Expert Tips to Keep Your Dog Healthy, Happy, and Full of Energy

Your canine companion’s diet is incredibly impactful on not just their weight, but their energy levels, coat condition and their long-term health. It’s important their diet is well-balanced, nutritious and supporting their activity levels too. These are the key healthy things for dogs and must be in their food bowl:

-          high-quality proteins: such as lean meat, fish and eggs

-          healthy fats: such as fish oil, chicken fat and olive oil

-          essential vitamins found in eggs, fish, leafy greens and whole grains.

A balanced diet is significantly impactful on your furry friend’s energy levels, coat condition and long term health. Your dog’s energy is derived from balanced macronutrients (a combination of carbohydrates, fats and proteins). Dogs fed a balanced diet show steady energy, endurance for exercise and play, and a decrease in fatigue. Unbalanced diets in dogs can cause lethargy, hyperactivity spikes, or poor stamina.

Your furry friend’s coat condition thrives on a mix of healthy fats, vitamins and proteins. A well nourished dog has a glossy coat, minimal shedding and healthy skin that’s not itchy! A deficient dog may experience dull fur, dry skin, excessive shedding or infections.

Your pooch’s long term health is maintained through vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. This reduces the risk of chronic disease, improves their lifespan and helps your pooch pal age gracefully without complications.

Make your dog’s dinner a piece of cake (not literally) by signing up to Jollyes’ Repeat & Save, so your canine companion can access a consistent supply of high quality dog food that’s cost-effective too! Don’t forget that your dog needs something different in their bowl at each stage of their life – Jollyes has puppy, adult and senior dog food available.

It may seem like treats for your dog can be unhealthy – but you can definitely pick up healthy treats they’ll wag their tail about! Make training and rewarding easy-peasy (and nutritious) with low-fat treats or dental chews, the paw-fect addition to your dog’s diet.

Dogs are naturally active, and therefore have lots of energy that need to be used up! If your furry friend isn’t exercised enough, this can result in their excess energy being burnt off through destructive behaviour or hyperactivity. From chewing to barking, your hyperactive dog will become increasingly more difficult to manage. That’s why exercise is so important! They’ll burn off all that extra energy, and their behaviour will be significantly calmer and more relaxed. There’s also other benefits to exercising your pooch, such as:

1.      Improve social skills

This includes with strangers and other dogs too! Regular exposure to new people and dogs on walkies will encourage positive associations and boost their confidence.

2.      Weight management

Just like humans, dogs need to exercise to maintain their weight. Obesity in dogs can cause joint pain, lethargy and irritability.

3.      Supports their mental health

Exercise is believed to trigger a rush of chemicals and hormones (thought to be endorphins) which improves the mood of your dog. A healthy dog is a happy one!

There’s a few ways you can keep your furry friend active – daily walkies (frequency depends on the breed’s needs), games of fetch and playtime with toys! Keep their walkies route varied – this will keep your pooch interested and curious about their surroundings.

Unsure how to exercise your dog if the weather isn’t playing ball? We’re all too familiar with rubbish weather in the UK – but where there’s a will, there’s a way! The rain can’t ruin all your plans, and playtime can be held indoors. If you’re wondering how do you make a dog happy indoors, simply pick up a couple of indoor enrichment toys or interactive toys to keep your pooch pal busy in the rainy months.

Mental enrichment is just as important as exercising for dogs. Many breeds were bred for their problem-solving abilities in the workplace, so even the most well-exercised dogs can feel mentally rest-less. A bored or mentally restless dog will lead to that destructive behaviour we talked about – that’s why mental stimulation is as important as exercise for dogs. That’s why a rotation of mentally stimulating toys will help your furry friend’s brain busy and interested! Check out our selection here:

As the seasons’ change, so do the needs of our canine companions. Here’s a little cheat sheet so you know what you need to be on the look-out for, and what you need to consider for your pooch pal:

-          Spring

Looking out for and preventing flea and worms is key for your furry friend, as well as ensuring you’re de-shedding their fur when it’s grooming time. Post-winter and in the spirit of new year, you and your furry friend are most likely enjoying the great outdoors, so outdoor-safe toys are a must for this season.

-          Summer

Scorching (well, for the UK) temperatures and sunnier days calls for hydration heroes like water bowls and bottles, cooling mats to beat the heat and sun protection! Shaded areas, lots of water and cooling zones are an absolute essential for this time of year. Focus on hydration and sun protection for your dog.

-          Autumn

Darker evenings, cooler weather and the return of rain calls for reflective walkies gear, joint supplements for senior pooches and boredom busters for rainy days. If you’re looking for more inspiration on how to entertain your pet in autumn, look no further.

-          Winter

Beat the chill and keep them cosy in the cold winter months with warm layers, coats for walkies and snuggly bedding. Protect your pooch’s paws from the harsher weather conditions with paw balm – and in any weather extremities, indoor playtime solutions are a must.

Keep your furry friend looking fluffy not scruffy with regular grooming! As well as making them look picture paw-fect, regular grooming is super beneficial for your dog’s skin, coat and their relationship with you. Here’s how!

For their skin health:

-          Brushing stimulates your dog’s circulation.

-          Distributes natural oils: sebum is distributed from the skin along each hair which prevents dryness.

-          Allows early detection of skin infections, lumps or parasites.

For their coat condition:

-          Removes loose hair & dirty which prevents matting.

-          Reduces shedding.

-          Can be particularly beneficial to specific breeds with double coats or longer fur.

For their bond with you:

-          Builds trust due to the gentle, consistent grooming and physical contact.

-          Reduces stress for both your pet and you!

For grooming essentials such as brushes, shampoo and conditioner, or a professional grooming experience at The Jolly Groomer, find your local Jollyes store today.

For your pet’s overall health, it’s really important to have regular vet visits scheduled. This includes staying up to date on any vaccinations and their dental care. There’s small things you can do at home too! Regularly monitor your pet’s weight, brush their teeth and keep their ears clean. Find the tools you need to care for your pet at Jollyes!

A happier, healthier dog is all from a balanced nutrition, regular exercise and mental stimulation, seasonal care and routine. And their relationship with you! Negative behaviours stem from boredom and lack of energy usage, so keeping your pooch busy (and their tail-wagging) really starts with their every day routine. Discover more advice about your furry friend from our advice hub, and pick up your pet essentials at purse-friendly prices in store or online today.