Mental health is as important as physical health. And this doesn't just go with us humans alone. Even when it comes to our pets, mental health should always be prioritized to avoid behavioral problems such as excessive digging, whining, barking, and chewing, pulling on the leash, and having separation anxiety. Given this reason, it is just crucial to prioritize your pooch's mental health too to keep them healthy inside out.
There are several ways you can do in order to keep your dog's mental health perfectly fine. One of the easiest and cheapest things to do is by providing them "brain exercises." Here are some of the exercises you can try with your beloved pooch.
TRAIN YOUR DOG
Training your dog doesn't mean you have to start with complicated things. If your pooch is still unaware of the basic commands, you can begin teaching him simple instructions such as sit, lay, drop, and stay. By training your dog, you are not just helping him learn new things, but you are also pushing his brain to engage in the things you say and help your pooch think and do decisions for himself. Besides, your pooch will definitely love to discover new things especially if you are with him while learning.
LET YOUR DOG SNIFF
Your dog's sense of smell is much stronger than yours, as explained by PBS. With over 300 million olfactory receptors as compared to just six million in humans, there is no doubt why your pooches' sense of smell is indeed so powerful. So as you walk your dog, let them sniff everything they are curious with to keep their mind active. Just make sure it is something safe and won't pose danger to your pooch.
WALK YOUR DOG DAILY
Besides getting enough exercise, walking your dog daily can help them keep their mind active. Strolling around through parks and other locations can already expose your pooch to a lot of people and different places. This experience can challenge your pooch's mental capacity and reinforce socialization. Aside from parks, you can also bring your beloved pet to the beach if you want or you can look for some pet-friendly places like restaurants or malls where you and your pooch can enjoy each other's company.
Dogs are indeed man's best friend. And as their fur parent or their owners, it is our responsibility to keep them healthy no matter what. Though there are a lot of things to remember when managing their health, working on their mental health by following these tips can already be of great help.
