As a responsible pet owner, your dog's health is obviously important to you. Ensuring that your dog has everything that they need to be fit and healthy is an important part of being a dog owner. If you need a starting point, then this guide will give you practical tips and advice on how to keep your handsome hound in good health. After all, a healthy dog is a happy dog:

Exercise

The benefits of exercise cannot be stressed enough. You need to ensure that you are walking your dog at least once per day. Ideally, your dog should be walked twice per day. Walking your dog is essential. If you choose not to walk your dog, you could end up with an aggressive, and unhealthy, pup. There are a number of problems that arise from a lack of exercise and play:

• Destructive chewing, digging or scratching

• Investigative behaviors, like garbage raiding

• Hyperactivity, excitability and night-time activity

• Unruliness, knocking over furniture and jumping up on people

• Excessive predatory and social play

• Play biting and rough play

• Attention-getting behaviors like barking and whining

There are a plethora of benefits to be enjoyed by exercising your dog. Aside from keeping them out of trouble, you are ensuring that they are fit and healthy, thus enabling them to live a long and happy life.

Grooming

Pampering your pooch is a must! No one is saying that you have to spend a small fortune on taking your hound to the doggy salon, but it may be wise to invest in a dog brush or comb so that you can groom your dog in the comfort of your own home. By having a strict grooming regime in place, you are ultimately ensuring that your dog has clean, shiny fur which has a positive impact on your dogs well being and health. Matted fur can hurt your dogs skin and can result in sores and wounds on their flesh. Furthermore, you can spot fleas and ticks more easily if you have a grooming regime in place for your pooch. Fleas can be detrimental to your dog’s health if not treated efficiently, so take a look online at veterinary medicine to ensure that your dog has everything that they need to remain fit and healthy. Grooming your dog keeps their skin healthy. What is more, your dog is happy too.

Vaccinations

While the thought of vaccinating your pet is not a pleasant one, it is imperative that you do so to ensure that they remain fit and healthy in the long term. Vaccinating your dog will ensure that they are protected from a multitude of diseases, such as distemper and parvovirus.

Vaccinations are crucial to ensuring that your dog has a long and happy life. Vaccinations can be costly, so it is always advisable to take out pet insurance to cover the costs of veterinary care.

While some owners believe that vaccinations are controversial, there have been extensive studies that prove that vaccinated dogs lead longer, healthier lives.