The BEST Ways To Make Your Dog Happier

We can agree that having a happy dog is one of the best things in the world.

Now, imagine if you had the ability to make your dog as happy as possible.

That would be awesome right?

Well, after you're done reading this, you will know exactly how to tell if your dog’s happy, as well as learning how to MAKE your dog happy.

Let's get straight into it.

Signs You Have A Happy Dog

1. Playful Body Language: Reading your dog's body language is a crucial way to tell if your dog is happy or not. 

If your dog does the “playful bow” where they put their front legs and chest on the ground and keep their butt and wagging tail in the air, then that's a great sign that your dog is SUPER happy. 

2. Doggy Smile: Another great sign of happiness is when your dog looks at you with that happy smiling expression, and it's not just in the shape of her mouth, it's also the way her eyes beam when she's playing with you. If you notice your dog’s smiling, then you can check off one more thing on your list. 

3. A healthy appetite: This is a big one. Although some dogs are picky and may even decline food, prolonged avoidance of food can be a sign that your dog is stressed, anxious, or fearful. 

So whether your dog is grazing throughout the day or scarfing down the whole bowl in one sitting, as long as your dog is eating, it's a good sign that your dog is happy. 

4. Sleeping like a baby: If your dog sleeps like a baby, especially after a long day of walks, fetch, and games, then that's a sign that your dog is happy and stress-free. On the flip-side, if your dog is having a hard time sleeping, that could be a sign that your dog is stressed. We will discuss how to reduce stress later in this blog. 

5. Floppy ears: Although it greatly depends on your dog's breed, having ears that just flop around is a sign that your dog is stress-free. If your dog's ears are pulled back, that’s a common sign for fearfulness. 

Now that you know how to read your dog and tell if she's a happy pup, let's get into how to make your dog even happier. 

How To Easily Make Your Dog Happier

This is where things get interesting. 

These are the BEST ways to make your dog happy:

1. Outdoor time: Provide a good amount of exercise and outdoor time based on your dog's age and energy level. Some may require more running and playing while others just need a couple walks throughout the day to keep them stimulated. But either way, outdoor time is by far one of my favorite ways to make a dog happy.

2. Good Affirmations + Treats: If you want to make your dog happier, lavishing them with love and good affirmations is one of the best things you can do, especially after they do something good. Make sure you say it with a happy tone and you’ll see their tail start wagging and a smile start growing on their face.

3. Provide The Right Toys: Toys should definitely be a part of your plan to make your dog happy, but make sure you choose them based on your dog's size, energy level, and overall likings. Some like chew toys, some prefer toys with treats in them, while others love more interactive toys, so try and choose the ones your dog likes most. Also try to provide many options and rotate them throughout the week so your dog can stay excited all the time.

4. Play With Them: This one is pretty straight forward. Playing with your dog is probably the best bond-building activity to do with your dog. Your dog will not only be so happy playing with you, but she will also LOVE YOU even more. So simply playing tug-of-war, fetch, or running around with your dog is a great way to make your dog happier.

5. Doggy Play Dates: Everyone loved playdates when they were a kid, so why not take your dog to them too? Whether it's with your neighbor's pup or with some friends at a daycare, as long as your pup is hanging out with her friends she’ll be SO happy.

6. Grooming: After a long day of playing, imagine how much your dog would love having clean fur and freshly cut nails. You and your pup can go home knowing you’re both happy AND clean. It’s the cherry on top.

Now you know exactly how to make your dog happier. 

Always remember, every dog is different so your dog may prefer some things over others. 

But one thing that EVERY dog likes, or at least every dog I've met likes, is to meet and hangout with his buddies at daycare. 

And you and your furry friend are in luck because you can come by D’s Doggy Daycare for a free meet and greet. 

See you soon!