Be Your Pet Dog's Best Friend

To have a really great relationship with your pet dog, you need to work on that relationship constantly. It's not enough to build a few foundations and expect your relationship to blossom with little or no extra effort. Time spent reinforcing the bond between you and your pet dog is time well spent, and will enrich your relatonship providing you both with the fun and rewards that pet dog ownership brings.
Make sure that you spend quality time with your pet dog. As pet dog owners we are all aware of the need to exercise and train your pet dog. The time spent on these activities will vary according to your pet dogs needs, however, this time should be rewarding and enjoyable for your pet dog. When walking with your pet dog, make sure that you talk and interact with your pet dog. Play a game of fetch or chase. All pet dogs love to chase, and taking an active role in this game will not only keep you fit, but will help you engage with your pet dog in a fun and simple way.
Be animated when you communicate with your pet dog. During the day, your pet dog will hear you converse with many different people, either on the phone or in person, and will generally filter out most of the conversation. With your tone of voice you can communicate to your pet dog that something is interesting or fun, or that something is undesirable or naughty.pet Dogs have extremely sensitive hearing and are very much attuned to your moods and tone of voice, use this to your advantage. Attract your pet dogs attention by using a friendly voice that is slightly higher pitched than your normal speaking voice.
Never forget the importance of physical contact. When your pet dog is near, make the effort to stroke their head or neck and talk in a soothing voice. If you are in the park, and your pet dog bounds over to you, make a fuss of them, make being near you a rewarding experience for your pet dog. This will not only reinforce the bond you and your pet dog have, but it will also aid recall. If you have problems recalling your pet dog, practice this when they are off the lead. Several times during the walk, call your pet dog to you and reward them for coming with a treat or a cuddle, and then let them carry on with what they were doing. If you only recall your pet dog when they are naughty or to put them on the lead, your dog will associate punishment or the end of the walk with coming when called. If you have been out, greet your pet dog properly when your return - being away from you is never enjoyable for your pet dog. Make the time to cuddle or play a quick game to celebrate your return. This is very natural for pet dogs, they will do this to other pet dogs they know and like, so this behaviour is something they understand.
Ask yourself, if you were your pet dog, would you enjoy the time you spend together. Try to be fun for your pet dog. We all have busy days, bad days and sad days, but your dog relies upon you to provide the love and support it needs, and will give you loyalty and friendship in return. Your pet dog doesn't need or understand your stress, but they are affected by it. On a bad day, make a point of having a game or cuddling with your pet dog, and you'll probably find it helps you too.
By: Jane EarleyAuthor Bio

Sep 13, 2008

Pets Can Help Keep The Doctor

Pets Can Help Keep The Doctor AwayPets Can Help Keep The Doctor AwayA pet makes a great friend. We love our pets and that is why we have them. We know that pets can make us feel better. When you get home from work, school, or are retired, or elderly, pet owners quite literally feel and see the love from their favorite dog or cat. Living with a pet can provide you with certain health benefits. Pets help to reduce your blood pressure and lessen anxiety. Pet owners health and well-being are linked together in owning a pet or have a pet visit you in the nursing home or hospital.
When selecting a pet it is important that your pet fits your lifestyle or otherwise your new pet could add more stress. Pets require our love and attention. Going out for a walk, playing Frisbee or hide and seek provides the incentive to owners to interact and get out of the house. You benefit from the fresh air, sunshine and exercise that you might not get on our own. However, what if you can’t take care of your pet? If this is the case, then pet therapy might be the way to go.
Therapy pets are animals that help humans just by visiting them. Animal Assisted Therapy is the term used to describe therapy pets. One pet is assigned to one patient. Nursing home personnel and the pet handler help to figure out ways that therapy will be best suited to the patient. Cats and dogs are the most suitable therapy pets but there is no reason why other pets can’t be trained for pet therapy as well.
Owning a pet can have medical benefits to patients in nursing homes and hospitals, and as well as pet owners. Pet owners, or pet therapy encourages social interaction, reduces stress levels, boosts self-confidence and self-esteem and encourages you to exercise. In addition, pet owners who live alone are less lonely because of their pets’ companionship.
Pets and elderly people have a lot to give one another. Pet owners give them a sense of purpose; a reason to get up in the morning, buying food and or going outside, which helps to motivate them to eat and to get enough sleep and exercise.
Pet owner’s have fewer doctors’ visits, improve your mental well being, and improve you cardiovascular health and lowers you blood pressure. Many people have high blood pressure for years without knowing it. There are no known symptoms that you can tell your doctor.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to a stroke, heart attack, congestive heart failure or kidney failure. The only way to discover if you have high blood pressure is to have your doctor check it. This is why it is often called the silent killer. If you have high blood pressure, you should think about getting a dog or cat as they can help reduce health problems. Owning a dog or cat and stroking them can help to reduce blood pressure and even keep it lower under stressful situations.
Pet owners have better emotional health and mental wellness while caring for their furry friend. Pets can act as a support system for people who live alone or do not have family, or close friends nearby. They offer unconditional love and affection and that alone helps a person reduce loneliness.
When you are in a hospital or nursing home and a pet owner comes to visit you with their furry friend, you feel a little less lonely and depressed and can forget about your illness, even for a little while. Patients tend to be more receptive to treatment when they have regular visits from their favorite furry friend. The need to care for their pet gives them reason to recover and the will to live. It, also, makes the patient happy to have something to look forward to when visiting hours are over.
Having a pet is a great investment, not only because a dog or cat bring joy and pleasure into your life, but the many health benefits that come along with owning a pet. Though a dog or cat can’t replace human relationships for senior citizens, they can certainly enhance them and fill an older person’s life with years of constant, unconditional love. Pet owners have long known that owning a family pet can make life happier, and can lead to a longer healthier life.

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