Human beings love spontaneous activities, that’s why you will scream -in a good way- when you are surprised. For dogs, it’s a little different. A dog’s life revolves around four basic needs; food, sleep, exercise or play, and potty. Creating a routine helps your dog know what is expected of him and removes stress from your path. It can help them avoid destructive behaviors, anxiety, and keep them happy in general.

Since your dog will appreciate a stable pattern of activity, establishing a routine is a catch. Requirements for different breeds may differ slightly. Also, you need to consider the age of your dog. When you have two dogs of different ages, this can be a bit complex, especially since you don’t want one to feel like the other is getting more attention.

benefits of routines
For a newly adopted furry friend, having a routine helps them train and adjust to their new home. By all means, you’ll want to avoid indoor potty accidents. Therefore, having a feeding routine helps you anticipate when they need to go to the bathroom. This can be more difficult to predict if your eating pattern is irregular.

Another thing you want to avoid with your faithful dog is excessive weight gain and the health risks that come with it. Without a feeding routine, you may be tempted to leave food for the dog several times a day, which will ultimately lead to weight gain. In general, if you want to train your dog to adapt to a particular behavior or to understand hand signals or verbal instructions, consistency is key.

However, it’s not just your dog that benefits from a routine, you too. A routine helps you better understand your dog. If your dog has any health problems, he will find out more quickly, especially during his walking session. It helps you plan your own routine and frees you from pet-related anxieties.
The challenge of the daily routine
As your dog grows, there is a need to adjust the daily routine to the needs of his new age. Knowing when and how to make this transition can be challenging. It can also be a source of stress for you and your faithful companion. The second biggest challenge with the strict routine is keeping up. Imagine a scenario where you get sick and can’t walk your dog or are too busy with work. This can cause your dog anxiety.

Benefits of daily structure
In simple terms, the daily structure is a flexible routine. Having a flexible routine from the start makes it easier for your dog to adjust to changes when the need arises. Let’s say that instead of forcing your dog to wake up at 7am and eat at 7:30am, you can have a schedule that stipulates that the dog will eat in the morning, but with no time limit.

Effective way to make changes to a routine.
The transition from a strict routine to a daily structure is a challenging activity that any dog ​​lover may have to deal with. However, if done right, it is very rewarding. One thing you should never do is change your entire routine at once. Instead, make small changes to different parts of the routine while watching for signs of stress.

For example, you can start by freeing yourself from strict feeding schedules to flexible hours. Once your dog has gotten used to the new flexible feeding schedule, he can start planning changes to his bedtime or exercise time. Speaking of exercise, one way to ensure a safe dog-walking session is to use a leash attached to a dog-named harness with a personalized tag.

Final words to all dog lovers.
Make sure your routine is realistic. For a routine to be effective, you and your dog’s needs must be taken into account. While a routine is good for dog training, you shouldn’t put your dog at a disadvantage when the routine is broken. Therefore, having a flexible routine works best to help you achieve your goal and helps your dog build resilience. Feel free to scroll through our blog for more informative articles.