On #LoveYourPetDay we can do something special to tell our furry companions just how much we appreciate them and thank them for being with us. Whether it’s a walk to their favourite place, a training date, a new food treat or a book, they’ll love you for it.
Love is NOT all a dog needs
| I sighed. I was tired. Tired and frustrated of chasing banks and other institutions for the information I need to move forward with probate for my brother’s estate. Then a cold, slightly slimy, nose pushed into my hand. I glanced down to see two big brown eyes gazing up at me. I immediately started to feel better and bent down for a Gus-cuddle. It lasted all of 0.02 seconds – until the postman arrived and Gus tore himself away to take up his guard duty barking out of the front window. I appreciated the contact, brief though it was. You’ll face problems, frustrations and annoyances in life that they can weigh you down, we all do. And yes, it’s good to talk to our human family and friends. But sometimes that unencumbered, uncomplicated, straightforward, affection and love you have with your dog is the best way to anchor you back into the present and help troubles fade away. The benefits to us of a canine companion That companionship works both ways. I love Gus, therefore I make his life as good as I can by providing what he needs – regular walks and training as well as companionship. Here at Down Dog we call today Doggy Chocolate Day. (We don’t give our dogs human chocolate of course, it’s poisonous to them, but doggy chocolate is fine.) It’s a day when we can do something special to tell our furry companions just how much we appreciate them and thank them for being with us. What can you do to show your love today? I’m taking Gus out for an extra special walk today and I’ve bought him some of the treats he adores. (I’ve even wrapped them up because he loves tearing wrapping paper apart.) Are you doing anything special for your dog today? Have you bought them a special gift? Here are some ideas if you’re stuck: Go for a walk to their favourite placeVisit a doggy friend for a play/training date Add some fresh treats to their dinner – bits of carrot, broccoli or other foods they likeBook them a fun training course such as PiiP, or our new Introduction to Rally and Nosework PiiP is about Putting everything you learned at our Perfect Pet course (and more) into Practice in FIVE different real life situations and places around Ards and North Down. This newly revised six week course also includes an Introduction to Rally and Nosework taster session (see below). The PiiP course costs £147, or you can pay in instalments of £49 per month by joining our Down Dog Devotee membership (minimum membership period 3 months) and get all those benefits too – see the link for more details. If you’ve already done a PiiP course, or just want something different, why not try a Rally and Nosework taster session? These fun sessions will run about every 6 weeks on a Sunday and costs £25. (NB Do NOT book this if you book PiiP, as it is included in that course.) You’ll try Rally for half the session and Nosework for the other half. What is Rally, I hear you say? Rally is like a fun “obedience obstacle course” where you follow a course with different signs asking you and your dog to do something different at each one. Things like, sit, down, stand, come and sit, turns in different directions and so on. The sort of things you learn at our Perfect Pet course. It’s a great, fun way to practice the cues you’ve learnt and learn some new ones. Nosework is exactly what it says – your dog finding something using their nose. Dogs live in a world based around scent, so using their nose is entirely natural. And as you know, any sort of sniff work is the best way to satisfy and tire your dog. I guarantee they’ll love this. Why not give it a try? Keep training and stay safe, Carol |
