Wellbeing means to animals exactly what it means to you. If you can imagine what feeling happy and healthy feels like for you, your pet needs those same elements in order to feel well! From your basic needs, to your social connections and beyond, you and your pet are affected in the same ways by pain and suffering, and by contentment and joy.
Basic needs include shelter, water, food, and a cozy place to rest. This also extends into other vital needs like freedom to express their natural behaviors and to exercise. So, having a yard or the capacity to walk your pet daily are as crucial as food, water and shelter.
It is vital to fend off boredom and to keep your pet’s minds and bodies fit and stimulated. Indoors, this can look like dog-safe toys, puzzles, and chews. Outside, this looks like daily walks (even side-by-side walking with other dogs) or visits to the park - as well as time to roam and sniff in the yard, rest in the cool grass, and nap in the sunshine at your home (if available to you). Pets should be brought indoors when they ask, and during inclement weather (too hot, cold, or stormy) and overnight. Pets should never be tethered or tied up.
Regular visits to parks and walks are great ways to socialize your pet - as well as structured play groups through shelters or local trainers (if available to you). It is important to ask other pet guardians if it is okay for your animal to interact with theirs before letting yours off leash - as friendliness/lack of aggression can never be assumed. It is crucial to avoid causing further trauma to rescued animals through potential fights among neighborhood dogs.
Training is imperative if there are worrisome behaviors - either emotional, social or behavioral. If not addressed, behaviors can worsen to the detriment (and possible danger) of your animal, your family, and other animals and people in the community.
Teaching your dog manners, showing them that life with you comes with reliable routine and structure, and allowing for appropriate play and socialization with other dogs can all help curb unwanted behaviors and prevent them from increasing in the future. Working with a trainer or your local shelter staff on positive, gentle training techniques is a key aspect of this. Behaviors are often caused by trauma from past experiences and underlying issues - manifesting as misplaced energy or dysregulated nervous systems (fear, sadness, anxiety, aggression, etc.). Addressing these issues through the above means increases your pet’s wellbeing - and yours, too!
We should never use aversive training techniques or hurt our companion animals in any way - whether physically (hitting, withholding food and water, or inflicting any other physical harm) or emotionally (yelling, tethering, or restricting their physical freedom). Using gentle corrections/redirections and positive reinforcement (praise, treats, play, and loving attention) is the best route to helping your animal succeed.
With these tools, you will be on your way to decreased stress and increased ease and happiness for you and your furry friend. From here, amazing, nourishing human-animal connections are formed and your bond with your companion animal will deepen throughout your life together.
We form social-emotional bonds with our companion animals. These connections can be as strong and important as our relationships with other humans. Our pets are - and should be treated like - members of our families. Therefore, they deserve all of the loving-kindness and care that they need and that we would want for ourselves. To summarize, this includes basic needs, enrichment to keep their minds and bodies strong, time outside for exercise and social interaction, gentle training, structure and routine, and a comfortable and loving home. Pets should feel a positive connection with their families and live in a home that has their overall health and best interests at heart. We must make sure our companion animals feel safe with us - physically and emotionally.
It is important that you consider your ability to provide all of the essential components of a good life to your companion animal before choosing to adopt (or foster)!
Thank you for your caring heart, and for considering welcoming a new family member into your home!
