone he can be scanned thereby leading to the information about how to locate the owner. Some people include a toll free number on the ID chip, which makes it possible to quickly get in touch with a lost dog’s concerned owner. This option is sometimes referred to as the “Home Again” ID tag. Another form of permanent identification is to give the dog a tattoo but this only helps if there is contact information included somewhere on the tattoo!