If you’re looking to make your dog’s day that bit better, here are some top tips to show your furry friend some appreciation…

Dogs are incredibly easy to please, as they get a great deal of fulfilment simply being around those that they love. Your pooches are appreciative of all the care and love they receive, and it’s been proven time and again that dogs really do cherish their owners completely. However, surprises go a long way with them too, taking their love for you to new heights, if such a thing is possible!

Of course, the expected shakeups in their day come in the form of treats, or visits to a favourite friend or family member of yours. While these exciting times are certainly not to be neglected, there’s a few other activities too that are seldom thought of but can really improve your dog’s day in a big way!

Below you’ll find 3 ways to make your dog’s day, so give them a read if you need some inspiration!

New Food

We all know that dogs go absolutely head over paws for food, but even they can get sick of their favourite meals and treats here and there.

Like their owners, dogs have appetites, and they enjoy encountering new tastes and flavours that were previously unknown to them. Treats can be fancy, but they are quickly chomped down, whereas a meal has longevity and variety. Therefore, it can be a good idea to slowly ease them into a new diet, turning their world upside down over an exciting, prolonged period.

Try the grain-free dog food from Bella and Duke. This will improve both their physical and mental wellbeing, and it’s far easier to digest with far fewer carbs also. It’s an energising meal that just so happens to be scrumptious too, so it’ll really give your dog a good kick as far as their motivation and activity goes. It’s not just delicious – it affords them a better quality of life too!

If you can, think about it from their perspective too. Would you really want to eat the same four or five meals, for years on end, with only the odd treat to break up the flavours somewhat? Dogs stomachs can be sensitive, so while doing changing their diet should be done carefully, it’s still a great opportunity to give them a new lease on their life.

Take Him/Her Swimming

While many dogs appear to be nervous or agitated near water, they can’t knock it until they’ve tried it!

Some people have creatively arranged to have ‘doggy swimming pools’ built in their back gardens, but they can be commercially available to. In 2018, people were travelling to Suffolk from as far away as Hertfordshire just so their pooch could have a paddle. It’s glorious to behold as the owner, because they bob around cheerfully, and just like the walk it’s one of those activities where it is abundantly clear they’re living their best life every second.

Obviously, it’s also good exercise, and dogs thrive on activity. They can be social occasions also, as many people can use these pools for their own canines at the same time. For them, it’s a full-blown pool party, and new friends for dog and owner alike can be made in these kinds of settings. Who knows, this may be the start of an hilarious hobby for them?

Walks are fun, but after years and years of the same routes and scents, it can be a good idea to mix things up for your dog and give them something new to interact with. They do love fresh experiences, even if they appear to be shy at first, so ease them into activities such as these and a good time for all is guaranteed.

Spend Time With Their Friends/ Family

It’s quite likely that your best buddy had a family before they came into your ownership, and an unexpected reunion could send them absolutely stir crazy.

Just like people love a good reunion, so too do dogs. They recognise their littermates too, as proven by the two pooches who coincidentally bumped into each other at a park with their owners and proceeded to hug. They play, cuddle, and roll around together, ecstatic that they have their sibling back in their lives for a truly magical moment. It’s their acute sense of smell that enables them to recognise loved ones after a long period of time, and if they spent the 12-16 weeks of their puppy phase with the litter, they’ll be familiar with their scent well enough!

Why not contact the breeder or adoption agency where you acquired your dog, and enquire for the contact information of the other owners of the littermates? So long as you’re polite and cordial, you shouldn’t be overstepping any boundaries. If everyone is relatively local, suggest a meet up where all the dogs can be reunited on a blissful afternoon in neutral territory.

Remember, your good boy or girl had a whole life before you took him or her home. It might seem preposterous to suggest that your dog would love a trip down memory lane, but the fact is they do form bonds with anyone and anything they’re around enough, from chew toys to fellow canines.