Shirin Dhabhar
Ever caught yourself singing to your dog, convinced that your off-key rendition of ‘Who Let the Dogs Out’ is the highlight of their day? Or perhaps you’ve splurged on a designer dog bed, only to find Zorro happily snoozing on a pile of laundry instead? As loving dog-parents, we often think we know exactly what makes our furry friends happy. But while we’re busy buying gourmet treats and planning doggy playdates, our canine companions might just be dreaming of a good, old-fashioned game of fetch or a simple belly-rub. Do you want an inside look into the simple pleasures that light up your dog’s life and keep them content? Join us as we sniff out the real secrets to canine contentment, and find out what truly makes those tails wag!
Turn Chow Time Into Wow Time!
What does that mean? In their natural state, wild dogs would use all their senses when eating – sniffing out the prey, running and chasing, using their paws and jaws to eat. It’s a full experience. Now compare that with how we feed them in a boring bowl! If you want your dog to enjoy mealtimes, trigger a bit of his natural instincts. You can scatter your dog’s food (if it’s dry kibble), hide the food around a room so that he has to use his nose to find it, put the food in a Kong toy that will dispense it slowly as the dog pushes the toy around, or even freeze the food in the bowl and then let your dog work through it. You will notice mealtimes, especially for fussy eaters becomes a lot more fun.
Frocks And Frills? No Thrills
No dog really enjoys wearing clothes – it only makes the humans happy to see pets dressed in human clothes. Sorry to upset you if you just bought your dog an Elvis outfit, but it’s true. Instead, your dog would love a cloak of mud, to splash in water, and roll in the grass. Dogs want to be dogs and do doggy things – that’s what makes them happy!
Keep The Peace
A lot of pet parents are surprised to know that their dogs could be stressed out. A home that has chaos, loud sounds, shouting, or is generally a stressed, chaotic place will stress out your pooch. Stressed dogs tend to have gut issues, chronic skin issues, behaviour problems that can include noise sensitivity, fears, irrational bouts of aggression and sleep issues. If any of this has you concerned, take a look at your home and see if the environment is stressful for your dog. Stress affects dogs just as it affects us and it’s unlikely that your dog will be happy when stressed. If you think your dog is stressed, try de-stressing your dog. No, you don’t have to dim the lights and light incense, but do fun activities with your dog – play, go for a drive, share an ice-cream, engage your dog’s senses through games – smell, sight, hearing, touch and taste. Research shows that when the senses are engaged, stress reduces and happy hormones are released. Remember, a stressed out home or human will almost always result in a stressed-out dog, so control your stress levels for your dog’s sake.
Brainy Paws: Keep That Noggin Joggin’!
Most people proudly tell me how their dog eats imported food, sleeps all day on a designer bed and goes for two walks. They think that it’s the perfect life to lead. But, in my opinion, it’s cruel to let your dog lie around all day wasting away. Our dogs have clever minds, most are working breeds and want to use their brains, work and feel fulfilled doing what their breed was meant to do. So, if you want a happy dog, put that clever brain to work. Play engaging games, allow your dog to do what his genetics would want him to – Labradors would love to swim, play search in a field of grass and fetch. Beagles would love to go on a treasure hunt, German Shepherds would love to chase and herd objects – get the gist? If you can’t take your dog outside, then how about some fun scenting games at home, a DIY agility course, or even a visit to the beach or a trek in the hills outside of town? A lot of behaviour issues in dogs are a result of their brain not being used in a positive way. Switch up the fun quotient and you will see your dog become content and confident.
Woof! Growf! Yap!
Want a happy dog? Then learn to speak his language. No, you don’t need one of those Chinese dog translators, just spend some time learning canine communication. Dogs speak to us all the time, it’s our responsibility to listen. Unlike our language of grammar and spellings and dialects, dogs have an easier way of communication – through subtle body language changes… a turn of the head, a wag of the tail, a play bow or even a roll over! All these convey a message. Learn to understand what your dog is saying and you will notice a distinct change in your dog’s behaviour as he finally knows he can be heard.
Respect Your Dog’s Needs And Wants
When I work with clients, I always hear – I want my dog to do this, I want my dog to behave like this, I want my dog to be friendly, I want, I want…
It’s always what we want. But what does your dog want? I tell my clients, if your dog could speak, what would he say? What would he want to do? There’s always a long pause as many realise that their wants and their dog’s wants are poles apart. It doesn’t mean you have to give your dog biryani or play all day, but is it possible to listen to your dog for other situations?
If your dog doesn’t like playing with other dogs, can we avoid it instead of forcing them to be friends with other dogs because it makes us happy? If your dog doesn’t like being touched by guests, can we allow him to go into another room instead of compelling him to play with strangers? If your dog feels heard and understood, you will see a radical change in his behaviour from a grouchy pet to a happy dog.
Be Kind: Your Dog’s Trust Is Everything
Do you remember the time you brought your dog home? Whether you bought your puppy or adopted a dog, that drive home when your dog was on your lap, you had a dream- your dog would be your best friend, you would have a playmate, you’ll would go places together… Just as we have dreams and aspirations for our dogs, our dogs have them too. I am sure that little puppy sitting in your lap was hoping that this home would be a good one, the humans would be kind, treat with respect, feed him, keep him warm, be there when he’s sick… If you love your dog, then try live up to what your dog dreamt of when he came home to you. Don’t break your dog’s trust in you by smacking, using harmful tools or hurting your dog. No matter what the problem, remember there is always a kind way to deal with it.
Time Is The Best Treat
Your dog doesn’t care how rich or poor you are, how you look or what designer clothes you wear. Your dog loves you for you. So instead of showering your dog with expensive treats, fancy toys and designer clothes, give the one thing your dog truly wants from you – your time. Play with your dog, make time to take him for a walk, go for treks on weekends, go for drives together – be there. Our dogs’ lives are short; they spend most of it waiting for us to get home. So, when possible, spend time with your dog – that’s one of the best gifts you can ever give them.
As you can see, it doesn’t take a lot to make a dog happy. Their joys come from the simplest things in life – companionship, kindness, play and the freedom to be themselves. While our efforts to pamper and spoil them come from a place of love, sometimes all they really want is a bit of our time, a lot of our understanding, and the occasional stolen sock.
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