From quality time and exercise, to proper grooming, medical attention and proper treatments, like Frontline flea medicine, dogs have certain needs that you, as the owner will have to take care of.
Make the most of your relationship with your pet by committing the time and money he requires to make sure he lives a long and healthy life.
Take a look at the big picture of what makes a dog content, and figure out little things you can do on a regular basis to make sure the quality of his life is high and stays high throughout his years as part of your family.
Take control.
Dogs have simple needs you can meet with a little time and planning.

1. Good Training/Communication - Dogs are social animals and they crave leadership and structure within the pack or family.
   Make sure you know how to communicate with your dog to show him that you are the leader of the pack.
   He should willingly do what you say every time.
   If not, it's time to brush up with a dog training manual or dog training video that will train YOU to train your pet.
   
2. Good Food/Nutrition - As we learned a few years ago with the dog food scares and deaths, we need to keep an eye on our dog's nutrition.
   Tragically and unexpectedly, my Aunt Patty lost her poodle Jazzbox to poisoning from tainted dog food.
   While it may not be practical for everyone to make their dog's food each day, it certainly makes sense to find a brand of food you can feel comfortable feeding your dog.
   Talk to your vet about ingredients and nutrition standards from the brands you are considering.
   
3. Love and Companionship - Dogs are not play things that are content to be ignored like a bicycle in the garage or a Monopoly game in the closet - only to be taken out at your convenience.
   Dogs want and need your attention.
   Try to schedule your day so that you'll have some time to spend with your dog before and after work.
   If the dog must be alone all day while the family is gone, consider another animal companion or a pet sitter/dog walker to look in on your pet and break up the monotony.
   
4. Lots of Exercise - Different breeds of dogs have varying levels of exercise needs.
   However, I will go out on a limb and say most breeds of dogs need a lot more exercise than they're getting on a regular basis.
   A rigorous exercise program can help curb behavior problems inside the house and make your dog (and you!) healthier.
   If you can't muster the energy to fully exercise your dog with a 5-mile run each day, look into toys and games that will provide a physical and mental challenge.
   A game of fetch, a play-date with another friend's dog, a swim at a beach or lake - all these can be effective forms of exercise.
   There are also a number of wonderful dog hobbies, like agility competitions, which can provide exercise, quality time, and mental challenge - what a great combination!
5. General Health Care - Although it's never any fun for us to think about going to the doctor, it's important to take our dog to the vet on a regular basis.
   The vet will make sure your pet is fully vaccinated, and check his teeth, coat, feet, eyes and ears to make sure he continues to be in good health.
   These days, many veterinarians also recommend a routine course of flea and tick treatment with a product like Frontline flea medicine.
   Dogs benefit from flea and tick sprays like Frontline flea medicine, canine Advantix or Advantage for dogs, because these products reduce and eliminate uncomfortable itching due to parasite infestations.
   Furthermore, keeping fleas and ticks off your dog can help prevent the spread of these insects to you and your other pets and family members, as well as slow the spread of contagious and dangerous diseases like Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
   

If you can't do a training session with your dog every day, or run him around the block, it's not the end of the world.
However, it is important not to skip out on applications of Frontline flea medicine, or whatever product you are using.
Most such flea and tick sprays need to be applied monthly and won't be effective if you skip months Our lives are made up of habits, and if we have pets, our habits should include making the time to meet their needs on a regular basis.
Acknowledging your pet and meeting his emotional and physical needs doesn't have to be hard.
It should be a rewarding part of pet ownership...
after all, isn't taking the opportunity to do many of these activities one of the reasons you got a dog in the first place?