photo ButcherandBuschelBanner_zps60b017ff.jpg

Friday, September 23, 2011

Loving Your Life with Dogs:
My Top Ten Tips

by Carrie Boyko, CEB
(c) Carrie Boyko
Playtime Bonds. Enjoy it Often!
             
Daily vigorous exercise and mental challenges or puzzle toys help fatigue mind and body.  These healthy activities promote emotional and physical health.

Provide regular preventive health care to include needed vaccinations that will protect your dog from illness.  Foster a relationship with an open-minded veterinarian who will work with you based on your philosophies and belief system.

Continue to prevent long term health problems with the best, healthy organic or all-natural
diet you can offer.

Watch your own attitudes and anxieties as you work with your dog.  Fido’s ability to tune into your emotions will tell him whether you are capable of watching his back.  This will return to you in spades. 

Train or treat with organic fruits, veggies and commercially-prepared treats that supplement a healthy lifestyle, not Fido’s waistline.

Socialize your dog with both humans and other dogs.  Offer a variety of activities,
venues and experiences to extend and maintain his social skills.

Train, train and train.  When you think you’re done, don’t stop, but continue to
practice.  Training will continue to maintain good behavior and build the bond
you and your best friend have.

Encourage bonding with all family members.  Design exercises to develop loyalty and devotion to every member of the immediate or extended family, working toward complete assurance of safety and a happy co-existence.

            Include off-leash activities often and be sure to regularly practice “Come when
            called.”  This is the skill that could save his life one day.

As your dog ages, add patience and compassion to your own repertoire, while  giving your dog opportunities for daily outings and the stimulation of social and active experiences. Moderate the activity to suit his health and enjoyment.

(c) Carrie Boyko
Senior Dogs Need Love Too
Don’t believe the old adage, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”  While significant change may be tough on your senior dog, learning new skills is still possible in advanced years and will give you both a feeling of purpose and reason to continue practicing. 

What would you add to this list?

Today's post is part of the Saturday Pet Blogger hop sponsored by Two Little Cavaliers, Confessions of the Plume and Life with Dogs. We invite you to peruse the list below. If you'd like to link up your pet blog, the rules follow, as copied from Life with Dogs.



  • Link up your pet blog name and URL using the Linky Tool below. You only need to add your link once to be seen on all the Saturday Pet Blogger Blog Hop Linky Tools for that week. Note that if your blog is not pet related your link will be removed. Also note that only one post per blog is acceptable, and links promoting giveaways that are unrelated to the pet blogger hop will be removed. This is a community building exercise and not a promotional vehicle – please treat it as such.
  • Grab the “Saturday Pet Blogger Blog Hop” button on the right hand side of this site and include it in your Saturday Blog hop post so that your readers will know what is going on. *Note – posting is optional. Feel free to just link and follow.
  • Follow your co-hosts listed in the first 3 slots of the Linky Tool.
  • Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you’d like.
  • Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you’re from the blog hop.
  • Follow back when you get a new follower through the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop.
  • Make friends and grow. ♥


11 comments:



melfr said...

Really great tips that so many dog owners need to remember when they get a dog. I especially liked the one on watching your attitudes and anxieties. I really had to be aware of that when working with Daisy. Always good advice!



Unknown said...

I put Pepper's breakfast kibble in a Nina Ottosson dog brick IQ toy. It keeps her busy and slows her eating.



www.YourOldDog.com said...

Nice list Carrie.

My doberman Jenna is and has always been a little toy possessive, but she's gotten much better over the years. I place her treats in interactive toys and she loves it. So even though I can't always play directly with her, she really enjoys the challenge.



Laurel said...

Great tips Carrie. I never realized how important it is to play with them until I got Alex as a puppy. It felt silly to get myself in play bow position, but it really helped us to bond.
Laurel, Alex and Baker
http://laurelhuntbooks.com
Bark Wag Love



Tisha said...

Great tips. Spending time training, socializing,and bonding with your pet makes them great pets.



Anonymous said...

Great tips Carrie!!! I don't go to the dog park in our area. I have seen to many dogs get in fights and in up with blood on them. They both go to agility classes which is great. Great exercise and they can socialize with the other dogs at class.

Sharon Gilbert



Amazon CARES said...

Thanks for the tips Carrie!
Spending time with pets in dog parks are a great way to socialize!



Kolchak Puggle said...

Awesome post! You and I have such a similar puppy love philosophy. My daily goal: to spend 10 minutes of "me time" which each of my dogs on their own. Koly and I have "Mom and Koly flip over time" and for Felix, we go out in the dark & snuggle under the stars.



Boondocks Love Shack Pack said...

All great tips!!

AROOOOOF!
Boondocks & The Love Shack Pack



Jane Cooper said...

Thanks Carrie for such a useful post!! I almost do everything except for watching my own attitude and anxiety while working with him. This is, I feel, is very important as it will help him get tuned into my emotions for understanding my commands clearly.
I must say that I consulted the vets from http://www.petnvetfinder.com/, who have also helped me to a greater degree in controlling and training my Duke.



Pup Fan said...

Fantastic tips!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
 
Blog Design by A Mommy's Blog Design (© Copyright 2011)
Header Banner created by Bill Henderson Design