The well-balanced dog
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Luna's Good Dog Treats is more than just delicious single-ingredient treats for cats and dogs. The mission of the company is to strengthen the bond between humans and dog friends. To enable that, this blog will focus on the well-being of 1) dog and human friends individually, and then 2) their relationship together.
I believe that dog friends are not just pets; instead, they are loyal companions and beloved family members. It is our responsibility through our stewardships of our dog friends/family members to ensure that they are happy, healthy, and well-balanced. Additionally, we also need to take care of ourselves as well. It is true that our emotions travel down the leash to our dog friends.
What is a well-balanced dog?
A well-balanced dog is one that is physically (including nutrition and diet), mentally, and emotionally healthy.
These blog articles will cover content categories of physical, mental, and emotional for 1) dog and human friends individually as well as 2) their relationship together. I will share my experiences with Luna to offer perspective on what worked for Luna and myself.
SIDEBAR: There is a lot of advice out there. I will share my perspective and experience. What works for one person may not work for another. I suggest that you read my experiences and try them out for yourself. If it works - great! If it doesn't, at least you know another perspective. Let's learn together!
Physical Health
Physical health is the foundation of a well-balanced dog friend. Dog friends need regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight, build muscle mass, and prevent health issues such as obesity, heart disease, and joint problems. Exercise also helps to stimulate the mind and reduce stress and anxiety. Human friends also need physical exercise. It may be difficult for us to get through in our business lives, but exercising together in the form of a walk, hike, and play are a great way for dog and humans friends to bond.
Diet and Nutrition
In addition to exercise, a well-balanced diet is crucial for a dog friend's physical health. A balanced diet should include high-quality protein, healthy fats, and essential vitamins and minerals. It is important to choose a food that is appropriate for your dog's age, breed, activity level, and food sensitivities. Consult with your veterinarian to determine the best diet for your dog.
Regular veterinary check-ups are also important for maintaining your dog friend's physical health. Annual check-ups can help to catch health issues early on and prevent them from becoming more serious.
Mental Stimulation
Mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise for a well-balanced dog friend. Dog are intelligent animals that need mental stimulation to prevent boredom, anxiety, and destructive behavior. Mental stimulation can come in the form of training, interactive toys, puzzles, and games.
Training is an essential part of mental stimulation for dogs. Training provides mental exercise and helps to build and strengthen the bond between dog and human friends. Training also teaches dogs obedience, which is crucial for their safety as well as our safety.
Interactive toys, puzzles, and games can also provide mental stimulation for dogs. These toys challenge dogs mentally and help to prevent boredom and destructive behavior. Puzzle toys and games can also provide a sense of accomplishment for dogs when they successfully complete a task.
Emotional Well-being
Emotional well-being is often overlooked when it comes to a well-balanced dog, but it is just as important as physical and mental health. Dog friends are social animals that need love, attention, and affection from their humans. However, it is critical that we understand our dog friend's personality, sensitivities, and quirks to ensure that we tailor our approach.
SIDEBAR: What works for one dog friend may not work for another. AND. THAT. IS. OK. That means we need to just adjust our approach and find the right one. YOU. WILL. FIND. IT. DON'T. DESPAIR.
Positive reinforcement training, playtime, and affectionate interactions can all contribute to a dog friend's emotional well-being.
Positive reinforcement training involves rewarding good behavior with treats or praise. This type of training encourages dogs to repeat good behavior and helps to build a positive relationship between the dog and human.
Playtime is also important for a dog's emotional well-being. Dogs need time to play and bond with their humans. Playtime can include fetch, tug-of-war, and other games that dogs enjoy.
Affectionate interactions such as petting, cuddling, and talking to your dog can also contribute to their emotional well-being. Dogs thrive on attention and love, and these interactions can help to strengthen the bond between the dog and human friends.
By focusing on these key components, we can ensure that our dogs are happy, healthy, and well-balanced. These are the foundations of a holistic approach in caring for our dog friends, ourselves, and strengthening our bond together.
What is a well-balanced human?
For human friends, we need to extrapolate and apply these to how we take care of ourselves as well. From my perspective, changes for the well-balanced human friends can be seen in the sequence of 1) mental, 2) emotional, and 3) physical. This begins with:
- mental: how we think about the situation i.e.awareness of our mindset/thoughts
- emotional: how we respond
- physical: how we respond/act to the situation
Will it happen all at once or overnight? Most likely not. We must not be hard on ourselves and we must be kind to ourselves during this process.
What is a well-balanced dog? TLDR:
- A well-balanced dog is one that is physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy.
- Physical health: Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and veterinary check-ups are important.
- Mental health: Training, interactive toys, and games are important for mental stimulation.
- Emotional well-being: Positive reinforcement training, playtime, and affectionate interactions are important for emotional well-being.