Hi, it’s Callie again. Fred’s travelling, so I’m filling in.
You probably know there are lots of things you can do with a dog. But just so you’ll know how a dog thinks about it, here are my “Top Ten Things to do with Your Dog.”
1. Take a walk with your dog. Here, from RubyGlen.com are “8 tips for a better walk with your dog.” This is all the stuff you should think about when you’re getting ready to take your dog for a walk.
2. Go jogging with your dog. I’m not old enough to jog yet. My vets says I need to be about fourteen months old, so I don’t beat up my hips. But I’m really looking forward to being able to jog instead of just walk. Here, from paw-rescue.org, is a pretty neat article about jogging with your dog.
3. Play soccer. See some of Fred’s earlier blogs for video of me playing soccer. Also, take a look at the link to the all-animal soccer time. I’m not the only dog who likes to play soccer.
4. Get into competitions with your dog, like dog shows or agility training. My Dad, Cutter, is an Agility Champion. I hope I look this neat when I grow up.
5. Buy toys for your dog. Actually, I think it’s great fun to go to the toy store. But read Fred’s blog about “The Doggie Toy Mystery,” before you buy a lot of stuff. I (and some of my puppy friends) take great pleasure in destroying “indestructible” doggie toys.
6. Give your dog a massage. Fred does this for me sometimes, and I really like it. I find it very calming. Here’s an article about some of the benefits of doggie massage.
7. Take your dog to a dog-park and meet other dogs and people. I don’t have a dog-park real close, but I enjoy meeting the other dogs at my puppy kindergarten.
8. Have a meaningful conversation with your dog. You might be surprised how understanding your dog is. Pay attention to your conversational style and try to communicate how you feel with the tone of your voice.
9. Let your dog sleep with you. Dogs can be really good snugglers. I still sleep in my crate, but I know Jamie slept with Fred and Barbara and I look forward to the day when I’ll get to do that.
10. Work with your dog on obedience and tricks. It’s fun for the dog, and it shows them (I shouldn’t admit this) who’s boss.
11. (For good measure) Dance with your dog. Yep, dance with your dog. If you didn’t see Fred’s post on Sunday, November 25, you should check it out. Lots of people are taking dancing lessons with their dogs!
Have fun with your dog! Your dog will appreciate it, and you’ll learn a lot about your dog.
See you next time!
If you don’t have a dog park nearby, you can make doggy dates! There’s usually somebody nearby who has a human and will bring you over to your house to play, or you can go over to their house to play. Doggy dates!