It’s a well-known fact that proper pet care (diets) keeps our pets healthy and happy. But did you know that sport and recreation have emotional benefits to your pet as well?
We tend to take our pet’s emotional well-being for granted. We give them food and love, but in our own busy lifestyles, making sure that they get sufficient exercise is essential to keep them feeling great – not just physically, but emotionally as well.
There are plenty of ways to incorporate physical exercise into your dog or cat’s life. In fact, if you’re already doing sport and recreational activities, it’s fun and motivating to include your pet in your activities.
Here’s why sport and recreation are important for your pet’s emotional wellbeing which aids VIP pet care.
Physical Health = Emotional Health
Good physical health leads to good emotional health, as long as you’re giving your pet lots of love!
Being overweight can lead to depression, anxiety, and a loss of love for life. It can also lead to a variety of health conditions, like hypothyroidism, diabetes, and autoimmune disease.
Poor physical health leads to bad emotional and mental health, even for pets. They also can’t tell us when they’re not feeling good, which can cause frustration.
If your pet is already in poor health, there are plenty of easy ways to get them active. Take them for a swim, a leisurely walk, or do a bit of play wrestling.
Less Boredom, More Happiness
Involving your pet in sports and recreation keeps them busy. A bored pet is a dangerous one! If your dog has something to do (especially if it’s with you), they’re less likely to get into trouble.
Also, if your pet gets a good bit of exercise every day, they’ll be tired out and less inclined to dig, bite, chew on things that they shouldn’t (like your golf clubs or the furniture) or get boisterous and wreck the house!
Creates Purpose
Dogs love having a job to do, especially if they’re working dogs. Involving your dog in sports and recreational activities helps them to feel like they’re doing something useful. You’d be surprised at how effective this is for keeping dogs happy and healthy! (not so much for cats, though)
If you really want to see your dog shine, try taking them to an agility course or doing some training and teaching them tricks. It also makes them feel like they’re fulfilling a purpose for their human, which leads us to the next point…
Bonding With Their Human
Your dog or cat loves you, and spending time with you makes them happy. When you pet your animal, it releases oxytocin—happy hormones—in your brain, but it does similar things to them!
When you spend time with your pet, especially doing things that they love, they feel closer to you. This is essential for their emotional health!
Conclusion
Do you consider pet care relevant to your pet? Make sport and recreation a regular thing with your pet. Not only is it good for them, but it’s healthy for you as well. Doing things like this together also helps build the bond between the two of you!
Just remember to stay safe while outdoors. Make sure your cat or dog is leashed where they need to be and that they have access to freshwater.
If necessary, get them a pair of booties to protect their feet from the hot ground. Keep yourself safe too, don’t forget to wear a hat and sunscreen!
Above all, have fun together!
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