Care & Grooming
How to Make Your Dog Happy: 7 Easy and Affordable Ways
September 10, 2019
Spoiling your dog doesn’t have to be over-indulgent, expensive, or excessive. With just a little bit of time, thoughtfulness, and plenty of belly rubs, you can show your furever friends just how much you appreciate them.
How to make your dog happy in 7 steps:
- Take your dog on plenty of walks.
- Bake your dog some delicious dog biscuits.
- Spoil your furbaby by taking them to a dog-friendly venue.
- Let your pooch indulge in the all the perks of being a dawg.
- Take your dog on spontaneous and window-down car rides.
- Let your dog enjoy a day at doggy daycare.
- Give your woof some extra, distraction-free attention.
- Take your furbabe on a walk
Going on a walk is one of the easiest and best ways for how to make your dog happy. If your dog wags his tail, whimpers with excitement, jumps up and down, or goes off to find his leash when you ask them if they want to go on a walk, then this is an activity to capitalize on.
There are a ton of benefits for you as a dog owner, as well, when it comes to taking your pooch on a stroll. If you wait until sunrise or sunset, you’ll get to see some awesome Arkansas skies, talk to other dog walkers, or meet a new neighbor. You’ll also get great exercise and lower your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Your pup will most likely find a ton of new smells to sniff (their favorite). Watch your dog when on a walk and observe their sense of wonder and fascination with everything! Don’t forget to be present when spending time with your fluffy furbabe. Going on a walk can put you and your pooch in great moods for the rest of the day or evening.
- Bake Him or Her Some Dog Biscuits
If you have ever personally been surprised with a thoughtful gift or treat, then you know how nice it feels to be pleasantly surprised. If you’re wondering how to make your dog happy, the same applies to your dog!
Show your pooch the ingredients that he or she loves when making your dog treats. Let them sample and ask them if they taste okay. (Store-bought treats work just fine for our pooch lovers that are in a time crunch.)
You can also turn treat time into play time by letting your dog use their nose. Give your pup some much needed mental stimulation by playing games like which hand, the shell game or towel enrichment. Learn more about these games from our blog: “How to Entertain Your Dog When Living in an Apawtment”
Here’s a three-ingredient dog treat recipe: Apple Cinnamon Cookies for Dogs
- 1 cup Dry Quick Cook Oatmeal
- ½ cup Cinnamon Applesauce or Applesauce with a dash of Cinnamon Added
- 1 large Egg
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease a baking sheet with butter or vegetable oil (anything but grapeseed oil)
- Mix oatmeal and applesauce
- Add the egg and mix until well-blended
- Drop teaspoon or tablespoon-sized cookies onto the baking sheet
- Bake for 22 minutes or until golden brown
- Allow to cool before feeding to your pup and enjoy
- Spoil Your Dog by Taking Him to a Dog-Friendly Venue
If you enjoy beer on patios then there are plenty of options to take your puppers to dog-friendly venues. If you haven’t tried out the Bark Bar in Little Rock or the Good Dog Cafe in Fayetteville, now is your chance! Your dog will love being a part of your outing and can even meet some other doggos when you’re out.
There are plenty of dog-friendly venues in Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Fayetteville. If you find yourself wondering how to make your dog happy, here are some options when considering including your furbaby:
North Little Rock/Little Rock Dog-Friendly Venues
Fayetteville Dog-Friendly Venues
Of course, there is also the option to take your dog to a dog park if they are especially energetic. Check out our blog on the best dog parks in Arkansas.
- Let Your Pooch Indulge in Being a Dawg
If your fur child likes to dig, swim, or romp around in nature, let them be a dawg and savor their experience. They may get a little dirty, but you can plan for that. Bring plenty of towels and water for your pooch on your dog-tastic outing. This is a free way to make your dog happy!
If they enjoy swimming, let them enjoy some time in a pool or bring a ball to throw for them at the lake. A kiddie pool is great at home option, find out more about some at home water activities from our summer blog “How to Keep Dogs Cool in Summer: Tools, Tips & Tricks”
If they like to dig or run wild, take them to a dog park or go on a hike where this is accessible. Whatever your pooch loves to do, let them do that for a while. Don’t forget that Hounds Lounge offers self-wash stations where you can bathe your pooch without tracking all of that dawg mess into your house.
- Take Your Dog on a Spontaneous Car Ride
If your pooch had to stay home all day while you were out or at work, then you may be wondering how to make your dog happy when you finally come home.
You can show him or her some extra love by taking them on a car ride through the neighborhood, to your local pet supply store to find a new toy, or just to go sight-seeing. You never know where you may end up, but it is sure to be an adventure with your furry best friend.
Don’t forget to roll the windows down and let fido take in all the smells!
- Let Your Dog Enjoy a Day at Doggy Daycare at Hounds Lounge
With tons of other woofs to meet and play with, your dog will love you for sending him or her to doggy daycare. It’s a pawesome way to get your pup the socialization he or she needs while also providing exercise and plenty of pets from the Hounds Lounge staff. They will inevitably come home woofed-out and happy from their adventurous and fun-packed day. Bonus: you’ll get a little bit of free time to treat yourself as well!
(We’re serious – bring them here, we love your dogs and want to spoil them, too.)
- Give Your Woof Some Extra, Distraction-Free Attention
Sometimes you can be so busy putting IAMS on the table that you may forget how to make your dog happy. By spending distraction-free, quality time with your dog, you will both grow closer, happier, and more relaxed. Harvard Health Publishing suggests that having a dog can be immensely beneficial to your health. Some benefits include:
- Helping you to be calmer, more mindful, and more present in your life
- Making kids more active, secure, and responsible
- Improving the lives of older individuals
- Helping you to be more social and less isolated
So go ahead and put down your phone and turn your TV off. Enjoy some quality ear-scratching, belly rubbing, and cuddles with your pooch. You may be surprised about these simple ways for how to make your dog happy!
It’s the Thought the Matters
There are tons of easy ways to spoil your dog – and they can be extremely affordable. By keeping these tips in the back of your mind during the week, you can integrate a few of these into your weekly schedule. You may even begin to notice a change in your attitude after indulging your pup or going on walks with them.
It’s proven that dogs are natural mood helpers. Try to be mindful when spending time with your pooch so that you can be sure that you are both getting the most out of your time together.
What’s your favorite way that you like to spoil your dog? Share them below so we can think about ways to improve the lives of our furbabies. After all, who doesn’t love to see their #1 pooch enjoying their best life?
Spoiling your dog doesn’t have to be over-indulgent, expensive, or excessive. With just a little bit of time, thoughtfulness, and plenty of belly rubs, you can show your furever friends just how much you appreciate them.
