Introduction
Hello there! My name is Rover and I’m an affectionate house dog who lives with my loving family. I’m excited to share with you a day in the life of a happy house pup. There are approximately 89 million pet dogs in the United States, with 65 million dogs living in households as beloved family pets [1]. Like most house dogs, I spend my days in my home, going on adventures with my family and making lots of lasting memories together. Our house is always full of fun with me around!
[1] https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/reports-statistics/us-pet-ownership-statistics
My Family
My human family consists of three members, Dad, Mom and their 12 year old daughter Gaby. Both Dad and Mom are in their early 40’s and are active outdoorsy people who enjoy hiking, biking and traveling. Gaby is energetic and playful, she enjoys playing soccer with me in the backyard.
I live with a Pomeranian named Max, who is my best friend. We play together throughout the day while my humans are away. He’s two years old and very mischievous. I find him entertaining but we do occasionally get on each other’s nerves!
There’s also an orange tabby cat named Oliver who is 13 years old. He’s pretty set in his ways and prefers lounging around sleeping all day. He gets annoyed when Max and I play too loudly near him.
My Home
I live in a cozy two bedroom apartment on the third floor of an apartment building in the city. My family’s apartment is about 900 square feet total which is the perfect amount of space for me, my owners, and my feline housemate Mittens. According to the USDA’s guidelines on minimum space requirements for dogs, I need at least enough room to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably which I definitely have here.
My favorite spot is in the living room on my plush dog bed next to the sunny bay window. I spend many happy hours there sleeping, playing with my toys, and watching the world go by outside. At night I sleep in my own doggy bed in my owners’ room. Even though our apartment is not huge, it’s the perfect size for our little family!
My Daily Routine
As a house dog, I have a pretty predictable daily routine. My day usually starts around 7:00 am when my owner gets up. After saying good morning, I eat breakfast, which is my favorite meal of the day! I gobble up my kibble and then drink some fresh water. According to Good Dog Schedule, most dogs should be fed twice per day, about 8-12 hours apart. [1]
After breakfast, I go outside to take care of business and run around the backyard for a bit. Around 9:00 am, my owner and I usually go for a nice long walk around the neighborhood. Walks are one of my favorite activities, because I get to sniff all the interesting smells and say hi to the neighbors. According to PetPlace, walks and playtime are important activities to include in a dog’s schedule. [2]
When we get home from our walk, I like to drink some water and relax on my bed. The middle of the day is prime naptime. I’ll usually snooze on and off until it’s time to eat dinner around 5:00 pm. After dinner, my owner and I often play with my favorite toys or practice some training commands. Mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise!
My last trip outside is right before bedtime around 9:00 pm. After I go potty one last time, I happily settle into my dog bed in my owner’s room for the night. I drift off, excited for another fun day tomorrow!
My Favorite Activities
Some of my favorite activities include going for long walks, playing fetch, and splashing around in the lake near my house. My family takes me on walks twice a day, which I absolutely love. I get so excited when I see them grab my leash! My favorite place to walk is the nature trail that winds through the woods near our home. There are so many interesting smells along the trail that I just want to stop and sniff everything. After our walk, we usually play a game of fetch in the yard. I’ll chase after my squeaky tennis ball over and over again. I just can’t get enough of fetch! On hot summer days, my family takes me to the lake so I can cool off and swim. I may not be the strongest swimmer, but I still love splashing around in the shallow water near the shore. It’s so much fun! At the end of a long day full of activity, my favorite thing is curling up on the couch with my favorite squeaky toy or rawhide bone. I’m one tired (and happy!) pup.
According to this article, some of the best national parks for dogs are Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and Acadia National Park in Maine. Both offer plenty of hiking trails and outdoor activities that dogs love.
My Pet Peeves
I get really frustrated when my family leaves me home alone for long periods of time. It can get quite lonely without my loved ones around to play with and cuddle. According to an article on Whole Dog Journal, one of dogs’ biggest pet peeves is being left alone too often https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/behavior/your-dogs-pet-peeves/.
Another thing that really annoys me is when people ignore me even when I’m being good. I just want some attention and praise when I’m behaving nicely, lying quietly, or doing tricks. The Whole Dog Journal article confirms that dogs don’t like being ignored when they are being good https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/behavior/your-dogs-pet-peeves/. Just a simple “good dog” really makes my day.
I also can’t stand it when people treat me like I’m not intelligent. I may not speak human language, but I understand a lot more than some humans think. Treating dogs like we’re unintelligent monkeys is a top pet peeve according to dog experts https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/behavior/your-dogs-pet-peeves/. I wish more humans realized how smart we dogs can be!
My Health
Overall, I am in good health. My owner takes me to the vet once a year for a checkup and routine vaccinations. According to Pettable.com, the average annual cost of vet bills for a dog is between $235-$400, depending on the dog’s size and age (1). During my checkups, the vet checks my heartbeat, temperature, ears, eyes, teeth, and more. She says I am at a healthy weight for my breed and age.
In addition to my annual checkup, I also go to the vet if I ever have any health issues in between visits. For example, last year I had an ear infection that required medication to clear up. The vet said ear infections are common in dogs and gave me antibiotic ear drops. Besides the occasional issue like that, I am a happy and healthy pup!
To keep me healthy, my owner makes sure I eat a nutritious diet and get plenty of exercise. I eat dry dog food twice per day and go on daily walks and playtime. Staying active helps me maintain a healthy weight and avoid obesity, which is important for dogs (2). Overall, I am a healthy and energetic pup thanks to the excellent care from my owner!
My Training
I have gone through quite a bit of obedience training. My owner started working with me on basic commands like sit, stay, come, lie down, and heel from when I was just a puppy. It took a lot of practice and positive reinforcement with treats, but now I have those basic skills mastered.
In addition to obedience, I’ve also learned some fun tricks. My favorites are high-five, spin, crawl, play dead, and roll over. Whenever guests come over, my owner will have me perform my tricks to impress them. It’s always fun to show off and get some extra pets and praise. The more advanced tricks took a lot of repetition for me to understand what was being asked of me, but my owner was very patient.
Training time is an important part of my daily routine. It keeps me mentally stimulated and reinforces our bond. Even as an older dog now, I still enjoy learning new things and refreshing my existing skills. Regular training helps keep me well-behaved and happy.
My Relationships
I have a very close relationship with all the members of my family. My human parents took me in when I was just a puppy and they have cared for me ever since. I love playing with the children and curling up next to them when they do their homework. The kids say I’m like their furry best friend! I get excited when I hear the kids coming home from school. According to research, pets like me can help improve kids’ bonds with family members by providing companionship and emotional support (source).
When my human parents have arguments, I try to calm things down by distracting them with my toys or cuddling up to comfort them. Pets are known to help strengthen family bonds during difficult times (source). I love going on walks with my family or curling up with them to watch TV. We’re one big happy family!
I also have a good relationship with the other family pet, my feline housemate Mittens. We like to playfully chase each other around and I let Mittens have the comfy bed sometimes. Having another pet friend keeps me company when my humans are away.
Conclusion
In conclusion, being a house dog has been quite an adventure. I feel very fortunate to have a loving family who cares for me and provides me with a comfortable home. My daily routine keeps me active and engaged, with fun activities like going for walks, playing fetch, and curling up on the couch for pets and cuddles. While I may get annoyed when the mail carrier comes by or the neighbor’s dog barks too much, those are minor quibbles in an otherwise happy life. I’ve enjoyed learning new tricks and commands through training. It has strengthened my bond with my family. Most importantly, I know that no matter what each day brings, I can always count on my family to be there for me with food, water, belly rubs and unconditional love. That’s the best life any dog could ask for!