City Dog vs. Country Dog: How Environment Shapes Your Pet’s Lifestyle
Let’s settle the debate! Haven’t we all wondered the difference between a city dog and a country dog? For us humans, the country life and the city life can be a massive difference. Similarly, for our canine pals, they too may have their own preferences. In this blog, our pet experts at Petbites are trying to understand whether the city life or country life plays a significant role in shaping the lifestyle, behaviour and needs of our dogs.
As dog owners, we always stop to ponder how adaptive our dogs are. We always think twice before taking our dogs on a hiking trip or a visit to the city. Are dogs leading a double life? How are some dogs perfectly adaptive to any environment while others get cranky and moody all the time? These questions have left most dog honours puzzled and eager to understand their dog’s preferences. So let’s take a moment to understand the difference between the city life and the country life for our canine pals. Let’s talk about the dog community at large and other aspects such as body language, socialisation, health, mental enrichment and dog training both in the country and the city!
1. Space and Exercise:
City Dog:
City life restricts the space and capacity for your dog to exercise. Cities are often crowded with less access to large yards and farms. You can take your canine pal for daily walks in the park or set up an alternative play area indoors. You can try indoor playhouses for dogs, rooftop terraces, doggy day care or even a treadmill. As long as you keep your dog’s mind and body stimulated this can help you maintain their health!
Country Dog:
If your dog has been born and bred in the countryside, it is more likely to enjoy vast open areas of freedom to run, roam, and explore nature. Your dog would often enjoy activities such as hiking with you or swimming in natural lakes and also going on long walks off the leash. These dogs prefer to use their muscles for almost everything. Their mental and physical stimulation will always be the beauty of nature!
2. Socialization and Interaction:
City Dog:
You must constantly socialise and interact with your little city dog. Consider open areas in the city such as busy streets, parks and even different indoor spaces that are dog friendly. Frequent interactions with other dogs, people and the city at large, can enhance their response to stimuli; such as traffic, stranger’s greetings, and city sounds, helping them identify social cues. This can prevent them from being anxious or overstimulated. Let them explore sounds, lights and smells within the city. Make sure to keep the experience rewarding!
Country Dog:
Country life gives your country dog fewer encounters with strangers. However, you will find your dog quite bonded and social with you and your family. Although they might take time to fit into different environments and to adjust to different people, your dog will be much more at ease in the countryside. This can be a great survival instinct for them to hold onto!
3. Health Considerations:
City Dog:
Urban dogs might be readily available to different stimuli around them. However, in some instances, your city dog may be overexposed to pollution. Specifically, noise pollution has contributed towards their stress and anxiety levels. Other prevailing health issues in city dogs are respiratory problems, stress, depression and confusion. Your city dog may need more grooming than a country dog to keep them fresh and tidy away from the dust and grime of the city. They may need constant interactions to reassure them of their safety.
Country Dog:
A country dog has better exposure to wildlife. However, this can also be tricky as nature can pass its own downside. From ticks to rough terrain, your dog can be a victim of bites, scratches, or parasites! Your country dogs may need more protection from outdoor elements, like flea and tick treatments. A regular visit to your vet and the use of the right products is definitely mandatory!
4. Stimulation and Enrichment:
City Dog:
Keeping your dog stimulated both mentally and physically can be a beneficial factor leading to your dog’s happiness and health. Physical and mental stimulation allows the engagement of your dog’s natural behaviours. This means keeping your dog active by allowing them to play, chase, smell, chew and even run for a scavenger hunt every now and then. Mental stimulation is vital to keeping all your city dogs entertained in a smaller space. Use of puzzles, toys, creative indoor games and regular walks are quite important. Do not hesitate to take your dogs to different environments from dog parks to cafes and even doggy daycare! Keep up the vibrancy in their life and watch them prosper into beautiful buddies!
Country Dog:
In country dogs, you can easily keep your dog both physically and mentally stimulated. Enrich their lives with the constant playing of sports, dog training, agility training or even a simple fetch game. Expose them to natural enrichment such as smells, sights, sounds and even colours, keeping your country dog constantly stimulated. Let them explore the beauty of nature by spending time outdoors. Whether it is chasing butterflies or exploring different terrains, your country dog must be trained to feel relaxed in nature. Do not forget to use demanding words such as sit, shake, stop etc., to keep them engaged. Make sure to record them after each training session!
5. Training and Behavior:
City Dog:
Training your dog in the city can be quite challenging with constant traffic and less space for movement. However, your city dog must be trained to live their city life. Take your dog through simple activities and practices such as waiting at curbs, crossing streets on a cue, walking only on payments etc. You can also train your dog to command such as walk, come, run or fetch. These can work as behavioural changes and survival instincts for you and your canine pal. The use of reflective gear such as LED lights on your dog’s leash can help them with their vision during the night. Train them for busy streets, crowds and distractions.
Country Dog:
In the country, your dog can be easily trained to acquire the necessary behaviour and discipline. You can subject your canine pal to less leash training, as the country life entails yards and yards of green pasture. Ensure you reward your canine pal with treats after each successful dog training session. Make use of larger spaces and train your dogs for both smaller and larger spaces.
Conclusion:
Now that settles it! Both country dogs and city dogs are equally deserving of love and attention. As dog owners, it is your responsibility to provide these beautiful animals with a home and a safe space to be themselves. Attend to their needs both in the urban and rural areas giving them the much-needed attention.
Remember that the country life is much more spacious and free when compared to city life. However, this entirely depends on how adaptive your dog is. In some instances, dogs prefer the city to the country for its stimulation and vibrant colours. This can help them exercise and engage with other dogs constantly. In the country, your dog may have the perfect opportunity to socialise with nature and adapt to the wildlife. This can be a great survival instinct for your dog!
The environment may play a huge factor in your dog’s life. However, regardless of the setting, a dog’s individual needs must be considered and tended to, to ensure that they are happy, and living a healthy lifestyle.
If you are a responsible dog owner looking for ways to keep your dog happy, check out Petbites Australia for a range of enticing dog treats and dog hampers. You can also read through our blog articles for further information on how to raise your canine pal.
