What are the top basic dog needs? I know for my dog, Henry, I’m always looking for ways to provide him with great health on a budget. But is this really possible? Actually, yes! When you break down the steps, our pups really need the basics to not just survive but also thrive.
Moreover, many steps we can take are simple and actually save dog parents money. I know, we all want happy and healthy furry friends. At least, that’s my goal for dog care with Henry. So, today, let’s dig in and discover the 12 top basic dog needs for your pup.
Budget tip:
Providing your furry friend, regardless of his/her specific dog breed, with basic needs actually not only helps improve your dog’s health but also keeps your bank account happy as well. Simple basic dog needs are a recipe for happy and healthy dogs with a longer lifespan. Therefore, consider that walk, food, or even snuggle time part of the recipe for great health. That’s a serious WIN-WIN for your dog and you!
1. Exercise
Like all of us, your dog needs regular exercise. It’s a part of basic dog care and it’s a basic need that does a lot of good.
For example, Henry loves to run around our property. But I also walk and hike with him. Although, I hike as the weather permits.
In a nutshell, daily exercise helps to keep your dog physically fit, which helps to obtain an ideal dog weight, while avoiding certain diseases that come with being inactive, like heart disease, diabetes, and even arthritis. Moreover, mild exercise can even help your pup’s joints with arthritis. Now, that’s a winning activity!
2. Play
Even if your dog hates toys, he/she still needs to play. This could be your dog playing with you or a furry playmate. However, if your dog loves toys you could play fetch or tug of war with a DIY dog toy.
Honestly, play helps with engaging your dog physically and mentally. That’s a great ingredient to add to this healthy recipe.
3. Good food
Whatever food you and your vet decide is best for your dog, it should be good quality. Remember that often cheap dog food equates to junk food. Similar to us not being able to obtain good health by eating only donuts, our dogs can’t either if they’re eating only junk food.
Remember even a dog treat counts as part of your dog’s diet. Henry loves homemade dog cookies and they even save me money.
Thus, good dog food is a critical part of the great dog health recipe.
4. Clean water
It’s amazing how just clean water can help keep your dog healthy. By providing an adequate amount of clean water (this means water you would drink) you help your dog’s muscles, brain, joints, teeth, kidneys, as well as all his/her organs.
Thus, you could say “Clean water does a dog’s body good!” Therefore, clean water is a cheap and essential ingredient in the healthy dog recipe.
5. Mental stimulation
It’s true that a dog with an engaged mind will generally not be bored. Moreover, an engaged pup is typically happier and healthier. With this in mind, I engage Henry’s mind every day, through different activities. These include:
However you decide to engage your dog’s mind with mental stimulation, it’s a great addition to this recipe for a healthy dog.
Want to get a fun licking mat like Henry’s? These are very similar to the ones I bought him.
6. Grooming
Yes, grooming your dog daily, or regularly, depending on your pup’s coat needs, helps his health. This is because regular brushing and grooming (bathing and trimming) will allow you to discover and resolve possible issues. These issues can include:
- Early detection of lumps, bumps, and injuries
- Discover any sensitive areas early
- Reduce allergies from pollens
- Keeps mats down
- Quickly remove sap that may be in fur or paws (remember sap is toxic to dogs)
- Keeps stickers out of fur and paws and avoids ingestion
- Simply feels better (Henry always runs faster and jumps higher after he’s been completely groomed. Which means a bath, trim, brushing, and nails trimmed.)
This is similar to the nail grinder I use to trim Henry’s nails at home.
Of course, you can also take your pup to a dog groomer for assistance with grooming and
Thus, grooming is a necessary ingredient in this healthy dog recipe.
7. Teeth cleaning
While I don’t brush Henry’s teeth, I do clean them daily. His vet is very happy with his teeth health and I am as well.
Thus, by cleaning your dog’s teeth daily you can avoid more serious issues like teeth extraction, which includes anesthesia.
Therefore, cleaning your dog’s teeth daily is part of the dog essentials for this great dog health recipe.
This is similar to the dental teeth cleaning spray I use for Henry daily.
8. Training
You may not think that your pup really “needs” dog training. But that’s not true. Training your dog helps with good behavior issues, depression, and prevents incidents occurring from bad manners such as nipping, jumping, or even escaping.
With all this knowledge, training is a dog safety issue. Remember teaching your dog the basics like stay, come, wait, let go, and the sit command is great for your dog’s safety.
Therefore, basic training, with positive reinforcement training sessions is a great addition to your recipe for a healthy dog.
9. ID tags
It’s critical to have an ID tag on your dog in case your pup should get lost. Additionally, microchipping your dog is a great idea. Even if your dog should slip his collar, you can still be contacted if you become separated.
For Henry, he has a physical dog tag with my phone number on it. This actually came in very handy after my mom died and Henry chased bunnies off the property twice. I’m so grateful he had his ID tag on and my neighbors quickly called me. However, Henry is also chipped.
Although, after he wandered off the property in the blink of an eye, literally, I got a vibrating collar and practiced boundary training with him. He’s even great with a recall command. This has been very successful. In fact, he hasn’t wandered away once since I implemented these strategies.
Therefore, dog tags and microchipping are critical for this healthy dog recipe.
Here’s where you can get a safe vibrate collar similar to Henry’s collar.
10. Vet care
Preventative and annual vet care is essential for your dog’s health. By catching things early and staying updated on vaccines your pup stays healthy.
Thus, I personally take Henry to his vet twice a year. These visits are great for not only staying on top of vaccines, but also weight, and overall general health.
Therefore, preventative vet care is a vital part of your healthy dog recipe.
11. Safe place to live
Your dog needs a safe place to live. For instance, it took Henry a bit to settle into his new home after I adopted him. But I kept reassuring him, spending time with him, and even providing safe zones for him to retreat when he got stressed. Even today, Henry has multiple safe zones and will seek them out depending on what level of stress or anxiety he’s experiencing.
Additionally, Henry has a plush heartbeat toy. When he’s stressed or I’m leaving him alone, I will turn it on for him as a way to provide more comfort. Actually, I’m shocked at how well Henry’s heartbeat toy works.
Thus, providing a safe place to live is essential in completing the healthy dog recipe.
Here’s where you can get a heartbeat dog toy, very similar to Henry’s stuffed pup.
12. Love
Of course, this should go without saying, but sometimes folks won’t realize that a dog does need love. This could be in the form of kind talk, pets, snuggles, or whatever your dog needs.
For instance, every morning Henry “needs” me to pick him up, talk to him, massage his back, and inspect the house while carrying him. Next, he’ll snuggle up next to me, fall asleep, and snore, while I meditate. He knows he’s safe and well-loved.
Therefore, the final ingredient, but not the least important ingredient, to the recipe for creating a healthy dog is love. Awesome, huh?
Would you love to learn how to massage your dog? In this article, I guide you through the process.
How does providing basic dog needs to my pup help me save money?
I honestly love this part of the article. Hopefully, you do as well. This is the part that brings everything together and shows you in dollars how much you can save.
With this in mind, consider the following possible expenses of not providing basic dog needs.
| Issue | Possible Savings |
| Obesity | $850 |
| Asthma | $800 – 3,000 |
| Arthritis | $60 – 400 |
| Diabetes | $2,000 – 3,000 |
| Depression | $100 |
| Destroying furniture | $5 – 40,000 |
| Separation anxiety | $200 – 1,500 |
| Heart disease | $85 -10,000 |
| Kidney disease | $200 – $1,250 |
| Teeth decay (or extraction) | $500 – 1,400 |
| Skin infection | $175 |
| Mats | $25 – 150 |
| Lumps, bumps, and cancer | $200 – 30,000 |
| Kennel cough | $75 – 200 |
| Injured dog from escaping | $250 – 8,000 |
| Rabies | SADDLY FATAL!!! |
| Shorter lifespan | HEARTBREAKING!!! |
Related articles:
- Happy Dog Hiking Trails Without Back Pain
- Yes! Ideal Dog Weight Shape Saves Money
- Best Easy Home Care For Dog Arthritis
- A Simple Dog Walk Cuts Vet Costs. How?
- How A Dog Who Doesn’t Like Toys Plays!
- Quality Dog Food Benefits: Health and Costs
- 8 Awesome Reasons Your Dog Needs Water
- Reaping Rewards of a Dog Digging Pit
- Mind Games for Dogs Every Dog Loves!
- Pawsitively Perfect: Dog Lick Mat Benefits
- Is A Dog Home Allergy Test Worth The Money?
- Easy Hack To Remove Sap From Dog’s Fur
- How To Wash A Dog And Not Kill Your Back
- Easy Home Dog Brushing Solution
- Is There a Cheap Easy Way to Train Your Dog?
- Dog Microchipping Saves On Costs? True!
- 8 Ways Dog Preventative Care Reduces Costs
- Creating Dog Safe Spaces: Easy and Cheap
- Quick Simple Dog Massage Therapy at Home
Tails Wag for the 12 Top Basic Dog Needs!
I know we don’t normally think about our dog’s basic needs or how they can truly impact your pup’s overall health, but it’s critical. While your dog isn’t being “needy”, your pup does require a few basic needs such as exercise, play, good food, clean water, engaged mind, grooming, training, ID, vet care, a safe place to call home, and lots of love.
Honestly, this is kind of a recipe for a happy and healthy dog. It’s easy to do and it works! I know I follow this recipe for Henry and it’s been successful. He’s vet’s happy, Henry’s healthy and happy, and I’m thrilled! What more could I ask for at this moment? Well, maybe a winning lottery ticket, but that’s another story.
It’s a lot to see it all laid out in the chart how things add up and we can influence our budget and our pets care.
Yes, basic things can really be impactful for all critters. Glad you like the breakout. I like that part as well.
There is a lot dog owners can do isn’t there? Just small things that can save such a lot of money! Thank you for a fascinating post! I can’t clean all my cats’ teeth but they do have kibble which might help!
Yes, the power of basic things is rather incredible! You know, I think I only had one kitty who would allow me to clean her teeth. Although, I have to admit, I probably would like it either. I’m always pleasantly surprised how well Henry does with it. He evens turns his head so I can get all his teeth properly cleaned with his dental spray. Perhaps he knows it’s a good thing. I also made sure my kitties had crunchy things to help clean or keep their teeth clean. I say do whatever you can because it will make a big difference for your furry friend and your budget in the end. Thanks for sharing!
Great post and it is true you can have a healthy dog on a budget, When I got Layla and we are in a tiny studio I built her an indoor kennel from a wooden fruit box which she used to sleep in for security, for mental stimulation she has her snuffle toys. Thanks for your great post as always Henry is lucky to have you as his Mom
Oh, I love the idea of an indoor kennel made out of a wooden fruit box! Brilliant! I may use that idea and create Henry a summertime outdoor abode to keep him out of the sun while I work in the yard. Great idea! Layla has a great mom as well. Thank you for your insights!
Always so informative, even when you believe some things should be a “gimme” as a pet parent, it’s not always the case. This is a wonderful outline of correct pet care. I especially appreciate the “Safe Place to Live.” Sounds simple and like a “gimme,” but some dogs sadly do not have this. I loved the home we made for my five Huskies. Knowing the breed and their specific needs (an escape-proof fence, a large place to run, dig, and chill) we actually transformed our yard for them so it would the safest place perfect for their needs. We even had a truckload of sand dumped on “their” side of the yard (which included our deck that my husband had a roof built over and they could lounge on their beds watching the yard below!)…and they could dig in that sand and on their side of the yard to their hearts’ content. And your “Love” again something that seems so basic, yet so many dogs do not receive the love they deserve. I adored my Huskies and we shared so much love! Those memories are what gets me through these days without them. And as always, your signature budget breakdown is always so incredible! Great post for all pet parents to read. Sharing with my audience for sure!
You know it really can be easy to overlook the easy stuff, because it is easy or a “gimme”. I absolutely LOVE that you created a yard for the FiveSibes with a covered deck and a soft safe place to dig and hang out below. That’s so awesome you brought in sand for their digging pit. What lucky pups to have had you and your family as their own! I’m so glad you are enjoying the cost breakouts. That is really good to know. Thank you so much for sharing your insights and beautiful memories!