While loving your dog might seem like a simple concept, there’s more to than adoring him and spoiling him with treats and toys.
Loving your dog is about building a strong bond with him and acting in his best interest. A well-loved dog will feel safe, cherished, and secure, yet still know and follow the rules of canine citizenship. If you take the right steps, you can remain in charge while still having a friendly relationship with your dog.
Part of nurturing your dog is rewarding your dog’s good behavior with food, attention, or play, and knowing how to correct bad behavior. This way, he won’t repeat the action.
Recognize the importance of boundaries. Since your dog will share your home, he needs to understand your rules and expectations, such as where to toilet, not chewing furniture, and not stealing food off of the table. If you don’t set limits, your dog will find yours by doing something that upsets you.
Consistently enforce rules. When you notice your dog breaking a rule, don’t just ignore it sometimes and enforce it other times. This will send a confusing message to your dog, so that when you do correct him, he’ll become conflicted and distressed. He may even challenge you by growling or attempting to bite.
Read your dog’s body language. Start paying attention to your dog’s body language in order to understand your dog better and what he’s trying to tell you. For example, pay attention to signs that your dog feels uncomfortable. His head will lower, he’ll glance away, cower down, and tuck his tail low. This will tell you that he’s stressed and help you respond to his discomfort.
Just a quick reminder to LOVE YOUR DOG THIS VALENTINES DAY
