If you live in the city and are a dog owner, you know that it can be a challenge to keep your pet healthy. With little room to move, questionably clean air, and other potential health hazards, dog owners should take active precautions to make sure their furry little friends stay healthy.
We can’t cover everything that dogs need in one short article, but we can provide some basic tips to keep in mind so that you can keep your dog healthy overall.
Don’t neglect your walks
If you’re a dog owner in the city, chances are you have a feisty little breed. These dogs are clearly the ones with the most energy, and they need their walks on a regular basis. Any amount of time that small dogs stay cooped up makes them nervous, so it is a good idea to create and stick to a schedule that gives them sufficient outdoor time.
Even if you have a larger dog (perhaps one who needs to keep his weight down!), walks are critical. If you live in the city, it is important to teach your dog how to walk with a leash. Some people might think that they just naturally fall into the habit, but this isn’t necessarily true. Particularly the little ones will be itching to get away at first. You can get your pooch used to both a collar and a leash by starting in your own yard, and gradually building up the length and scope of your walks.
Determine your dog’s preferences and tendencies
You should also make a concerted effort to learn your dog’s eating and other habits and respond accordingly. If your dog shies away from certain types of dog food, it may be an indication of more than just preference. Some dogs have underlying health issues that should be kept in mind.
In this vein, it could be beneficial to have your dog undergo dog genetic testing. It is only through getting a complete dog genetic testing that you will truly learn what his particular needs and potential problem areas are. And, of course, it wouldn’t hurt for you to go to the vet once in a while to have him checked out, as well.
Get him used to sudden noises
Remember that dogs’ hearing is distinctly different from ours, and they also don’t have the intellectual capacity to understand where sudden noises might be coming from. Even for people, sudden noises can be rattling. Imagine being an animal with extra-sensitive hearing and no idea where such things come from.
Perhaps surprisingly, experts recommend not consoling dogs that become scared at the sound of loud noises. Scientists have determined that doing this only reinforces dogs’ idea that there is something to fear. Rather, they suggest gradually getting your dog used to these sounds by playing them in the house with gradually increasing volume. This includes sirens, fireworks, and any other noises that the dog might encounter. Playing these noises with a great enough frequency will eventually train the dog to deal with the problem in his own way and calm down naturally. It is a similar principle to housebreaking.
Consider getting a microchip
Putting a microchip in your pet might sound intrusive at first, but it can be a big help. Cities can be big and confusing places, even for humans. If your dog happens to get lost, he might end up near a pet shelter that will be able to scan him for the chip, and this will help send him home.
If you do go the microchip direction, be sure that you get it registered so that the chip will be in a national pet recovery database. If you don’t, getting the chip might not do you much good because people that find your dog won’t be able to look it up. Be sure that all your contact information is correct and in the system, as well.
If you haven’t gotten a dog yet, choose wisely
If you’re still in the early stages of considering buying a dog, you should do some research into the different breeds and the types of environments that each of them functions best in. Perhaps you have a breed in mind that you’ve always wanted, and that’s great. But regardless, it would do you good to investigate optimal conditions for that type and make sure the one you bring home won’t be miserable in his new surroundings.
While many of the above-mentioned principles are universal – such as the need for proper nutrition and exercise – it’s also the case that urban spaces are not a “one size fits all” for dogs (or people, for that matter!). So it may be the case that you might have to adjust your expectations a bit to find a pet that will both make you happy, and be happy in his surroundings.
