Healthy Dog Habits: How a Monthly Grooming Membership Can Help

Taking care of your pup is a big responsibility. A monthly membership for dog grooming services can make it easier.

Key takeaways:

• Dogs benefit from healthy routines just like humans.      

• Good routine wellness, medical care, exercise, and proper nutrition are important for dogs.

• Monthly grooming memberships make wellness needs easier to tackle.

Dogs are a lot like people. They enjoy exploring outdoors, quiet time, and personal pampering, for example, and tend to be creatures of habit. They prosper when routine and patterns are part of their everyday lives, too. Veterinary visits, regular wellness, exercise, and healthy nutrition are essential habits that dogs depend on their owners to instill.

An easy way to help your pup get everything it needs is with a monthly grooming membership that can be more affordable, save time, and offer a greater level of expert service than DIY jobs. Memberships typically include basic routine dog grooming services such as bathing, nail trimming, and ear and teeth cleaning, but extras like blowouts and haircuts can brighten a dog’s day (just as they can for pup parents!). 

There are several routine habits a dog needs to stay healthy and happy. This guide explains the most important ones, and how a monthly dog grooming membership can fit into the big picture. 

Healthy Habit #1: Veterinary Visits

Vets check for signs of illness and disease, make sure your dog is growing and developing correctly, and treat infections and pests such as fleas and ticks. Pups visit the vet’s office for vaccinations and major procedures, but they must make return visits for check-ups.

Puppies should get their first immunization shots at approximately 12 weeks old. The vaccinations for distemper and parvo are recommended at this age, while that for Bordetella is optional. Rabies shots are typically administered before 16 weeks of age. 

It is best to ask your veterinary team about the timing for the vaccinations your pup may need. Some are administered annually, while others are done every few years. It’s important to keep up with proper immunizations and boosters, though: Without them, dogs are at risk of illness and disease. 

Healthy Habit #2: Food

Dogs will eat almost anything, but they need a balanced diet to stay healthy and vibrant as they age. The best is a combination of vegetables, fruit, and raw meat and bones. A lot of human food is also good for dogs, but some items – including grapes, almonds, chocolate, and onion – should be avoided because they can be harmful or even toxic. 

It’s possible to feed a diet of carefully chosen human food, but it’s easier (and just as healthy) to find quality dog food. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has set forth nutritional guidelines for animal food, and every ingredient is printed on the packaging to ensure quality. Vets always have recommendations for healthy dog food, so be sure to ask the professionals if you’re worried about making the right choice. 

Healthy Habit #3: Routine dog grooming care and hygiene

Keeping your pet clean is part of a healthy lifestyle. Regular care and hygiene keeps fleas and pests away, prevents infections in the nails and ears, and helps maintain their teeth and gums. 

Some people hear “routine care” and assume it means the works, but dogs don’t always need full haircuts and blow dries. Sometimes they just need a good shampoo, a trim around the eyes, and attention to their nails and ears. Think of it the same way that humans bathe several times throughout the week to minimize bacteria, dirt buildup, and maintain a clean outward appearance. Your dog needs the same!

A monthly grooming membership for a doggie spa experience is a great way to keep your pet dirt-free and smelling good, in addition to all the health benefits. Wellness memberships offer various packages for dog grooming services so pet parents can choose what they need when they need it and aren’t saddled with set services every visit. This saves time and money and is especially helpful when you have more than one pup.

Healthy Habit #4: Exercise and activity

Animals can get lazy, just like humans, but they need to keep active and interested in physical activity to stay healthy. A daily walk or play in the yard is great, but other activities such as swimming, climbing, and obedience work are also healthy for them because they stimulate them in different ways.

The amount of exercise a dog needs daily is dependent on factors such as age, breed, and health, but there are some standard guidelines. 

Puppies

Puppies usually have more energy than mature dogs, so they require more exercise. Think of all the puppies you’ve seen madly dash around the room for no apparent reason. They need an outlet for that pent up energy! It’s important to be mindful about exercise, though, because too much activity can harm a small pup. Puppies benefit most from several quick bouts of daily play mixed in with a short walk.  

Adult dogs

Some breeds, such as Border Collies and German Shepherds, are high energy throughout their lives. They require 30 minutes to two hours of physical activity every day, even as adults. Low-energy dogs, such as Pugs and Basset Hounds, do well with less-vigorous activity, such as a few leisurely laps around the yard and a game of tug. Any movement counts, but it’s good to incorporate both low- and high-level energy exertion. 

Senior dogs

Senior dogs require less exercise. Health is often a factor, but movement and mild activity is still crucial as they age – especially for sick dogs. Fifteen to twenty minutes of moderate activity is typically enough for an older dog.

It’s vital to consider your lifestyle when you choose a puppy. A high-energy dog needs an owner who enjoys getting out and doing things such as hiking, biking, swimming, and running. A person who prefers to stay low-key would make a low-energy dog very happy. 

Filling a dog’s life with healthy routines is the best thing a pet owner can do. Dogs are just like us in that they need a stable schedule of nutritious food, good routine grooming care and hygiene, timely medical care, and plenty of exercise to remain in good health. Setting and sticking to that routine will mean a long and happy life for both you and your pup.

Have a go-to for professional dog grooming services

Monthly dog grooming memberships are an efficient way to save time and money while still giving your dog the love and care it deserves. Scenthound is a convenient, affordable solution for routine dog care and basic grooming that revolutionizes how pet parents keep their fur family clean and healthy. 

Our wellness-focused, membership-based routine dog care company is disrupting an outdated industry with a unique approach and a blue ocean strategy. Traditional dog care focuses on breed-specific styling, but Scenthound’s services center around routine and preventive care for dogs in five core areas: Skin, Coat, Ears, Nails, and Teeth (SCENT). Find your local Scenthound today to lavish your dog with the love it deserves.