Keeping a dog healthy in the city isn’t just about feeding them or squeezing in the occasional walk. Apartment life comes with its own set of challenges—limited outdoor space, busy streets, and lots of stimulation—so it takes a thoughtful mix of daily routines, regular vet visits, and smart lifestyle choices to keep your pup thriving. After years of working with city dogs through my dog walking business, Chicago Urban Pets, and seeing firsthand what helps them live their best lives, I’ve put together my top takeaways. This is the City Dog Edition.

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Basic Needs for a Healthy Dog Lifestyle

Whether you’ve just adopted a puppy or are caring for an adult dog, the basics always matter. Here are the core areas to focus on for a healthy, happy pup:

• Nutrition: Provide balanced meals that meet your dog’s age and health needs.
• Exercise and Mental Stimulation: Daily walks, play, and movement keep both body and mind active.
• Routine Veterinary Care: Regular check-ups will help keep your pup happy and healthy.
• Safe Living Environment: A safe, comfortable space where your dog can rest and relax.
• Routine: Consistent schedules for feeding, walking, and downtime help build trust.
• Check-ins: Adjust routines as your dog grows or ages to match changing needs.

Adding structure and reliability gives your dog a stress-free foundation for daily life and strengthens the bond you share. Then depending on your dog’s personality the way you go about shifting parts of his daily routine will be the cherry on the top.

ps. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you are not meeting these needs perfectly every day. Perfection is overrated, and as long as your dog feels safe, you will figure it out together.

Nutrition: What Dogs Need in Their Diet

Feeding your dog the right food is one of the simplest but most powerful ways to support long-term health. Just like us, dogs do best with balance rather than perfection. Unless yours is a canine Olympian, the goal is healthy and tasty—not obsessing over the priciest bag of food. A budget-friendly option is fine as long as it meets basic needs.

General Guidelines

• Puppies: Choose food labeled for puppies, designed for growth.
• Heavier dogs: Opt for lower-calorie formulas.
• Lean or active dogs: Standard foods usually work; adjust by size (small, medium, large).

How to Choose the Right Food

• Look for whole meat or fish as the first ingredient.
• Avoid fillers, artificial colors, and unnecessary additives.
• Use feeding guidelines on the bag as a baseline, but adjust based on weight, coat, and energy.

Other Essentials for a Balanced Diet

• Water: Keep clean, cool water available at all times.
• Treats: Keep under 10% of daily calories. Choose healthy options like single-ingredient snacks or frozen fruit.
• Allergies: If scratching or digestive issues persist, ask your vet about sensitivities.
• Special diets: Homemade or unique diets must be nutritionally complete. A vet or canine nutritionist can help ensure balance.

Roxy currently eats Science Diet. We are slowly transitioning him from the puppy to the adult food. He then also gets treats throughout the day.

Exercise and Mental Stimulation

Exercise is important, but so is keeping your dog’s brain engaged. Interactive play, puzzle feeders, and—most importantly—quality one-on-one time give your dog a sense of connection. Dogs are pack animals at heart and want to feel bonded with their humans.

Ways We Keep It Fresh with Roxy

• Rotate toys: Instead of constantly buying new ones, I rotate Roxy’s toys. A toy he hasn’t seen in a month feels brand new and gets him excited again.
• Nose work games: We use little pouches that look like tea bags, and I train Roxy to sniff them out. It sounds tricky, but he surprised me with how quickly he figured it out. (can be found on Amazon)
• Training games: Teaching Roxy fun tricks doubles as bonding and brainwork. He loves the challenge and I love seeing him focus.
• Hide-and-seek: A family favorite. My 7yo son holds onto Roxy while I hide. As soon as he lets go, Roxy races to find me—usually rewarded with a treat at the end. He absolutely loves this game.

Read more about the enrichment benefits of dog walks (..ever heard of sniff walks?)

Spotting Signs of Boredom

Bored dogs often look for mischief. For Roxy, it shows up as pulling toilet paper or grabbing coasters. If your dog is getting into things they shouldn’t, try adding an extra play session or switching up activities—it often makes a big difference.

Routine Vet Visits: Catching Problems Early

One of the trickiest parts of dog ownership for me has been figuring out vet care and insurance. Prices are all over the place, and knowing what’s essential versus what feels “extra” can be stressful. Still, routine care should always be part of the budget.

Check out these 8 Hacks to Saving Money as a Dog Owner

Most dogs should see the vet at least once a year. Puppies, seniors, or dogs with medical needs may need more frequent visits. Regular checkups catch small problems before they become big ones, and building a good relationship with your vet makes both routine care and emergencies much smoother.

Vaccines: Core and Optional

Veterinarians recommend core vaccines for all dogs: rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus. Depending on where you live and your dog’s lifestyle, your vet may also suggest vaccines like Lyme disease, Bordetella, or leptospirosis.

Most vaccines start in puppyhood and are kept up-to-date with boosters as your dog matures. For city dogs like ours in Chicago, these are especially important since they encounter lots of other pups in parks and on walks.

Preventive Medications: Our Experience with Roxy

Preventive medications are just as important as vaccines:

• Heartworm prevention: Essential in Chicago, since heartworm-carrying mosquitoes are active here. It can be life-threatening if untreated.
• Flea and tick meds: Even indoor dogs can pick up pests. Options include collars, spot-ons, or chewables.
• Deworming: Important for puppies and dogs who like to eat odd things on walks.

Our Yorkie, Roxy, takes Simparica Trio monthly. It covers heartworm, fleas, ticks, and intestinal worms. At around $36–43 per dose, it’s not cheap, so I’m always looking at alternative options that might offer similar protection at a lower cost.

Safe Living Environment: Routines and Retreats That Help Dogs Thrive

Setting up your home for canine comfort and safety is just as important as food, exercise, and vet care. A well-prepared home helps your dog feel secure, reduces stress, and prevents accidents. Simple steps like providing cozy resting areas, removing hazards, and keeping routines consistent can make a huge difference in your dog’s well-being.

Quiet Spaces

Dogs sleep alot during the day, therefore they feel best when they can snuggle into a preferred area and enjoy uninterrupted sleep. So if your house is busy during the day with children (like us with my son) or you live with noisy roommates, your dog will feel at best if it has an area of the house it knows will be quiet.

For example, we have a playpen area for our Yorkie Roxy that has very little traffic during the day, he can go there and know he won’t be disturbed. For the most part though Roxy prefers sleeping on a folded blanket on the couch, the backrest pillow of our couch, on our beanbag or sunbarthing by livingroom floor on the wood floor.

Crate Use

Dogs are natural den animals, and a crate can provide a sense of safety if introduced positively. A crate also helps protect both your dog and your home when needed.

For example, during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Roxy was terrified by the loud noises. We moved his crate into the back bathroom, covered it with a blanket, and it instantly gave him a safe, calm place to settle.

If you’re curious whether crates are a good fit for your dog, I’ve written other blog posts that go deeper into crate training and benefits.

You can learn more if crates are a good fit for you with these other blog posts I have written on the subject.

Routine

Dogs thrive on predictability. A familiar daily rhythm—knowing when it’s time for walks, meals, or treats—creates a sense of security. They also enjoy waking up and going to bed around the same time as their favorite humans.

With Roxy, we notice the difference right away if we drift off our routine—he gets more whiny and restless. Like many pets in those funny viral videos, Roxy sometimes insists we get to bed on time and is just as eager to wake us up in the morning.

Frequently Asked Dog Health Questions

Here are a few common questions that come up when you’re working to keep your dog healthy:

Question: How often should I bathe my dog?
Answer: Most dogs only need a bath every month or two unless they’ve found something smelly. Overbathing can dry out their skin, so watch how their coat feels and adjust as needed.

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Question: Can dogs eat people food?
Answer: Some human foods, like plain cooked chicken, carrots, or blueberries, are safe in small doses. Avoid grapes, chocolate, onions, and any foods with xylitol since they can be dangerous for dogs even in tiny amounts.

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Question: Do dogs really need annual vet checkups?
Answer: Annual exams are essential for catching issues early. Senior dogs or those with health issues may benefit from more frequent visits. Routine blood panels can also catch hidden illnesses early.

Final Thoughts

Dogs are family, and keeping them healthy calls for daily attention to food, exercise, routine care, and those all-important vet visits. Paying attention to your dog’s individual quirks and working closely with your veterinarian makes it easier to spot problems early, adjust their care as needed, and help them feel their best every single day.

Healthy dogs make happy homes. Watching your pup live their fullest, tail-wagging life is honestly one of the best rewards for any dog lover.