Parkside's Holistic Care Tips

Holistic dog care is all about seeing your dog as a whole being — body, mind, and environment — rather than focusing on isolated issues, blending good nutrition, emotional wellbeing, physical health, and a supportive lifestyle into one integrated approach. It is about creating the condition and space for your dog to thrive, not just survive.

What “Holistic” Really Means for Dogs

Holistic care looks at the full picture of your dog’s life:

• Their nutrition and digestive health

• Their emotional and mental state

• Their physical health

• Natural & Preventative Health Approaches

• Their environment and daily experiences

• Their relationship with you

  
  

Instead of reacting to problems, taking a holistic approach can help prevent issues arising and supports long-term well-being.

Nutrition & Digestive Health

A dog’s diet is the foundation of holistic care:

• High-quality whole foods: feed minimally-processed and species-appropriate ingredients.

• Balanced nutrients: provide good quality proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals for your dog’s age and activity level requirements.

• Supplements when needed: when a little extra help is needed, omega‑3s (for skin and coat health), probiotics (to support gut health and joint support) and dog-safe green lipped muscle, chondroitin and glucosamine (for mobility).

• Avoiding fillers and artificial additives: many brands of dog food and treats contain cheap and unnecessary fillers  which can trigger inflammation, hyperactivity and have no benefit to your dog’s health.

  
  

Holistic nutrition focuses on optimal feeding so the body can heal and regulate itself.

Mental & Emotional Well-being

Dogs need stimulation and emotional security, just as much as physical care.

• Enrichment: Absolutely number one. Breed specific activities and play. What was your dog originally bred for? If you want a happy and content dog, find fun and engaging games to channel their natural instincts. Giving your dog an outlet to show you what they were designed to do is incredibly important for their wellbeing.  Be inventive, or seek professional advice, on the safest and most appropriate way to replicate an activity for your dog.

  Whatever breed or mix your dog is, scent games and varied walks will always be hugely beneficial and fun. A dog’s main sense is their nose! Get them using it and you will have a much happier and content doggy.

  Puzzle toys and kongs are a great way to keep your dog busy. But be mindful, after a while these types of activities are not necessarily engaging their brain.  

• Communication: Our dogs ‘talk’ to us trying to communicate, but are you listening (well, mainly watching!)? Take time to learn about dog body language and cues. Dogs communicate with each other through body language and subtle cues. Once we understand how our dogs communicate, you can work together and build a trusting relationship.

• Training: practice positive reinforcement exercises to help build your confidence. Make training sessions short and fun, and you’ll both enjoy it more!  

• Routines: keeping a loose routine can help reduce stress and anxiety. Regular feeding times, exercise, access to drinking water and an available safe place to sleep can help your dog feel safe.

• Social needs: regular appropriate play and interaction with humans and other dogs. Socialising doesn’t mean allowing your dog to meet and play with every dog and/or run wild around the dog park! Controlled interactions with both dogs and people are key.

• Chewing, chewing, chewing!! Dogs LOVE to chew and for a very good reason. Not only does daily chewing keep your dog’s oral health in tip top condition – the action of chewing releases endorphins. Endorphins are a natural painkiller and mood stabiliser, helping dogs self-regulate, reduce anxiety and channel excess energy. Remember it is important to provide age and size-appropriate chews.

  
  

A mentally fulfilled dog is calmer, happier, and easier to train.

Physical Health & Movement

Movement keeps your dog’s joints and body healthy, as well as helping keep their weight stable.

• Daily exercise: ensure your dog is receiving the appropriate type and duration of exercise suited to their breed, age and weather conditions.

• Varied activities: walking, swimming, agility and ‘find it’ games are all great ways to exercise your dog. As fun as it is for both the owner and the dog - repetitive ball throwing is not advised. This type of exercise can encourage obsessive behaviours and puts a lot of pressure on your dog’s joints. Hiding your dog’s toy and encouraging them to find it is a much more beneficial way to exercise your dog whilst playing with a ball.

• Bodywork: Just like their humans, dogs hugely benefit from gentle massage, stretching and strengthening exercises, and when necessary, canine physiotherapy and hydrotherapy.

• Weight management: managing your dog’s weight through diet and exercise is essential for optimal health. Maintaining a healthy and appropriate weight will reduce strain on your dog’s organs and joints and help them thrive.

  
  

Holistic care treats exercise as a form of medicine.

Natural & Preventive Health Approaches

Holistic care doesn’t reject conventional veterinary medicine — it complements it.

• Regular vet checkups: essential for early detection and management of health conditions.

• Integrative therapies: when appropriate it may be beneficial to explore acupuncture, chiropractic and herbal support for your dog.

• Gentle grooming routines: all dogs will benefit from regular grooming to maintain their skin and coat condition. Long-haired and non-shedding breeds will especially need tailored and regular grooming sessions; this is essential for their comfort and wellbeing.   

• Thoughtful vaccination and parasite-prevention plans: be guided and work with your vet to ensure your dog is fully protected.

  
  

The goal is balance, not extremes.

Environment & Lifestyle

A dog’s surroundings shape their wellbeing.

• Provide a safe and clean living space: maintaining a clean and safe living space will help reduce risk of infection, diseases and injury to your dog. Ensure all cleaning products that may come into contact with your dog are pet-safe (including candles and reed diffusers!).

• Comfortable sleeping areas: Let sleeping dogs lie! Provide a safe sleeping area for your dog to retreat to – this must be their safe space free from invaders! This is particularly true if your dog is living in a busy household or those with children. If your dog takes themselves to their safe zone, respect their space and do not disturb them. If you need to wake your dog, quietly call them away and out of their space.  

• Low-stress home environment: a low-stress environment will help your dog thrive.

• Opportunities for natural behaviours: provide opportunities for regular chewing, sniffing and exploring.

  
  

Holistic care recognises that behaviour problems often stem from unmet needs.

The Human–Dog Relationship

At the heart of holistic care is the bond you share.

• Clear communication

• Trust-building routines

• Quality time together

• Understanding your dog’s unique personality

  
  

A secure, loving relationship is one of the strongest predictors of a dog’s well-being.