How to Make Your Dog Happy: 3 Enjoyable Activities for Dogs

Basic dog needs include food, fresh water, and shelter; however, there is more to a dog’s life than survival. A dog can also be a family member you want to not only care for but also provide with structure, challenges, and mental enrichment.

Pet parents can implement some of these daily activities to engage with their best friend and canine companion:

• Daily walks: Exercise and exploration can increase a dog’s energy levels and tire them out for a restful night’s sleep. Provide your pet with at least one to two hours of activity so they can maintain a healthy weight and lean muscle mass. Consult your vet or doctor of veterinarian medicine (DVM) to develop an exercise regimen for your dog. Ask your DVM for recommendations when it comes to dog food brands and serving sizes that will suit your specific dog breed.
• Hide-and-seek: Entertain pets inside the home with a quick game of tug-of-war or hide-and-seek. These games help pet owners engage with their furry friend. Follow active stimulation with a five-minute cooldown in which you can pet, cuddle, and snuggle your pet to reduce their heart rate to a resting baseline. This also provides an opportunity for you to pay them moments of eye contact and physical touch to express your affection.
• Self-entertainment with chew toys: A happy dog can self-entertain with old and new toys while you are busy during the workday. Adult dogs can benefit from puzzle toys that challenge their problem-solving skills. Hide a dog treat prize of dog-safe peanut butter or some of their regular dog food in these toys to reward them for their hard work.
  

Consult a dog trainer or a dog training professional to learn how to train your pet to play safely with adults, children, and other dogs. Additionally, implement these tips to keep your canine companion active and mentally stimulated:

1. 1. Challenge your pet. Mental stimulation, dog toys, and puzzles will help your pet improve their analytical skills, and consistent challenges could reduce their chances of developing degenerative mental conditions later in life. Teach your dog new tricks and give them dog treats as positive reinforcement when they succeed or behave well. Let your pup play with dog toys that will challenge them and teach them how to put their toys away when playtime is over to introduce structure into their routines.
2. 2. Schedule playdates with other dogs. Once you have trained your pet to interact with doggy pals in a safe and friendly manner, you can schedule playtime or a play date. Start with controlled interactions and introduce one or just a few dogs at a time. Monitor your dog’s behavior and body language to ensure they are comfortable and are not overwhelmed by the initial interaction.
3. 3. Take your pooch to play at a dog park. Bring your active, happy dog to a local dog park to play with other pups or explore an obstacle course. Bring a plastic disk or a few tennis balls so you can play fetch—remember to bring spares in the event an unruly dog steals your pet’s toy.

Your dream of having a dog who understands words like “sit,” “stay,” “down,” and—crucially— “no” is just a MasterClass Annual Membership away. The only things you’ll need to train up a well-behaved pup are your laptop, a big bag of treats, and our exclusive instructional videos from superstar animal trainer Brandon McMillan.