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9 Simple Ways to Keep Your Dog Happy

9 Simple Ways to Keep Your Dog Happy

How are you feeling? If there’s one thing we can all relate to, it’s being fed up with coronavirus lockdowns. Over the past year, we’ve had to look for new ways to keep busy, active, and feel okay. One of these ways, is by getting dogs. Yes, the coronavirus lockdown has seen a big increase in dog ownership.

Why? Because dogs help tackle loneliness, encourage exercise, and generally make us happier. Something welcome, under current circumstances. However, it brings to mind the slogan “a dog is for life, not just for Christmas”.  This is true, dogs are not novelties to stave off the tedium of lockdown, or creatures that will adapt and demand less once we’re back at our workplaces. They are living beings, deserving of a good life.

Thinking of this, we’ve put together some ideas to help any dedicated dog owner make their pup’s tail wag. Because, like us, they need some TLC and variety too. It’s not hard too keep your dog happy!

dog playing fetch with frisbee

Play fetch

The classic dog activity. Seems strange to include, but they love it, and we need to remember that. Instinctually, a prey animal gives dogs a reason to run fast. But, living domesticated lives, they don’t get the chance to do this very often. So, we must simulate the chase for them. We might find the repetitive action mind numbing sometimes, but they find it gratifying and it keeps them fit and healthy.

Hide & seek with your dog

Hide & seek

If your dog is accustomed to “stay”, this is a good bit of fun. Get them to plonk themselves and then find a suitable hiding spot in the house. Then call them, and let the hunt commence. Dogs enjoy solving problems using all their senses, and having you disappear and seeking you out, will make them equally excited each time. Getting to see their pure, in the moment joy, is extremely rewarding.

Dog having a bath

Doggie spa day

When we’re stressed out and bunched up with tension, nothing beats a spa day. So why wouldn’t a dog want one? They get tense too. It might seem silly, but a doggie spa day will make your dog feel great. Granted we’re talking a wash and a massage, but still, it’s a spa day if you decide it is. It’ll always be hilarious to watch a freshly washed dog have a funny five minutes, racing around in a frenzy.

Flatter your happy dog with compliments

Flatter them

Though dogs cannot speak, it doesn’t mean our words are meaningless to them. Quite the opposite. Dogs know when they are being praised and complimented, responding instinctually to positive emotion. This primal ability to process emotional cues is what has made them such wonderful friends for the past 10,000 years. In short, dogs are in tune with us. So, don’t forget to lavish your dog with compliments and encouraging energy.

Hiking with your dog

Stonking hike

Dogs may be domesticated, but that doesn’t mean they’re fully tame. They will always have a wild streak waiting to come out and not in the uniformity of the local park. If you’re the hiking sort, why not take your dog with you? Bounding through woods, streams, and to the top of hills—dogs are in their element.

Dogs need the great outdoors in all its glory to be strong mentally and physically. They also make brilliant walking companions.

Let them sniff for a truly happy dog

The olfactory system, found in mammals, is responsible for processing smells—using receptors in the nose. We have around six million receptors. Dogs on the other hand, have up to 300 million…it doesn’t take a scientist to work out that a dog’s sense of smell is much, much more sensitive than our own.

When we think about how we perceive the world, for us, our vision is our primary tool. For dogs, their noses are as important as their eyes and ears. Their noses are so well developed they can smell our fear, detecting hormones we release. Unlike us, a blind dog will not have so hard a time adapting to a loss of vision.

With all this in mind, it’s sad when people don’t let their dogs sniff. Think of it like someone constantly covering your eyes. Dogs are hardwired to smell, and for them to be genuinely happy we must let them follow their noses, literally.

happy dog taking a dip in the water

Take a dip

Dogs are naturally inclined to enjoy being in and around water. Whether swimming or trying to bite the stream from a hose. To them, it’s a magical substance that does strange and unpredictable things—which keeps them excited. Though depending on the season, you might not want to join yours in the river or the sea.

Happy dogs running along the beach

Break the routine to keep your dog happy

The final thing you can do to keep your dog happy is easy. Simply break up your walking routine. Go somewhere new and at a different time if possible. Have you ever felt stagnant getting up, going to work, coming home, eating, sleeping, and repeating? Of course, we all have. Life can be boring sometimes and lack variety. Dogs also suffer from boredom with routines that never change. Same walk, same smells. Meh.

Changing your walking route will have a noticeably positive effect on your dog. It’s their version of being surprised with a trip to Disney Land.

Found this blog fun to read and useful? Find more here.

9th March 2021

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Lady's Mile Holiday Park
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Belle Kennard
Belle Kennard
22:14 14 Aug 22
Me and family come here basically every year and it never gets old. The lodges are amazing as well as the caravans, and when camping there is lots of entertainment! A lot of days there is live music, and they offer lots of games. There are two pools (indoor and outdoor) which both include water slides. There is also an arcade, restaurants and shops on site. It’s not a far walk from the beach and has beautiful scenery. Staff are great too. 10/10 would definitely recommend!
Andy Young
Andy Young
19:26 31 Jul 22
Loved staying here. Its worth drive around the different pitching areas, we came with a tent, to find a quiet spot. Loved the pools, arcades and bakery in the on site shop. It also has great facilities which are cleaned and well looked after. Def worth the 6 hour drive and will be coming again!
L Bull
L Bull
19:27 27 Jul 22
We had a amazing time, the parks are amazing, the pools are good and included, the pump/skate park is good. Lots to do non stop the shop is also well stocked. We loved the live music and fair up the marquee bar it was perfect way to spend a evening.
Michelle Roebuck
Michelle Roebuck
06:24 09 Jul 22
Just had 2 weeks here in a silver birch lodge and it's been amazing. The view is gorgeous from the decking area. The lodge it self is spotlessly clean and spacious The hot tub is a great bonus. Very quiet around the lodge area. The site it self is the best I've ever stayed on, everywhere is immaculately spotlessly clean. The outside pool is great fun. The water was warm but we did have alot of sunshine 🌞.We will be booking for next year definitely
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Black Friday deals at Lady's Mile holiday park in Dawlish, Devon

Dawlish Warren Life Saving Club

Dawlish Warren Life Saving club put a plea on Facebook on the 5<sup>th</sup> of April this year for funds to help the club after seeing their fundraising efforts suffer due to covid over the past two years, Dawlish Life Saving Club posted that they faced an uncertain future, Lady’s Mile Holiday Park and Oakcliff Holiday park owner Jason Jeffery contacted the club’s secretary and offered to help and secure the club’s future with a rolling 2-year funding agreement.

Dawlish Warren lifesaving club have been training beach lifeguards, first aiders, and children from age 7 at the Warren for over 55 years. During the summer season and busy bank holidays they provide a voluntary lifeguarding service both independently and alongside the RNLI. As well as suppling lifeguard cover for numerous open water swimming events, Triathlons and even music festivals all over the country.

Jason Jeffery owner of both Lady’s Mile Holiday Park and Oakcliff Holiday park said “we appreciate all the hard work the committee and the members do to keep the beach safe for our guests and local residents over the summer. We are proud to sponsor the club who are keeping our community safe.

Club Chairman Gareth Jones said “Our club is thrilled with our new sponsors, their community values reflect our own and have enabled us to invest in vital lifesaving equipment to help train new lifeguards and save lives on our beautiful beach and the local area.”

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