Why Care Matters

Love is priceless, but good care is measurable: fewer vet visits, calmer behaviour, brighter eyes. Think of this page as your maintenance manual for every breed and every budget. If you remember only one thing, remember consistency— dogs thrive on predictable routines.

1  Nutrition: Fuel, Not Filler

Life-stage formulas. Puppies need ​30–35 % protein for growth; seniors thrive on joint-support omegas and fewer calories. Choose an AAFCO-approved diet labelled for your dog’s current age.

Reading labels. Meat-first ingredients (e.g. “chicken”, not “chicken meal by-product”) signal quality. Avoid vague terms like “animal fat” and sugars such as fructose or caramel.

Treat math. Keep treats below 10 % of daily calories. A medium dog (15 kg) burning RER ~700 kcal only has ~70 kcal to spare— that’s five small training biscuits, not half a hamburger.

Vet tip: Sudden diet changes can trigger diarrhoea. Switch gradually over seven days, increasing the new food by 25 % every two meals.

2  Exercise & Enrichment

A tired dog is a well-behaved dog— but “tired” means balanced fatigue, not exhaustion. Use the 5 × 5 rule: five minutes of formal exercise per month of age, up to twice a day, until growth plates close (~12 months in most breeds).

• Cardio: Brisk walks, trotting beside a bike on soft ground, or gentle swimming.
• Mental gyms: Snuffle mats, frozen Kongs, and 10-minute scent games beat another lap around the block.
• Social fitness: Controlled playdates teach bite-inhibition and body-language fluency.

Watch for excessive panting, lagging behind, or stubborn sitting— signs to pause and hydrate.

3  Grooming Without the Drama

Brushing is more than cosmetics; it aerates the skin and distributes natural oils that waterproof the coat. Double-coated breeds (Husky, GSD) need an undercoat rake twice a week, while curly coats (Poodle, Bichon) benefit from daily slicker-brushing to prevent painful matting.

Bath cadence: Every 4–6 weeks with pH-balanced shampoo— more often strips oils, less often invites yeast.

At-home spa checklist: Nails trimmed flush with the pad, ears wiped with vet-approved solution, teeth brushed 3× weekly using dog enzymatic paste.

4  Proactive Health Care

Schedule a comprehensive exam every 12 months (every 6 months for seniors). Annual bloodwork reveals hidden kidney or liver changes long before symptoms appear— early treatment saves thousands in care and priceless comfort.

• Vaccines: Core (DHP, Rabies) + regionals (Lepto, Lyme) as advised by your vet.
• Parasite shield: Monthly broad-spectrum chew or topical; add tick collar in high-risk forests.
• Spay/neuter timing: Discuss growth-plate closure and cancer risk with your vet; “six months” is no longer a one-size-fits-all rule.