4 Ways to Keep Your Dog Safe and Secure

Your dog is most likely one of your most beloved companions so it is only natural to want to make sure that they are as safe and secure as possible. Taking steps to protect their future is one of the best ways to show your pet how much you love and care for them, even without saying so.

training1: Invest in training
One key way to keep your pet is safe is to ensure that they are properly trained. Training is one of the most important things to do when you welcome your dog into your home to maintain a secure environment, while also strengthening your connection to each other. There are many different methods when training your dog, which is why it can be helpful to set aside some time to research the best option for your situation.

Whether this is your first dog and you will be taking them to a professional dog trainer or you have trained dogs in your home for years, remember that consistency is key. When your dog is trained, they are able to stay safe because they will listen to your commands if they were ever to be in a dangerous situation. Additionally, this helps keep you safe knowing that they will be receptive to your verbal commands if they are misbehaving.

2: Secure their future
Keeping your pet’s future in mind is another way to make sure that your dog is safe and secure. You can do this by setting up various safeguards to protect them from unexpected circumstances that may arise. Your dog most likely can seem more like a member of your family rather than a pet so it is normal to want to do everything you can to protect them. However, if something were to happen to you, would your furry friend be taken care of the way that you would want them to be cared for?

This is an important question to ask and one way to do this is to re-evaluate your life insurance policy to make sure that your pet is accounted for. While you can’t list your pet as an actual beneficiary, it is possible to designate a portion of your death benefit to your pet’s future care by naming a caretaker on their behalf to receive some of these funds. Because pet ownership can be expensive, having money designated towards their care can ensure that your pet is financially taken care of, even if you aren’t able to do so directly.

dog-health3: Protect their health
While it can be difficult to think about, dogs can get sick or injured and vet bills can be expensive, which is why preventative health care is key. While you can’t always protect your pet from sickness or injury, maintaining routine veterinary care can help in the long-run by identifying problems early on and monitoring breed-specific health issues. Your vet will help with establishing a good feeding and grooming regimen, administering proper vaccinations, and helping with parasite prevention and control.

Another way to protect your pet’s health is to consider looking into a pet insurance policy. Just like humans, pet insurance can help pay for your dog’s care by financially contributing to their care in exchange for a monthly premium. Having a pet insurance policy can provide you with peace of mind knowing that if your pet was to incur a large medical bill, a large portion would be paid for without having to dip into savings or use credit cards.

4: Form good habits
Whether this is your first dog or you have had dogs for years, it is important to form good habits and routines to keep your pet healthy and happy. Two of the most important things to keep in mind when establishing good routines are diet and exercise. Even though you might want to spoil your furry friend and give into their puppy eyes every time you’re eating fries and a burger, try to establish boundaries to ensure their optimal health. While there are a lot of different options when it comes to feeding your dog, including making your own dog food, staying consistent is key to keeping them healthy. Discussing the best type of food to give your dog with your veterinarian and keeping a good schedule can help set much-needed limits with your pet while keeping their health in mind.

When forming good habits with your dog, remember to also set up an exercise schedule. Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore so try to get creative and find fun ways to keep your dog active. Taking your dog for a walk is one of the most common ways to promote exercise but you can also try swimming, hiking, playing frisbee, and even dog yoga to not only get active but spend quality time together.

Because your dog is such a big part of your life, you want to do everything in your power to ensure that they are safe and secure. By taking intentional steps to safeguard their future, you can have some peace of mind knowing that you will have a happy and healthy future together.