What does your dog need?

What does your dog need?

Is he getting enough?
Enough what??

Enough of everything he needs ….

Enough sleep ….. Its crazy how many dogs don’t get enough sleep. Sounds crazy! Surely if a dog is tired then he will sleep? Surely he will just take a nap whenever he wants?? Surely if he is awake all day its not really a problem because he’ll just sleep better at night anyway??
NO! Not so.
Lets use Doggy Day Care as an example. If your dog attends Doggy Day Care and all your dog does for the whole, entire day is run around / chase / play / bounce around in their kennel etc well then this is not good. Dogs NEED to nap. They NEED to rest during the day. Its not healthy to be on the go all day long. Imagine if that were YOUR day and not once could you stop for a break or sit down – how stressed would you feel? I know you might say but the dog “can” stop for a rest if he wants whilst at Doggy Day Care – he can lay down whenever he likes ….. But supposing your dog finds the environment far too over stimulating to be physically able to settle? Supposing the other dogs don’t allow your dog to rest? Supposing your dog is just having soooo much fun running around that he can’t stop himself from playing – that can’t be a bad thing, can it?? Whats wrong with my dog playing with his friends at Doggy Day Care – that’s what I pay them for!

The problem is: ENOUGH …. Is your dog getting enough ….

Enough of what they need each day to live their best life possible.
Enough opportunity to rest & nap.
Enough opportunity to play & interact with other dogs.
Enough opportunity to mix with humans.
Enough opportunity to eat & drink.
Enough opportunity to toilet when needed.
Enough opportunity to feel safe & loved.
Enough opportunity to practice being alone.
Enough opportunity to walk & sniff new places.
Enough enrichment. Think about that ….

Enough opportunity to practice their hobbies. What was your breed of dog originally bred for? Do you own a Labrador Retriever but NEVER allow your dog ENOUGH opportunity to retrieve things? Its in his genetics. Its in his blood. Its in his make-up to retrieve. Does he get enough opportunity to do his thing because imagine the kinds of issues that you may be creating through pure frustration from not being given ENOUGH opportunity to do what is inside your blood & screaming to get out from your soul …

It doesn’t have to be Doggy Day Care.
1) Maybe your dog is left alone all day (& settles) ….
2) Maybe your dog is left alone all day (& doesn’t settle / separation anxiety) …
3) Maybe they go to a friend / family / neighbour for the day ….
4) Maybe you’re at home with your dog all day …..
5) Maybe you have a Dog Walker pop in ….

Whatever the routine is for your dog and no matter how certain you are that they are OK can you honestly say that your dog gets ENOUGH of everything they need each day?
Lets use Number One from above – “Your dog is left alone & settles” …. Great, what’s the problem then? What about the rest of the things on that ENOUGH list though? Enough playing with other dogs? Enough Interacting with humans? Enough Sniffing? It would be easy to walk in from work and think that this dog is fine but has he really had ENOUGH of a good balance of everything a dog needs?

Think about it.

Think about it some more.

And then consider what the fall out may be when your dog is not getting enough of what he needs.
What behavioural problems might you be facing with your dog?
What does your dog do that you would like to change / help him with?
How many behavioural problems are caused / not helped by a build up of frustration.
What is causing that frustration?

ENOUGH! Not getting enough of everything you need causes frustration.

Frustration leads to all sorts of other problems.

NOTE: HAIRY POPPINS Doggy Day Care actively promotes & encourages all of our dogs to take a nap. Our staff are paid to sit down with the dogs on the sofas and encourage break time / naps / rest and we DO NOT encourage playtime for hours on end 

SECOND NOTE: The above is assuming a “normal” dog. Obviously there are variables depending on your dogs age / medical issues / individual temperament but as a general rule, aim to provide ENOUGH of what YOUR dog needs