Guest Post | 3 Great Ways to Care for Your Family Dog

photo: melgupta

Often known as ‘man’s best friend,’ a new dog can quickly become like an additional member of the family and will warrant the same level of care you would give to a child. Close bonds will often develop between owner and dog as well as your children and the dog, so the last thing you want is for your dog to suffer in any which way.

If you are new to having a dog in the family, read on to find out three great ways to look after him or her to ensure you enjoy many years of happiness and fun with your beloved pet.

photo: Jim's Photos1

Plenty of Exercise

It may sound like a given yet there are many dogs that simply don’t get the exercise they require to enjoy a healthy life. At least one walk a day is essential however two or three will ensure your pet is in tip-top condition.

Owning a dog can also lead to an improvement in your own health as getting out and about in the fresh air and walking on a regular basis can ensure you benefit from regular exercise too. There is nothing quite like a walk through the fields or the local park on a brisk Sunday morning and if you are fortunate enough to have a family, this will be an experience that adults, kids and dogs will certainly all enjoy!

photo: Sarah Cady

Healthy, Balanced Diet

When you visit the local supermarket, there will undoubtedly be shelves stacked full of different kinds of food for your pet. It is important to bear in mind that each and every one is different so take some time to read the labels and the ingredients to ensure you buy food suitable for your dog.

The food you buy will be dependent on the age and breed of your dog. You will find specific food for puppies’ right through to the more senior dogs. These will have ingredients that are designed for the particular age of your dog to make sure they enjoy a healthy, balanced diet throughout their lifetime.

Dog food can also vary from breed to breed so when you go to buy food for the very first time, look through the shelves to see whether there is specific food for your breed of dog. It may be that you end up buying the tins of food you first picked up however it is advisable to purchase food designed for your breed of dog if it is available.

Pet Insurance

Whilst this is not something that actively involves your dog like regular exercise or a healthy, balanced diet does, investing in pet insurance for your dog can ensure you are financially protected against any number of possible eventualities.

Vets fees are renowned for being high however with an insurance policy in place, should your dog require some form of treatment, the insurance you have taken out should ease the financial burden you are faced with. Although illness or injury is something that you never want to happen or even think about, making sure you are prepared for the worst case scenario will help you to cope better should an issue arise.

Dependent on the level of cover you take out, you can benefit from many different features within your pet insurance policy. It many cases, the price of insurance will be based on the age of your pet, its breed and where you live, and with many different levels of cover available, there is something to suit every budget.

By taking these 3 points into consideration, you can make a great start to a healthy, enjoyable life for your pet dog. Remember though, you have a vital role to play in the life of your dog and the way in which he or she behaves so ensure you are a positive influence and play as active a role as possible in their life from the earliest stages.

Written by Oliver Kyle on behalf of Debenhams; providers of pet insurance to suit all available budgets.

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