Working from Home – Keeping Your Dog Happy, Healthy & Entertained
As we all continue to face the idea of a continued isolation, dog owners across country ask themselves how they can keep their dog entertained? Sure they will be happy their favourite human is spending more time at home, but with the limitations of time spent outside, we look into what can be done inside to keep that pup happy!
Setting up an Obstacle Course
Setting up an obstacle course for your furry friend is a great way to challenge them mentally and physically. You can use so many things you have around the house to build one: cushions, blankets, chairs, that old Hula-Hoop your Aunt Karen got you that you never used... Create a tunnel into which they can run and other small obstacles over which they can jump or scootch. The possibilities are endless, let your imagination run wild! Reward your dog with a treat to encourage him.
Tug of War | Playing Fetch
These games are usually played outside, but why not bring them inside. If you have enough space in your house, these can be a great way to help your dog stay active. If your space is more restricted, a hallway can do the job. Get into the game by throwing their favorite toy or ball and race with them to get it instead of just watching him chase for it; a great exercise for yourself as well! Ideally, try to pick out a soft toy or soft ball. This way, both of you will have lots of fun without breaking any valuable items.
Tug-of-war is a really fun game to play. No equipment is needed except for a rope or an old piece of cloth. It can be very good to help your dog learn self-control. Make sure your dog is comfortable playing Tug-of-War and not the type to get possessive over their toys.
Strategy Games
We’ve covered some of the physical aspects, but what about the mental aspect? Dogs crave playtime, and what better way to do so then strategy games designed with dogs in mind?
We supply a vast range of different strategy games, all designed with different difficulties! So they can start of with the beginner sets and work their way up to the harder difficulties; you’ll be able to see their progress as they take on more difficult tasks! You can find the full range here, they even come with free starter treats: https://www.brownspetrange.com/collections/strategy-board-games
Spoil them with Toys!
A new toy never fails to impress! Why not try them out with some of the selection we supply? Take a look: https://www.brownspetrange.com/collections/odd-ball-natural-plush-toys
Spoil them with Treats
As the saying goes, the quickest way to a dogs heart is through their stomach! I think that’s how it goes anyway? With limited exercise it may be difficult to decide what treat would be best. It’s a good job we supply a vast range of Natural Treats. All low in fat with no added ingredients. We have a huge variety available here: https://www.brownspetrange.com/collections/buy-one-get-one-free-treats
On the Subject of Food
It’s incredibly important to make sure you know what you’re feeding your dog at this time. If every meal you ate was pizza… well you’d probably have a great time. However chances are you’d most likely have trouble keeping the pounds off. For dogs, it’s the same situation. If you feed them cheap but appetising brand foods, your dog will gulp it down but it won’t do any good for their waistline, not to mention their health. It is very easy to be fooled by pretty packaging on dog food claiming to be the best around, with misleading information, an enticing price & gobbled up by your dog when fed, you may think you’ve struck gold in picking that food. This however is often unfortunately not the case in most cases. A vast majority of big dog brands will use unhealthy ingredients which may entice your dog more when feeding. Here’s what we supply and their benefits:
Dry Kibble – The most common means of feeding your dog & for good reason too. I think as a human if you could find a tasty & nutritious kibble, some of you might be tempted to! Complete dry foods are designed to meet all the nutritional requirements needed to keep your dog healthy on a day to day basis. There are however some warning signs to look out for when picking a dry food. It is very easy to be fooled by pretty packaging on dog food claiming to be the best around, with misleading information, an enticing price & gobbled up by your dog when fed, you may think you’ve struck gold in picking that food. This however is often unfortunately not the case in most cases. A vast majority of big dog brands will use unhealthy ingredients which may entice your dog more when feeding. They can also use cheap protein sources (gluten) so they can stick a ‘High in Protein’ sticker on their label. Here are some of the things to avoid when picking a dry dog food:
- Gluten – Usually found in cheaper dog foods as it provides a cheaper source of protein. Not all dogs have issues with gluten, however if they do you’ll find your dog may have itchy skin, loose stools, poor coat condition & weight loss. It is best to avoid foods containing gluten to ensure the diet is providing proper ingredients when designing the food.
- Colourants – Typically if you find a dog food with multi-coloured kibbles, avoid it. Only added to appeal to dogs senses & adds nothing beneficial to their diet.
- High in Fat/Poor Ingredients – Some kibble diets will be gobbled up by your dog as quick as you can put it down. While some quality dry foods will have the same experience, it can also be sign of a dry food which appeals to a dogs taste, but not their nutrition.
Raw Food – Rising in popularity in the pet food market & for good reason. Raw food can take away the worries of what ingredients you are feeding your dog. Feeding a raw diet at first may seem daunting, but once you get into the routine it is almost just as easy as dry food. Purchased normally in frozen blocks, all you need to do is allow time for the product to defrost & feed as is! No need to cook or any additional work. Here are some things to look for when purchasing a raw diet:
- No Added Ingredients – The main selling point of raw food is that you’re getting exactly what is advertised. If you find any foods with any additional ingredients you weren’t expecting, it would be best to avoid.
- Bone Content – If you’re new to raw feeding, you might see bone content as something to avoid. This could not be further from the truth! Bone content found in raw food is essential to their diet to ensure they get the necessary nutrients needed.
With the above in mind, as long as you’re vigilant with what food you’re feeding, dry or raw food both offer their own positives & negatives. The best route to go in is to decide what type is bested suited to you, research into the diets & trial them with your dog. There’s no guarantee you’ll find the perfect food for your dog on the first attempt; keep an eye on your dog’s condition (their stool, coat, skin & appetite) when trialling your new food. If you picked dry food & have trouble, consider switching to raw; & vice versa!
Conclusion
With everything in mind, the most important thing to remember is keeping safe. If we can help in any way, we can be reached on 01268 690706 or email us at hello@brownspetrange.com.