Benefits of Having Fun with Your Dog

Benefits of Having Fun with Your Dog

They say a dog is man’s best friend.  I think there are many good reasons that dogs can be our best friends and one of them is that we can have so much fun with them!  To some people owning a dog seems like another To Do to check off the list every day. Is that how you look at spending time with your best friend?  I hope not. Today I want to inspire you to think differently about spending time with your dog because it is a win win for both of you.  

Any amount of time you spend with your dog helps you mentally and physically.  You get some exercise and reduce your stress. Also, just by petting your dog you experience affection which can really help curb depression.  I am thrilled to see dogs being used in schools for reading therapy, at colleges during exam week and at senior living facilities. These environments get it (the value of spending time with dogs).  Most breeds (but not all unfortunately) innately want to please their masters. They want to be part of your pack. By letting them in, you allow their unconditional love to help you and your family be healthier.  

I think if you are still reading, you agree with what I am saying.  But on a daily basis what can you be doing to spend time together?   The options are endless but here are my 7 favorite things

to do with my dogs:

1. Play fetch
2. Pet them
3. Go for walks and bike rides
4. Do tricks
5. Groom them
6. Take them to the store (I love to show them off!)
7. Go for a hike in the woods or at a park

Because today is Halloween, I want to focus on #4. Do tricks.  Probably not actually on Halloween but maybe tomorrow, grab 10 treats and your clicker and

train a new trick. This can be a fun time spent together because your  dog is pretty much like a toddler so they always want to play and wrestle. They love to learn. Putting those things together is what doing tricks is all about. You get to engage their mind and body in the activity.  So what are some easy, fun tricks you can do together? Glad you asked. Here are my fav 5:

1. Play dead
2. Hi five
3. Hide & Seek (I hide their favorite toy and they find it)
4. Treat on the nose 
5. Jump through a hoop

When I work with my clients I give them a trick book to help inspire having fun along the way.  The book give is, 101 Dog Tricks: Step-by-Step Activities to Engage, Challenge and Bond with Your Dog by Kyra Sundance and Chalcy.  It has great photos and easy to follow instructions.  Or if you want quick access to visual training you can find several demonstrations on YouTube.  Go ahead and give yourself a treat today (instead of candy) and do something fun with your dog…your best friend.