7 secrets to dog ownership BLISS

I have been recently reading a lot about friendship and happiness in a book called The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. In this book she quotes Epicurus as saying;

“Of all the things that wisdom provides for living one’s entire life in happiness, the greatest by far is the possession of friendship.”

Now many would argue (including myself most of the time) that a friendship with another person is much more rewarding than one with your dog. With a human friend you can relate, discuss, seek guidance, and enjoy meaningful discussions that can ease your stress and enrich your life. Dogs, as we know, cannot provide us with this type of friendship, but I would argue that what they offer is equally important.

Here are my seven secrets to improving your relationship with your dog and ultimately becoming a blissful dog owner. These tips are an accumulation of my experiences with my dogs and what I have witnessed from other canine-human relationships around me.

1.       Happy Mom/Dad = Happy Dog

If you are happy, your dog will be happy as well.
That statement may, or may not, be true depending on your beliefs in canine behaviour, emotions and science. There are hundreds of books on the market these days seeking to define and explain our unique relationship with dogs that dates back over 140,000 years. Stanley Coren, author of the book, How Dogs Think, noted that the brain of a dog is almost identical to that of a human in terms of structure, chemical composition and electrical activity. He argued that there may be a lot of similarities between the workings of a dogs’ brain and a humans’.

I am not a canine behaviouralist. In truth, I sometimes find the study of behaviour repetitive and boring. It has its value, but it is not my thing. In spite of this, I feel deeply that when I am happy, my dog is happy. I don’t know how to explain this in scientific terms other than to quote Kevin Behan, who wrote,

“Dog and owner form a group mind. The best explanation for everything canine, from the evolution of the wolf to the domestication of the dog – to the incredible emotional relationship that has emerged between the modern pet and its owner – is that dogs feel what we feel.”

Since happiness has been proven to increase health, energy and self-confidence it is a worthy quest to be happy, not just for yourself, but also for your dog!

2.       Walk daily with your dog

These days we are busy people. Our days start before the sun rises and we are often working, travelling or socializing long after the sun has set. To accommodate our active pets we employ dog walkers, doggy daycares and remarkable eight hour dog chews in order to satisfy basic needs. Owners with backyards can too often rely on this space to fulfill exercise needs.
To achieve dog ownership bliss you must walk your dog everyday for at least half an hour. This simple act between you and your dog alleviates stress, strengthens your bond and improves health. Thayer, author of Calm Energy; how people regulate mood with food and exercise, found a clear and strong relationship between the number of steps taken each day to overall mood and energy level. He wrote ‘walk more, be happier, have higher self-esteem, be more into your diet and nutritiousness of diet.’

In addition to the health benefits, walking your dog helps you feel apart to your neighborhood and community which increases your feeling of connection and happiness. Remember; happy owner = happy dog!
For a truly blissful companionship, leave the heavy mental collars at home.

3.       Be Impeccable with your word

A staple book on my bedside table is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel. He has written an extremely popular and successful book on A Practical Guide for Personal Freedom. I try to follow his wisdom in my life and find his words can help to lighten my mood and increase my motivation. 
When considering blissful dog ownership I find his words can still hold meaning. The first agreement, be impeccable with your word is summarized as,

“Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.”
When speaking with your dog only say what you mean. Our dogs are often confused when we say ten words in lieu of one request. We have all heard the frantic, stressed owner at the dog park. 

“Fido, Fido, Fido, Fido……….COME! Don’t do that! Hey, hey FIDDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Come here, come here, SIT SIT SIT SIT. Good dog. Ok Go!” 

This one-sided conversation can continue for the entire park adventure and I would argue that it is stressful for yourself, your dog and it is noise pollution for those around you.  You are at the park to enjoy nature, play and relax so do just that and if you find you cannot relax when your dog is off leash, then keep the leash on.

Our dogs pick up our emotions, feelings and moods in our voice intonation. Their ability to hear is far greater than ours. When speaking to your dog remember that sometimes a whisper can be just as effective as a barked command. Remember to praise your dog. Remember to tell your dog that you love her/him. Be impeccable with your word and you will both benefit.

4.       Find a holistically minded veterinarian

Taking your dog regularly to the vet is a normal part of responsible dog ownership. Developing a strong relationship based on trust and communication with your veterinarian will help improve your relationship with your dog.

All dogs have different personalities. Some dogs run into a vet clinic with eager anticipation of treats while others become fearful and aggressive as they link the smell to negative experiences. My dog would start to shake while walking into the veterinary parking lot and it wasn’t until I found a holistic veterinarian that her reactions began to change.

A holistic, alternative or naturopathic veterinarian aims first, to do no harm. The philosophy is to treat the entire body and not just the range of symptoms. They utilize minimally invasive therapies such as acupuncture, massage or herbal medicine before prescribing traditional medications with numerous side effects. A holistic veterinarian will look at emotional history, exposure to vaccines, overall health and diet to understand what may be causing the present symptoms. Their focus is to bring the body into balance with knowledge that a healthy body can heal itself.

A holistically minded veterinarian will minimize chemicals and synthetics ingested by your dog, which will ultimately lead to a healthier dog and consequently a pleased owner.

5.       Prepare your dog’s food by hand

In Cesar Milan’s book called Cesar’s Way, he wrote that part of his routine in his dog psychology center was to hand-prepare his dogs’ food. He theorized that his dogs would smell his scent on the food which would in turn reaffirm his place as leader of the pack.

I don’t necessarily agree that food preparation equals pack leadership, but I do feel that the routine and time of preparing your dogs’ food can increase your bond with your dog. By taking five minutes, once or twice a day, to add little extras to your dogs food you are not only increasing the nutrient content of the meal, but you are increasing your dog’s anticipation and your own pleasure of providing and care taking.

I try to prepare my dog’s food at the same time each day as schedule and routine are an important aspect to your dog's day. Like humans, dogs crave variety so every day I add a little something different to Kya’s raw food. I rotate through sardines, raw eggs, extra veggies from dinner (mashed sweet potatoes are her favourite) or other appropriate table scraps. These additions only make up a small portion of her meal but I mix it all together with her supplements and give it to her with pride. No matter where Kya is in the house, when I bring out her dog bowl and begin my preparations she is by my side with eager anticipation.

With the convenience of commercial food is it easy these days to pour some food into a bowl, or even to leave it out all day. I prefer the pleasure of preparing my dog a whole, fresh diet that I know will add vitality to her life, and with the little extras, excitement and anticipation to her day.  

6.       Join a dog pack

One of the best ways to bond with your dog and therefore increase dog ownership bliss is to meet with other friends and their dogs. Consider starting a dog club in your community where you meet weekly to hike some trails. Although dog parks are becoming increasingly popular in our society a recent survey by the Whole Dog Journal found that only 7% of dog owners found satisfaction in taking their dogs to the dog park, while 42% preferred a nice, long walk. Dog parks can be a source of stress and fear for dogs that have had negative experiences or a lack of early socialization. Conversely, the motion of hiking with your dog and other dogs can be relaxing and stress relieving. Dogs that might normally become aggressive at the dog park are comfortable and happy hiking with a group of dogs and people. In addition, as a dog owner you have a chance to catch up with your friends, enjoy the outdoors, discuss various canine topics and get some exercise!

7.       Trust yourself and trust your dog

These days the dog industry is sky rocketing and with it, the amount of information available to dog owners. Making simple choices can become overwhelming when too many options are available. We all know the feeling of staring blankly at a ten page restaurant menu. Other dog owners can be especially difficult with their constant dispersible of advice, facts and pointers. I don’t have children, but I can only assume a similar phenomenon occurs in the parenting world, much to parents’ frustration and annoyance.

When making decisions for yourself and your dog remember these tips;

i.                     Don’t be afraid to ask questions

ii.                   Listen to your dog

iii.                  Don’t make assumptions

iv.                 Read ingredient lists and labels

v.                   If you don’t want a worried dog, don’t be a worrier

vi.                 Always follow your gut; trust in yourself and your dog