Creating structure and routine is an important part of keeping your pet healthy and happy. I’m really lucky to get to work from home, so Daisy and I have a very well-established daily routine. For example, we go for a walk before breakfast every morning, and then a trip to check the mailbox around mid-day. Checking the mail is Daisy’s favorite thing, since I let her carry a piece of mail back home and give her a dental chew as a reward for her ‘hard work’. In the late afternoon, I usually take a break from work to play hide and seek, fetch or another of our favorite games.

Creating a healthy routine doesn’t have to be complicated. Add small daily activities that both you and your dog enjoy and it won’t seem like a chore. Speaking of chores, we schedule certain activities for the weekends, like bath time, nail trimming and cleaning Daisy’s ears. We also try to have regularly scheduled play dates for Daisy, both for the benefits of socialization as well as for the added exercise.

Another part of our routine is tracking Daisy’s weight and measuring her food. It’s important to measure and track treats, too. We worked with Daisy’s veterinarian to determine her weight goal and the right amount of food and treats to maintain that weight. If you don’t schedule and track treats and food, it’s easy to overdo it without realizing it. Just one little cookie for a 20lb dog is like the equivalent of an average size woman eating a cheeseburger! Don’t believe me? Go checkout this Treat Translator Tool to learn more.

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