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A dog’s happiness is very similar to a human’s, vets believe
Most dog owners would probably like to know what their dog is thinking. Unfortunately, however, our pets can’t tell us, so it’s hard to know if they’re really happy with their owners. That’s why veterinarians have revealed how to tell if your dog is happy and how to make your pet happier, reports HuffPost.
A dog has all the basic needs
Agree that it’s hard to be happy if your basic needs aren’t met, and the same goes for dogs.
“When I think of the word ‘happy,’ I think of well-being and of a dog having all its needs met. And that idea goes all the way back to the 1960s,” said Kate Anderson, a veterinary behaviourist at the Duffield Institute of Animal Behaviour at Cornell University in New York.
In order to feel happy, a dog should not be hungry and thirsty, she said. Nor should she be in pain, discomfort or fear.
Dogs have relaxed behaviour
“Happy dogs should have very relaxed body language. They should not have any tension. Their ears should not be pulled back. You should not be able to see the whites of their eyes. The tail should be, depending on the breed, at a normal angle to the body, like 90 degrees, or just relaxed,” Anderson emphasised.
In particular, Christy Flynn, a primary care veterinarian at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, noted that the animal’s weight should be evenly distributed on all four limbs. Dogs should not lean back or stand with a raised paw, she said.
“We can imagine dogs just lying in the yard in the sun, just lying on their side with their bodies relaxed. To me, that’s a sign of a happy or contented dog,” Flynn added.
Andreson says your dog is happy if his movements are “relaxed and noodle-like.”
Pets have a relaxed facial appearance
According to Flynn, dogs and humans have similar facial muscles, so certain facial expressions can show if they are feeling happy.
If dogs are happy, they don’t frown their eyebrows and have a relaxed look around their eyes and mouth, veterinarians say.
Your dog has a set routine
Andreson noted that like toddlers and young children, dogs like predictability.
“It’s not that they don’t want novelty and excitement, but they don’t want the whole world to be constantly changing,” she explained.
The expert says the hardest times for dogs are when there are changes in human schedules. This can happen, for example, when a person is on holiday or returning to the office to work.
They play and perform various physical activities
Veterinarians point out that it is important that your dog gets enough exercise. This will ensure that he will not only have a healthy weight but will also be happy.
“I categorise exercise as enrichment, and enrichment is a very broad topic. It’s sort of things in your life that are your self-care,” Anderson added.
For her part, Flynn says training can keep your dog’s mind sharp no matter how old he is.
“It can really bring them joy, and it’s a great way to bond with your pet and really strengthen that relationship,” the veterinarian assured.
Dogs feel safe
Flynn reminded us that all dogs are individual, some may be social while others may be introverts. If you have a shy pooch, it’s important to assert their boundaries by telling people about their pet’s preferences. For example, you can ask strangers not to pet your dog or ask friends not to touch your dog when they come to visit.
“It can be difficult trying to deal with social pressure from people and making sure your dog feels comfortable. I think sometimes I have unintentionally allowed my dog to be in a situation where he wasn’t as comfortable as he could have been,” the vet explained.
