19 Essential Things Every Dog Child Deserves But Most Pawrents Forget to Give Them

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Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Aug 4, 2026 10:45 AM EDT

As pupper pawrents we all try to do our best to make our dogs' lives as plush and pampered as possible. But even with our mightiest efforts we always manage to fall short in one way or another. So take this collection of essential things to do for your dog as a look into your pawrenting blindspots. We can all be better pawrents if we want to.

Honestly when I was scrolling through the thread this list comes from I was shocked. Both in terms of the amount of things that I had never considered doing or my dog that other pawrents do, and at the same time the seemingly basic things that so many pawrents do not do for their puppers. But that is what makes this rich tapestry of life, different beliefs, different wants and needs, and different approaches. All of which we can learn from and make our own if we want it badly enough.

And I think it is safe to say that if you are obsessed with your doggo and dogs in general to the point that you are reading this, that you are one of the pawrents who will put in the effort to pamper their pup. So settle in and grab a notepad to jot down some of your preferred pupper ideas and get going on improving your pupper's quality of life. Some pawsonal favorites are adapting your dog's toys depending on their breed in order to give them more mental gratification, the waistband dog leash that lets your dog roam more freely while you have two hands, and the unreal importance of taking your dog for regular walkies. 
 

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  • 01
    "Fresh water in a clean bowl. Every day. WARNING QULT SUPERVISION AT AL PPAL-KEEP THEM WITHIN ARINS WNED IN POR ALL TIME
    via lucianapizzut

    Black and white dog lying in green paddling pool slightly filled with water

    Dog represented by model

  • 02
    lafcrna Fresh water in a clean bowl. Every day.
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  • 03
    AirbagOff I'm stunned at the number of dogs that don't have microchips and/or ID tags to help reunite them with their pet parents if they get lost.
    via lucianapizzut
  • 04
    Cheezburger Image 10651221248
    via sillysarahj

  • Ok yeah I want to jump in on this one as well. From all the stories we have on this site about abandoned, dumped or simply lost dogs it is painfully evident that most of you pupper pawrents simply do not have chips or tags on your pups. Now, sure I cannot fully support the use of either considering their interference with the dog’s life. But when the alternative is to lose your pupper forever, to have them lose their home and family over something as simple as getting lost. That is a cost too high for the relatively minor discomfort of having them.
     

  • 05
    BeaksFalcone Flea treatment, I'm fed up of seeing dogs miserable, covered in fleas and the owner says 'its normal..dogs carry fleas' its just penny pinching and cruel.Fleas are painful, dirty and not something ANY pet wants
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  • 06
    40 60 80 100 120. RITE 50 T 140,
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  • 07
    Jakester1212 time to smell during walks. any amount of walking isnt gonna tire a dog out, yes its panting after a run but mental stimulation is also as important. slow down and let them smell!
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  • 08
    berger3001 Unlimited snax Edit: Sorry, my dog grabbed my phone and typed that
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  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10651220736
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  • 10
    Quirky_Might_8780 Consistent training, at all life stages.
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  • 11
    jcocab Safe together time: sitting side by side on couch, grass, or floor without grabbing or hugging but just hanging out and letting the dog choose to add a paw or head to your lap.
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  • 12
    Cheezburger Image 10651220480
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  • 13
    Electrical_Ad7675 A window and chair or bench big enough for them to lay and look out of when all ne. It's TikTok for dogs
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  • 14
    boomgoon Those hide a treat mats or other little hide a treat toys. Dogs live those so much and get so excited when they find the treats but you may end up buying new ones cuz dogs are too smart
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  • 15
    WAY
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  • 16
    andriatica their teeth brushed daily if not 2-3x a week
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  • Well, this is certainly an interesting one that I have not come across myself if I’m honest. I have heard of monthly or weekly brushings, or even avoiding brushing and using dental chew toys instead which always felt like a little bit of a cop out. But there might be a point to this seemingly excessive brushing. That point being that more than ever our doggos are right up in our faces, licking us, and generally breathing in our directions. This means a whole lot more proximity to their mouths, which as we all know can be a little ruff smelling sometimes. 
     

  • 17
    Evening Potential_57 Every dog should have their eye crust cleaned daily. So gross that people let them accumulate
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  • 18
    Cheezburger Image 10651220992
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  • 19
    PeoniesNLilacs Vet check every year. There are far too many owners that under estimate the worth of a yearly exam to prevent and catch any diseases.
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  • 20
    Permission Motor7915 Respect, attentiveness to their needs, what they are trying to tell us and autonomy! Dogs want to know what is going to happen and participate in decisions. I feel I learned that too late...
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  • 21
    Cheezburger Image 10651220224
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  • 22
    ScratchAway3503 Pet insurance! It makes vet visits and emergencies less stressful financially so owners are more likely to get the care their dog needs.
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  • 23
    canis_felis The right play for their breeding. Tug games for some bully breeds as an example. Dogs that have an outlet are much easier to train.
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  • 24
    Cheezburger Image 10651222272
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  • 25
    lowkey_feral paw flair Tags or collars. Everyone thinks their backyard is somehow the one in the world dogs cant get out of
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  • 26
    alinalovescrisps A consistent routine so they know what to expect. And as someone else said, people who understand their body language.
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  • 27
    WARMING SUPERVISION AT A POOL-KEEP THEM WITHIN ARINS
    via sillysarahj
  • 28
    bubblebubbler5797 A dog leash that goes around your waist rather than handheld. Honestly makes life about 5x easier, but I so rarely see other people with them!
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  • 29
    whateverrrmeep I walk dogs for a living and the amount of dogs who are not walked daily shocks me. I am sometimes the only exercise a dog gets in a week. Never mind all the other low grade neglect I witness (ie. not providing a constant supply of water because a dog drools)
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things dogs deserves child dog photos advice pawrents reddit thread give forgot everybody
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