Round one in 4 UK households has a canine, so it’s no surprise that house owners are frequently on the hunt for methods to maintain them completely happy, wholesome and protected. Listed here are 10 strategies, from scent video games to coaching ideas
Britain is claimed to be a nation of canine lovers, and the figures again it up: greater than 1 / 4 of the general public has a canine companion. Canines are an essential a part of many households, valued for the corporate, pleasure and sense of wellbeing they create. Listed here are 10 straightforward strategies to assist your canine flourish, each at dwelling and whereas out and about.
Not all inexperienced areas are created equal. Attempt to discover parks which are canine-compatible. Picture: Wagg
1. Go to a dog-friendly park
If there’s one common attribute of canine, it’s that they love being outdoors – however not all parks are created equal. Take your canine to a well-designed inexperienced area, like the fenced-in canine park in Cramlington, Northumberland. Parks like these give canines numerous room for train and socialising, and so they can go off-lead with out encroaching on areas the place youngsters play.
For these in search of a novel and enjoyable technique to get pleasure from a dog-friendly park, pet food model Wagg has created pet-sized ‘pupnic’ benches, the place canine can get pleasure from free treats at a spread of UK places this summer time. “Picnics aren’t only for people,” says Sarah Lyle, model supervisor at Wagg. “Our pupnic benches will give canine the possibility to get pleasure from a spread of scrumptious Wagg treats within the nice British countryside. This contains our new canine chews with flavours equivalent to peanut butter or fish fingers, plus some Wagg picnic-inspired staples – carrot cake anybody?”
2. Go on ‘sniff-ari’ walks
Whereas walks are an integral a part of any canine house owners’ every day routine, it’s straightforward to neglect that “walkies” give a lot extra to our furry associates than simply bodily train. Canines have tremendous delicate noses with as much as 300m scent receptors (in comparison with people’ measly 6m), which makes sniffing a psychological exercise that may tire them out and enhance their dopamine, too.
Fairly than dashing to get across the block, let your canine lead with their nostril and cease to smell issues. For much more odor stimulation, the Canine’s Belief recommends gathering up protected, interesting-scented gadgets equivalent to lavender, seaweed or previous footwear, and spreading them out round your backyard or dwelling, permitting your canine to go between the gadgets, nostril first.
Good social experiences can help canine welfare, so attempt to make them really feel comfortable round different pets and folks. Picture: Jeyakumaran Mayooresan
3. Attempt easy scent video games
Scent work has a myriad of constructive results in your canine, from serving to them turn out to be extra assured and fewer anxious, to enhancing their pure potential to smell issues out. It could additionally strengthen the human-dog bond.
Introducing scent-work video games based mostly round treats or toys may be an enriching exercise. This may very well be scattering their dinner throughout the backyard, encouraging them to hunt out biscuits with their nostril, or hiding considered one of their favorite toys someplace within the room and getting them to seek out it. Don’t neglect to provide them numerous reward and petting once they find what they’re in search of.
4. Construct in chew time
All of us complain when our pups rip up furnishings or favorite footwear, however chewing is a pure behaviour that helps calm canine by easing exercise of their stress response system. Making an attempt to cease it could be merciless – to not point out nearly unattainable – so it’s essential to issue chewing time into their routine.
Chewing can profit their well being too. Identical to people, canine can have issues with their tooth. By giving them dental toys or chews, you may assist clear their tooth and gums, whereas stopping dental illness.
5. Use puzzle feeders and foraging
Most canine are meals obsessed – certainly, the will for treats is usually a highly effective motivator. A rubber puzzle feeder is a implausible instrument that provides your canine alternatives to work on their pure problem-solving talents whereas consuming. Alternatively, you may create a “dig field” from cardboard and newspaper, that your canine can hunt round for his or her meals in.
Constructive reinforcement needs to be on the coronary heart of coaching. As an alternative of confrontational strategies, give your canine one thing they actually like – equivalent to a deal with, toy or reward. Picture: Milli
6. Brief, constructive coaching bursts
Coaching your canine is extremely essential, and constructive reinforcement needs to be at its coronary heart. The British Veterinary Affiliation warns towards aversive or confrontational coaching strategies. As an alternative, giving your canine one thing they actually like – equivalent to a deal with, toy or reward – is much simpler.
Break it up into quick however common periods so your canine doesn’t get overwhelmed, as really useful by the RSPCA. The less distractions, the higher.
7. Socialise, with out swamping
Good social experiences can help canine welfare, so attempt to make them really feel comfortable round different pets and folks. Bear in mind to permit your canine to guide: let interactions occur naturally, as some canine might really feel uneasy if pushed to satisfy others too shortly.
Whilst you clearly love your furry pal, keep in mind that not everybody feels warmly in direction of them. In accordance with a 2024 YouGov survey, one in six Britons are uncomfortable round canine, so be sure to maintain your distance except referred to as over, particularly with regards to youngsters.
8. High quality downtime and undistracted presence
A bunch of things can impression your canine’s behaviour, from age and breed to persona and previous experiences. The way you deal with them additionally performs an enormous position, with predictable routines and area to sit back being among the easiest methods to calmly co-exist.
If they’ve a favorite spot round the home – beneath a desk or just a room they like probably the most – the Canines Belief recommends including blankets or a comfortable mattress to show it into an area the place they really feel cosy and protected, away from the hustle and bustle of the house.
The Royal Veterinary School says your canine ought to at all times have entry to a cool, shaded space (each in and out) and plenty of water, as warmth stroke can impression your pet anyplace. Picture: Joe Caione
9. Warmth-smart habits
Canines can actually endure in scorching vehicles, however warmth stroke can impression your pet in anywhere. Early indicators of overheating embrace panting closely, restlessness, drooling, elevated coronary heart fee, and even vomiting or diarrhoea.
The Royal Veterinary School says your canine ought to at all times have entry to a cool, shaded space (each in and out) and plenty of water. The PDSA, a veterinary charity, recommends the five-second take a look at for walks. Earlier than setting off, place the again of your hand on the pavement – if it’s too scorching on your pores and skin to remain there comfortably for 5 seconds, it’s too scorching on your canine’s paws.
10. Nature day journeys and new locations
Getting in contact with nature is as essential for canine as it’s for individuals – novel, sensory-rich environments can present on the spot enrichment. A straightforward technique to obtain that is by taking them on a micro-adventure by bus or practice to close by woods, seashores or moorlands.
Be sure you’re following native legal guidelines and be thoughtful when in rural areas. The Countryside Code lays out tips for guests – with regards to your canine, it’s notably essential to notice lead guidelines when round ground-nesting birds and livestock.
This text has been produced by Constructive Information and paid for by Wagg. To rejoice the launch of its new Chews vary, Wagg is unveiling six particular ‘pupnic’ benches in dog-friendly parks all through the UK, throughout a number of weekends:
● Heaton Park, Manchester – 25 August 2025
● Birkenhead Park, Liverpool – 30 August 2025
● Llys y Fran Lake, Pembrokeshire – 31 August 2025
● Rufford Abbey, Nottinghamshire – 6 September 2025
● Clissold Park, London – 7 September 2025
Discover out extra at: waggfoods.com
Predominant picture: PK-Images
