Morristown, TN
The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that 38.4% of households in the U.S. own a dog. That adds up to more than 48 million households! With the hustle and bustle of work and daily life, many devoted dog owners cannot spend as much quality time as they would like with their canine family members. You may need to board your dog often due to frequent travel for business or pleasure. Or, perhaps you need to place your canine pal in doggy daycare in Morristown on busy workdays. At AllDogs Canine Care Center, we believe it’s past time for you to make up for lost time with your dog. That’s why we comprised this list of six ways to help you and your pet connect.
Tip 1) Train your dog
There’s a greater goal to training that goes beyond curtailing bad habits, learning tricks to impress your friends and family, or making sure your dog is a good canine citizen. Training forges a bond between you and your pet. Your dog will recognize that you’re pleased when they learn your commands and can follow them. In return, your dog receives praise and a reward. Training sessions don’t have to be lengthy—and should only be a few minutes when you’re starting—but training regularly helps you and your dog connect.
Tip 2) Hand feeding
If you’ve got a puppy, hand feeding can be a great teaching tool. It reduces your dog’s likelihood of being aggressive and teaches respectful behavior at mealtimes. It also reinforces pack behaviors instilled in your dog from generations of evolution. When you feed your dog by hand, you’re showing that you are the pack leader while also letting your dog know you will provide for them.
Tip 3) Explore nature together
Most dogs have one thing in common: they love walks. You can go for a stroll around the block or through your neighborhood, but going on a nature walk can pay real dividends in building bonds between you and your four-legged friend. This extended walk helps you learn to walk together, establish boundaries for your dog, and can count on you to lead them when you’re exploring the world. You identify your dog’s likes, dislikes, what distracts them, and what you should avoid during these exploratory jaunts.
Tip 4) Play together
Play is an invaluable teaching tool for your dog. It plays a major role in socialization and helps your dog learn what behaviors are appropriate and inappropriate. Whether your dog is playing with a person or another dog, vocal and body signals serve as learning tools for your canine. You also can let your dog know when enough is enough by giving vocal commands or physically withdrawing from play altogether. Regular play helps you recognize these vocal and physical cues in your dog as well but helps your dog read your emotions, learn your body language, and recognize your commands.
Tip 5) Make eye contact
In the wild, wolves use eye contact to challenge would-be rivals. Your dog might be descended from these wolves, but in modern, tame dogs, eye contact is usually a sign of affection. For both dogs and humans, when they look at one another, they experience a flood of the chemical oxytocin, which is a chemical that is released when we experience feelings of love. Gaze at your four-legged friend for a few minutes each day, and your connection will grow deeper.
Tip 6) Nap together
Even if your dog has its own sleeping space at night, sleeping next to one another from time to time helps build trust between you and your pet. Maybe your dog is a relatively new family member or is still adjusting to home life after coming from a shelter. If your dog falls asleep near you or next to you, it means they feel safe and protected. And snuggling up together, whether you’re napping or just relaxing, helps release endorphins for you both.
Doggy boarding and daycare services in Morristown and Jefferson City
Maybe your job or lifestyle takes you away from home regularly. If so, then you can trust AllDogs for both your boarding and daycare needs. Our boarding units provide both inside and outside access, and we staff our facility 24 hours a day, every day of the year. We offer both individual boarding and PlayCamp for dogs that prefer to be sociable. To find out more, call AllDogs at (865) 475-2225.