How to give your dog the best life is crucial for their health and aging. ASU School of Life Sciences professor Noah Snyder-Mackler posed the question, underscoring that dogs’ short lifespans and the intensive care they receive from their owners make them perfect models for studying the effects of social and physical environments on health and survival.
Now, a massive survey and data collection effort involving more than 21,000 dog owners has shed light on the critical social determinants that affect the health and aging of our beloved dogs. Understanding how to give your dog the best life involves knowing these factors.
Top 5 Methods on How to Give Your Dog the Best Life
Dogs need other dogs.
The results indicate that a dog’s social support network significantly impacts their health outcomes. Social support appears to be five times more influential than financial factors, family stability, or the owner’s age.
Under the guidance of Professor Snyder-Mackler, PhD student Bree McCoy, and MSc student Layla Brassington, the team began extensive analysis of the collected data, representing a staggering 21,410 dogs. To truly know how to give your dog the best life, one must consider these social factors.
Researchers aim to identify social factors critical to a healthy lifestyle, a significant advance in the Dog Aging Project’s community science efforts.
Dog Aging Project
For those unfamiliar, the Dog Aging Project is a collaborative effort led by the University of Washington and the Texas A&M School of Medicine.
The initiative includes more than a dozen institutions nationwide, including ASU. The goal is understanding how genes, lifestyle, and environment influence aging and disease outcomes. More than 45,000 dogs nationwide have been enrolled in the program.
Daniel Promislow, the subdirector and principal investigator, proudly suggested the study’s highest reach. He noted that data collected through the Dog Aging Project will allow follow-up studies to explore how and why environmental factors affect dog health.
The ASU team used an extensive survey asking dog owners questions about themselves and their pets. Research includes physical activity, environment, dog behavior, diet, medication and preventatives, health conditions, and owner demographics.
Five Key Systems That Affect Dog Health
From these responses, the team identified five key factors—neighborhood stability, gross household income, social time with children, animals, and owner age—that shape a dog’s social environment and are associated with dog well-being.
The analysis found that dogs’ environment significantly affects their health, diagnosis, and physical mobility, even after considering their age and weight. Specifically, financial and family adversity is associated with poorer health and reduced physical mobility.
Conversely, more social companionship, such as living with other dogs, was associated with better health. The result of social help was five times stronger than that of financial sectors.
Top 5 methods to assure Your Dog The Best Life
- Your Dog’s t Matters. Whether you have a chow-hound or a finicky furry friends
- Diet is one of the most critical aspects of your dog’s health care.
- Exercise is Essential
- Mind Your Dog’s Mental Health
- Stop By Our Office
- Don’t Forget Your Doggy’s Dental Care.
Provide appropriate playtime and exercise.
Exercise and playtime are good for your dog’s physical health and help strengthen its mental health. Swimming, playing sports, or walking briskly are daily exercises that will help your furry friend burn off some extra energy.
Toys and games that are mentally stimulating are great ways to exercise your dog’s mind. How to give your dog the best life includes mental stimulation to keep them engaged and happy.
Without play or exercise, dogs lead pretty dull lives. A bored dog has to find a way to amuse himself, often through destruction and chaos.
Train your dog regularly.
Some pet owners may think they are done training their dogs once they learn basic commands. Constantly training your dog gives you a fun way to challenge and entertain your dog’s mind.
Our dogs look forward to learning new behaviors, primarily when we use positive reinforcement to teach them.
Training will help your dog understand what is expected of him, reduce their confusion and frustration, and make them more confident.
A training session will give you quality one-on-one time that pets and parents can enjoy.
Give your dog something to choose from throughout the day.
Humans need freedom in our lives, and so do dogs. As an owner, you probably decide when your pet eats, sleeps, goes to the bathroom, etc., so telling your dog a little about their daily routine is an easy way to bring them joy.
Your dog will enjoy small decisions, including letting them pick out a toy or deciding which direction to go on a walk.
Allowing dogs that aren’t used to it regularly off-leash is exciting but should only be done when it’s legal and safe.
Provide plenty of chew toys.
Dogs prefer to chew and sometimes deny their toys. It is one of their ways to have a good time while also expressing their instincts.
Look for durable toys that don’t need to be thrown away after a few uses. Also, try providing a variety of chew toys so your pet has options.
Toys that can hold a treat inside are exciting for dogs, and edible toys like teething bones are fun for your dog and great for their oral health.
Consider learning dog massage techniques.
It’s no secret that most dogs love to be hugged and petted. Try to learn to pet or scratch your puppy’s favorite spots and stick to those spots, especially when you want to reward them.
You can learn some massage techniques, and your dog will love them. Massage helps your dog relax and reduces tired muscles and anxiety.
