One of the greatest and simplest joys in life is to take care of a puppy. They are the definition of unconditional love. Going home after an exhausting day at work or school and having your dog running excitedly to greet you can make you feel better in seconds.
However, we must always remember that we should also provide the same unconditional love to them. If they can make us feel at home, we should also make our homes comfortable for them, and this article will help with that.
The Upside of Having a Dog at Home
Taking care of a puppy is not always about responsibilities and challenges. On the positive side, you will also enjoy some of the best benefits you wouldn’t get elsewhere. With that in mind, below are some advantages of having a dog at home.
Combat Loneliness
One of the best benefits of having a dog at home is preventing mental and emotional instability. Knowing that your dog is always there to be with you and console you when you don’t feel right generally reduces the loneliness we might be experiencing. Furthermore, their innocence and bubbly nature will make you feel happier.
Prevents Allergies
Another important benefit of having a dog at home is how it prevents allergies. This is important if you have little kids or babies at home. Various studies show that exposure to allergens from these pets will help boost children’s immune system, lessening the risk of developing asthma, eczema, or other allergies.
Heart Health
You’ve heard people claiming that their heart is full because they have their dogs. A healthier heart, figuratively and literally, is actually a benefit of taking care of a dog as well. That’s because dogs can lower your blood pressure and improve circulation, making your cardiovascular system healthier.
Stay Active
If you want to lose weight or live a fit lifestyle, perhaps having or adopting a dog will help you achieve that. We need to exercise for about 2 hours every day, and dogs love running and seeing the outside world. If you don’t have the motivation to exercise, dogs will provide that because they will persuade you to take a walk or play with them.
What Does Your Puppy Need?
You could still get many benefits from having a dog at home, but this article is also about taking care of them. That’s why it’s time that we move on to discuss how you can provide your dog with a healthy life. Here are some things they need.
Vet
The first thing you need to ensure is to have them checked by a veterinarian. This will let you know if your dog needs some specific things and how you can provide those. Additionally, having a vet is also important in emergencies where you need to take your dog to a medical professional.
Exercise
Make an effort to give your dog plenty of exercise. If your dog’s joints, muscles, and bones are not used, they might develop arthritis or other musculoskeletal diseases. In addition to this, exercising would also help them release their energy more productively. Even just running around in your yard would give them adequate exercise already. There are online websites selling fence gates, and these would help keep your dog inside your premises.
Food
Another thing you need is to choose the food they eat. There are different types of dog foods out there, and you have to be careful in choosing one. Besides understanding what your dog wants, you also need to make sure that the food you choose provides the nutrients they need to grow healthily.
Equipment
You need to prepare your home for your dog. All of them deserve a home, which means you should have all the necessary equipment you need to aid their development. If you have no idea what those tools are, we’ll let you know in the next chapter.
Treats and Training
Make sure that you train your dog. Otherwise, he/she might develop aggressive behavior because they feel like they’re the alpha or superior. Taking your dog to training centers might help. However, if you don’t have the funds for that, you should teach them appropriate commands and have treats ready to help condition them.
Having a dog at home will provide you with lots of benefits and would generally improve the quality of your life and your home. However, we must keep in mind that it’s also a responsibility. Knowing how to take care of them properly is an important part of this relationship.
