10 Ways to Show Your Dog How Much You Love Them
1. Tell Your Dog: A recent study published in the journal of Science found that dogs do understand some human speech. MRI brain scans of the dogs that participated in the study showed that they experienced the most happiness when they not only heard a praising tone, but when they heard words of praise too. So telling your dog you love them in a praising tone is a great way to show your love.
2. Go for a Walk with Your Dog: Daily walks are so important for our dogs’ mental and physical health. In addition to helping with weight control, they also provide mental stimulation, improve socialization skills, and reduce loneliness. Walks are also a great way to strengthen your bond with your dog.
3. Play with Your Dog: Play is one of the best ways to bond with your dog and it keeps them happy and healthy. It not only helps our dogs learn how to interact appropriately with humans and it also provides physical and mental stimulation. Tug of war, fetch, find it, frisbee, and agility are just a few fun games you can play with your dog.
4. Train Your Dog: Dogs don’t know English and are constantly trying to figure out our human rules. They really want to understand what we want them to do, but without consistent rules, cues, and training techniques among all family members they will be confused.
5. Provide Your Dog with Mental Stimulation: We often forget how smart dogs are and like humans, they need to be mentally stimulated to prevent boredom. Daily sniff walks, trick training, nose work (find it games), and interactive and puzzle toys are all great ways to provide your dog with needed mental stimulation.
6. Learn Your Dog’s Language: Dogs communicate primarily through body language. When we understand our dog’s communication signals, we are better able to empathize, bond and meet their needs.
7. Groom/Examine Your Dog: Daily exams can help you monitor your dog’s health and find lumps, sores, fleas, ticks, ear mites and injures before they worsen. Daily exams can also put your dog at ease during vet visits. Frequent brushing helps keep your dog’s fur shiny and healthy by removing dead hair, dirt, and dandruff. Nail trims are important in preventing pain and pressure on the toe joint.
8. Watch Your Dog’s Weight: Being overweight not only prevents dogs from enjoying physical activities due to lack of stamina, difficulty breathing and joint pain, it can also cause many health problems including diabetes, high blood pressure, decrease liver function, digestive disorders, skin and coat disorders and increase risk of cancer. So watching your dog’s weight is one of the most loving things you can do for them.
9. Go on an Adventure with Your Dog: Dogs love to spend time and have fun with their human, so take a hike, go to beach, explore a local park or just take a car ride to a drive thru with your dog.
10. Show Your Dog Affection: Affection helps build a trusting and lasting bond with your dog. Although, in general, dogs don’t like hugs, most enjoy long soft strokes down the body, butt and chin scratches, and gently massaging.