Most pet parents want to give their dogs the best life possible and fill their dog’s life with joy. You don’t need to be a millionaire or stay-at-home dog parent to add joy to your dog’s day. Dogs don’t care how much money you spend on them; what sparks the most joy in your dog’s life is the opportunity to spend quality time with you. So while you and your dog are hanging out, here are five ways to spark joy in your dog’s life.
Play more
One of the best things you can do to increase joy in your dog’s life is to play together more. Play is a great way to bond with your dog and build up value in your relationship. When prioritizing time to play, make sure you’re playing the kinds of games that your dog enjoys most. Some dogs are happy to play anything, while others prefer certain games like tug or fetch. Even if you’re busy, take a few moments daily to engage your dog in play. If you have a dog who doesn’t enjoy toys, try experimenting with treat-filled toys and puzzles.
Explore more
Most dogs enjoy exploring new places. When spending quality time with your dog, try to vary the places you go and the things that you do. Even if it’s just a neighborhood walk, sometimes switch up your route to give your dog some different views and smells to explore. If you can, you can even take your dog out to new places like beaches, hiking trails, lakes, and other dog-friendly natural areas. Watching your dog’s excitement as they visit new places brings a lot of joy and enrichment into your dog’s life and yours at the same time!
Train more
Dogs thrive when given opportunities to learn new things. Another way to spark joy in your dog’s life is to spend more time playfully training together. By training your dog, you are pouring time and effort into your relationship and working to build a shared language with your dog. Consistency with dog training can reduce stress and confusion in your dog’s life as they understand what is being asked of them, making your dog’s life happier. To make training joyful for your dog, keep those training sessions short and fun, with lots of praise, treats, and toys. If you feel stuck in a training rut, consider signing up for an introductory sports class with your dog. From Scent Work, Rally, and Agility, just to name a few, there is a dog sport for every dog and owner.
Provide enrichment
Boredom is a big problem for dogs, and another way to spark joy in your dog’s life is to ensure they have plenty of mental enrichment. To do this, ensure your dog has many toys and chews to entertain them. Specifically, toys that encourage prolonged play, including puzzles and food-stuffed toys, are excellent for enriching your dog’s routine, as are dog-safe chews. You can also use empty paper bags and cardboard boxes and put some of your dog’s toys or treats inside. Then, let your dog search the boxes to find the hidden treasures. This enrichment provides excellent stimulation and mental exercise for your dog by allowing them to hone their natural sniffing skills.
Let them sniff
When walking with your dog, avoid always having to hurry them along. Sniffing is how our dogs see and explore the world. Providing your dog with lots of sniffing time can add tremendous joy to your dog’s life. When you go out walking with your dog, give more time in your routine to allow your dog to stop and sniff as much as they want. Giving your dog the opportunity to sniff allows your dog to get better information about their environment. Sniffing is also a way that dogs can become less stressed and self-regulate their emotions. It can feel boring to watch your dog sniff but remember how boring it must be for your dog while you sit and scroll on your phone, this is the canine equivalent. It can also be fun to watch what your dog is sniffing and try to see the world through their nose.
