Scientists have proven that contact with a pet makes a person calmer and happier. If you want to reciprocate your four-legged friend’s feelings, the following 10 tips will help you.
Protect your pet from strangers
Often, owners do not realize that even a friendly stranger can cause stress to their pet. Therefore, protection primarily means avoiding contact with intrusive people – you will probably take your four-legged friend away from a pack of aggressive stray dogs without delay. If someone asks to pet your dog – ask them not to do this, so that the pet does not have to stand up for itself: bark, growl and bite.
Spend time alone
Strengthening the bond with your dog can be done through active play or just lying on the couch together. Two short forced walks a day do not count. Try to find time to spend one-on-one time with your pet. Giving your puppy enough attention is one of the best things you can do for his well-being. Dogs, like people, can suffer from boredom and loneliness.
Make room for disorder
No matter how well-mannered your pet is, it still remains an animal with innate instincts. For example, dogs of hunting breeds often like to dig the ground. Although this is inappropriate on a perfect lawn, your pet will be happy if it has such a place where it can frolic to its heart’s content. Digging a hole is not an empty pampering for your dog, but a full-fledged training and an opportunity to relieve stress.
Give it a rest
Adequate rest is as important for dogs as it is for people. Make sure your pet gets enough rest, especially after a grueling workout. According to dog experts, it is fatigue, not a bad character, that often causes unwanted behavior in four-legged animals, especially puppies. They may simply be acting up like little children.
Expand the world
Boring daily activities become boring not only for you, but also for your pet. Try to walk your dog on unfamiliar routes from time to time. Dogs love to get acquainted with new smells and sounds – so a trip to the park on the other side of the city will be a real holiday and adventure for your pet. Don’t forget about the intellectual component – it is useful for dogs to explore the world as a warm-up for the brain.
Make sure you have the right food
Properly selected nutrition will ensure good health and sufficient energy. In addition, chewing special toys not only maintains dental health, but also has a calming effect, helps the animal cope with stress and anxiety. There is also a share of entertainment in this, chewing treats can occupy a furry friend for a couple of hours.
Avoid routine
Offer your dog new and fun activities often. Have your pet train on a specially equipped playground, ask him to fetch a stick, or play hide-and-seek. The possibilities for playing together are almost endless. How about a dog parkour class? This is a great way to teach your pet a new trick and play a little with him at the same time.
Let the dog sniff you
Let your dog sniff you as much as possible: Sniffing is very important for your dog. Not only does it give them a great mental workout, but it can also tire them out much faster than traditional exercise. Don’t believe us? “I Tried a 45-Minute Sniffer and My Border Collie Was More Tired Than a Two-Hour Walk!” is a book worth reading if you want to learn more about the benefits of sniffing.
Use positive reinforcement
It was once believed that the best way to teach a dog something was to punish it. Fortunately, much has changed since then. Scientists have proven that positive reinforcement works just as well. Encouraging your pet is the best way to make your dog behave well without undermining its trust.
Contact ethical professionals
Only go to loyal and ethical animal specialists, carefully read reviews so that the vet’s office does not seem like a torture chamber to your dog. And after training with a cruel trainer, your dog will definitely not be happier. Your pet and you will be calmer if you can stay nearby even during treatment or training with a professional.