Having dogs is one of those things where everyone suddenly has an opinion about what you’re supposed to be doing. What dog food are you feeding them? How many dog walks are they getting? Do they sleep in your bed? Are they allowed on the furniture? What kind of dog treats do you buy? Do they need dog supplements? Should they be eating out of some $85 aesthetically pleasing ceramic bowl that perfectly matches your kitchen?

The internet can make dog care feel like another full-time job if you let it. I obviously care A LOT about my dogs, but over the years I’ve gotten much better at separating the things that actually matter from the things that really, truly do not. Your dog probably does not care that their leash matches their collar. They do, however, care about you. So here’s the dog stuff that’s actually worth caring about.

+ What they’re eating

Starting with an obvious one because dog food is something they’re getting every single day.

There are approximately one million opinions online about what you should and shouldn’t feed your dog, and I think it’s very easy to go down a rabbit hole and suddenly question everything you’ve ever put in their bowl. I’m much more interested in finding something dependable that gives them the dog nutrition they need and works for my actual dogs.

Purina ONE is one option I like because there are formulas depending on your dog and what they need, whether that’s an everyday adult dog food formula or something designed around things like weight, age, size, skin and coat, or joint health.

At the end of the day, I want their dog food to be nutritionally complete, something they actually want to eat, and something that realistically works with our everyday life. I don’t need feeding the dogs to become another thing I dramatically overcomplicate. I already have enough of those lol.

+ Getting them moving

I don’t obsess over hitting some magical number of minutes every single day. Some days we have time for a longer dog walk. Some days they’re running around outside. Some days we’re playing inside and squeezing in a shorter walk between everything else happening. The important part to me is dog exercise and making sure they’re getting some mental stimulation. I think sniffing around on a walk is half the fun for them. I’m not dragging everyone down the street like we’re training for a marathon. Let them investigate the bush for five minutes. They have nowhere to be.

+ Their health

This one I take seriously. Dog health is one of those things where knowing what is normal for your dog really matters because they obviously can’t tell you, “Hey, my stomach has felt weird for three days.” How much are they eating? How much water are they drinking? Are they excited for walks? Are they moving normally? Is something suddenly different?

I’m not saying every weird afternoon requires a complete panic spiral and emergency Google session because I have definitely been guilty of that too. But I do pay attention. Regular vet appointments, keeping up with the things your vet recommends, and noticing changes in dog behavior matter infinitely more to me than buying every new dog wellness product TikTok decides we need.

+ Giving them your attention

Probably one of the simplest parts of dog care and somehow also one of the easiest to forget when life gets busy. Dogs want to hang out with you. That’s kind of their whole thing.

I work, I’m on my phone, there are errands, emails, plans, people coming over, things around the house that need to get done…the day disappears very quickly. So I try to make sure there are moments when I’m actually engaged with them instead of just being next to them while doing six other things. Throw the ball, sit outside together, and take the dog walk without spending the entire time answering emails. It doesn’t need to be complicated.

+ Letting them have a personality

I swear people expect dogs to behave like little furry robots sometimes. Obviously they need boundaries and obviously I don’t want them destroying the house or losing their minds every time someone comes through the door. However they’re also allowed to have personalities. One might be obsessed with people, another might want absolutely nothing to do with strangers. One dog sleeps all day while another somehow has the energy of a toddler after three birthday cupcakes. Part of the fun is figuring out their dog behavior and who they are instead of constantly trying to turn them into someone else’s idea of the “perfect” dog.

+ Making your house actually livable for them

I care about my house. I like it looking good. I like things clean and organized, and then I decided to have dogs. So obviously there have been compromises somewhere. I’m still going to buy the rug I like and have the furniture I want, but I also know there will be dog hair, there will occasionally be muddy paws, there are blankets strategically placed on couches and dog things tucked into baskets throughout the house. I’ve basically accepted that the goal is not to make my house look like dogs don’t live here. The goal is to have a dog-friendly home without my house looking like a Petco exploded inside of it.

Very different thing.

+ Their quality of life

This is probably what all of the above really comes down to. Are they eating well? Are they comfortable? Are they getting outside? Are they healthy? Do they feel safe? Do they get attention? Do they seem happy?

That’s quality of life for dogs.

All of that matters…the $60 designer leash does not. Neither does having the most aesthetically pleasing dog bed on Instagram, buying every trendy dog supplement, or feeling guilty because someone online takes their dog on a three-mile sunrise hike every morning while yours spent Sunday sleeping upside down on the couch.

Your dog is living your life with you.

Give them good dog food, take care of their dog health, get them moving with regular dog exercise, pay attention to them, and let them be part of your world. That’s what helps create happy, healthy dogs. Everything else is kind of extra, which yes, I will absolutely continue buying some of the extra stuff too without a doubt.

I’m only human.