5 Ways to Improve Your Dog’s Behavior

Fido is a wonderful pet and companion. His unwavering loyalty, complete devotion, and unabashed affection can truly melt our hearts! That doesn’t mean our canine pals are perfect, however. In fact, Man’s Best Friend has a few bad habits. We are here to help! Read on as a Fort Collins, CO vet lists some great ways to improve your furry friend’s behavior.

First and foremost, make sure that your canine buddy knows and obeys at least the five main commands of basic doggy obedience. These commands, which are  Sit ,  Stay ,  Heel ,  Come , and  Lay Down , are extremely important, both for good petiquette and safety reasons.

Don’t let your furry pal get bored while you’re away. Offer Fido lots of fun toys to keep him amused while he’s alone. Puzzle toys, for instance, can keep your canine pal intrigued for hours. Keeping your pet amused and occupied will help keep him from channeling excess energy into destructive habits like chewing or digging.

While every dog has different exercise needs, all of our canine pals need some sort of activity. If your pet is a bouncing, furry ball of energy, he could be quite a handful! Exercise will tire Fido out, so you’ll have a calmer, less zoomy pooch on your hands. If you don’t have the energy to go for long walks, keep your pooch moving with games of fetch, which will have your four-legged friend running around while you stay stationary. A laser pointer is another great option.

You may not think that veterinary care would do much for your pup’s behavior, but it actually does. Fido is much more likely to be grumpy if he doesn’t feel well. Make sure to bring your dog to the vet at least once a year for vaccinations, exams, and dental checkups. Keep up on that parasite control as well!

Man’s Best Friend needs to feel loved to be truly happy. Spend plenty of quality time with your four-legged buddy. To keep that furry tail wagging, dole out plenty of belly rubs and ear scritches. It’s also fine to give Fido treats, as long as you don’t go overboard with fatty snacks.

Please contact us, your local Fort Collins, CO animal clinic, with any questions or concerns about your pet’s health or care. That’s what we are here for!