On average, a dog owner spends about
40 minutes with their pet every day. The attention that pet owners give their
pets causes them to thrive. Studies show that spending time with pets like dogs
helps improve the health of their owners. Even so, the time spent with dogs
needs to feature activities that make it fun for both the owner and the pet. As
a dog owner, you need to consider activities you want to engage in with your
pet when choosing a dog breed.
Here are various ways you can engage and spend more hours with your dog:
1. Take it
to pet events
If you reside in urban areas, there are numerous pet
events that go on in the city during summer. Make enquiries or check listings
in your areas to find friendly events where you can hang out with your pet.
During such events, your dog can socialize with other dogs and have fun in the
excellent summer weather. You can even opt to invite
other families and friends who own pets for a pet-friendly event in your own
home.
2. Share
little moments
You do not necessarily need to put hours of your free
time to your do to show it some love. You can talk to it while going about your
chores in the house. It really does not matter much about what you talk to it
about, just maintain eye contact and be attentive to it. In the evening, brush
your dog as you watch television or read to your kids. During the day take some
time to play with your dog. There are many different dog fetch toys or tug of war toys available. You are surely to find
something you and your dog enjoy!
3. Teach it
to obey
If you are too busy to take your dog for a ball
tossing session in the backyard, consider giving your dog some attention by
helping it practice some obedience skills while you make dinner, do some
paperwork or fold laundry. You can teach it simple skills like getting a
rolling ball, sit-stays and lay down stays and horn them over time. Ensure the
sessions are light and easy, just what he needs to refresh his skills while
soaking in some attention.
4. Take it
out on errands
If you have a dog that enjoys seeing different
sceneries, take it with you the next time you go out for a walk or a drive
outside your home. For this work well, ensure that the errands you are going
for don’t require you to leave the dog in the car for a long period. There are
more and more dog friendly locations these days.
5. Take it
to outings
During summer, the activities you can enjoy with your
dog are endless. From hiking, biking to trail runs and beach days, these are
possible activities that your dog can enjoy. You can have it running along as
you engage in workout or have it hangout with you on the beach. All you need to
do is to ensure that your dog is well hydrated with clean water and fed during
the outing. Also, bear in mind the laws that apply in the areas you choose to
hangout and keep an eye on it to ensure he stays safe.
6. Take it
to the pet store with you
When you go picking routine stuff like litter and
food for your pet, take your dog with you. A visit to the pet store can be much
fun for your dog because while there, he can try out some new toys and enjoy
some treats in your local pet store. You may also consider stopping at a
restaurant with your dog on your way back just to spend some more time with
your dog.
7. Engage it
in outdoor chores
If you own a home, you probably spend your weekends
doing some yard work like mowing or watering the lawn, raking leaves, shoveling
and blowing the snow if you live in a cold area and tending to the shrubs. You
can find ways to make these activities fun for your dog. For instance, you can
rake leaves with your dog or just watch it romp in the leaves.
8. Groom and
bond with your dog
Owning a dog comes with some grooming
responsibilities. For instance, you need to bath and brush your dog as well as
clean his ears, teeth and trim his nails. Rather than seeing these
responsibilities as regular chores, turn them into a bonding experience. As you
groom your dog, connect and talk to it as well as have fun with it during the
process. The act of brushing or grooming your dog can also be a bonding
experience.
9. Take it
out for a treat
Though many cafes do not allow pets, there are some
restaurants that target pet owners and allow them to bring their dogs in. These
are mainly available in big cities such as San Diego and New York but you could
find them in a city near you if you search for them. Some other options could
include informing cafes that you prefer ahead to find out whether there are
patio seating available so you bring your dog along with you.
10.
Make hospital visits
This is not a common way of spending time with your
pet, but it is a critical one. If you have a dog that grew up in a family set
up, he is probably lonely after your kids leave for college. You can reduce
this loneliness by taking your dog for hospital visits one day per week. Such
visits would not only boost your morale and that of your pet, but also that of
other people in hospital facilities.
11.
Teach Your Dog to track items
Pick items that carry you scent and play hide and
seek with your dog. This will help you teach your dog how to track crimes. For
instance, during winter, you may place a milk bone in a glove or even bury it
under the snow and send you dog out to go find it. Consider testing your dog’s
agility by creating obstacles and overcoming them together. This requires you
to put up a professional set up so you run alongside your dog. You can also
watch some pet videos with your dog on this then practice the same.
12.
Walk Your Dog
Walks are an important part of a dog’s life. These
walks give your dog the opportunity to investigate areas outside the home. On
walks dogs can smell other dog’s scents and marking to tell which dogs have
been through the area. Taking your dog on walks will be a positive experience
for your dog. This will help strengthen your bond with your dog.
13.
Take Your Dog to Dog Parks
Dog parks give your dog the opportunity to socialize
with other dogs. Your dog will most likely run off and play with other dogs,
however this is still a bonding experience because you are the one taking your
dog which is another positive experience with you. This will also help your dog
be more emotionally stable because of the other dog interactions.
14.
Let your Dog Splash in Water
Dogs love water and will enjoy the opportunity to
splash in the water you provided them. In general this fits into the category
of spending more time with your dog doing things it enjoys. This is a recipe
for some serious bonding!
15.
Remain Calm
In general, when people are calm they are more
approachable. Dogs also pick up on these behaviors and avoid you when you are
loud and erratic if it’s in an aggressive nature. Remaining calm will make your
dog feel like you are approachable at any time. This will make you dog feel
welcome when around you resulting in the dog hanging around more.
16.
Understand what stresses out your dog
Different dogs like different things. There are also
times when your dog can be spooked such as during rough weather, when cats are
around, etc. It’s good to know your dogs behavior to limit the amount of
distress the dog can develop which can lead to emotional development problems
which result it behaviors such as peeing in bad places or being destructive.
These behaviors do NOT lead to bonding.
17.
Praise the Dog to Promote Desired Behavior
This goes along with emotional distress. If you
positively promote your dog’s behavior when they do something you like it will
lead to better behavior overall. Your dog will understand what your
expectations are and will do the things you like even more. This will
strengthen your bond with your dog when you feel they are obedient and well
behaved.
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