One of the great things about having a pup in your life is that you get to spoil them. It doesn’t take much to spoil a dog, and the act has a knack for making us, as responsible pet-parents, feel great inside. Perhaps it’s the wag of an excited tail or the kisses (licks) they give you before and after you’ve treated them with some sort of delight that does it for many.
Dogs develop habits fairly quickly, and they’re more than happy to turn that extra treat you offer into something they’ll expect every day. In most cases, this means you may not want to engage in too many unhealthy spoiling practices, like topping their food bowl with leftovers.
Extra treats
Sneaking your pup a yummy treat on occasion always earns a tail wag and appreciation. But treats should be occasional. Frequently treating isn’t always ideal for your dog’s health, though there are some treat brands that offer healthier products than others. With that in mind, there are more ways to spoil a dog than simply sneaking them an occasional pizza crust. Find something tasty that they can enjoy, and that wouldn’t come back to harm them later.
Outdoor fun
Taking your dog out on long walks is a great treat to plan for the weekend. The excitement, interaction, scents, and sights all answer many of the questions your dog asks themselves during their time staring out the window while you’re gone. These occasional delights, often much longer with no destination in mind, are time well spent amongst friends. And the addition of another friend and their own four-legged companion adds to the fun and spoils a dog just the right way; that’s good for their heart and mind.
Belly rubs
Extra-long belly rubs are a favorite amongst dogs of all sizes. Every pup is more than willing to roll over and show you their belly, just begging to get a good rub down. And often enough, we find ourselves spoiling that rascal by accommodating them to an enjoyable rub-down. But then we stop after a few minutes, and your pup looks at you like: “What? Through already?†Spoiling that pup with an extra-long rub-down will keep the doc away.
Sleeping on the bed isn’t for every pup, and many dogs don’t earn this luxury. However, we occasionally find ourselves letting that pup up on the bed, especially if there happens to be a storm outside. It’s nice to have a friend willing to hang out with you and make your bed a little softer and more enjoyable with their company.
Look good
While dogs may not seem like they care much for flashy attire, secretly every dog likes to look good around their buddies. This means clean fur, acceptable breath, and a new leash or perhaps a flashy collar. Keeping your pup looking good is a great, hygienic, and simple way to spoil them, and even get them a few compliments while you’re out on one of your long walks.
Expecting something, Mr. Puppy-dog?
As a child, wasn’t it exciting when your parents came home from work with a toy for you in their hand? No matter what it was or for what reason, it was simply exciting. It’s the same for your pup as well. By bringing your pup a new toy when you come home from work, they’re not only excited to see you, they feel a little spoiled to have gotten a surprise. It could be as simple as a tennis ball or even another squeaky octopus they can play with while you’re gone. Often enough, bringing home a toy every few days will leave your dog checking and inspecting your bags and pockets, trying to find out where their latest addition to their toy collection may be hiding.
Treats come in all forms and sizes, and all of them are used to spoil your pup. But you don’t necessarily have to satisfy their pallet with a scoop of leftovers or a chew bone to fill your weekly treat quota. Often enough, it’s the simplest things that you do for your pup that make them the happiest. So spoil your dog with your own special blend of happiness, and they’ll spoil you right back with some licks; and do share your own spoiling tactics with us, please.