Your pet provides happiness, laughter, and emotional wellbeing, which is why they can feel more like a member of your family rather than just a furry companion that lives with you. Because of this, it is only natural to want to find ways to show them how much you love them on a daily basis.
Bring them on a family trip
When taking a family vacation, you may have care arrangements set up for your pet, whether it is with family members, neighbors, or a boarding facility in your town. While sometimes it is always nice to have a getaway, there are options to also include your pet on your family trip. There are plenty of resources online to help you find pet-friendly hotels, restaurants, and recreational activities. Your pet will thrive being able to spend time with you away from home and this can also help alleviate some stress you might have about leaving them behind.
Even if you don’t plan on taking a longer vacation with your pet, consider planning a day trip where you can include them in your activities. You could take them on a hike, relax at the beach, go on a car ride, or even take them out on the water by renting a boat. Whatever you choose, your pet will love spending time with you and getting out of the house to explore a new place.
Exercise together
While not all pets or dog breeds need substantial levels of exercise throughout the day, finding ways to bond with your pet by being active is not only good for them, but you as well! Unfortunately, the rate of pet obesity in the United States is on the rise, which can lead to long-term health complications. To combat this and boost your own health in the process, find creative ways to get active with your pet.
While the most common way to exercise with your pet is to take them for a walk, there are different things you can do to shake up your daily routine. Here are just a few exercises you can do with your pet to get both your hearts pumping:
- Yoga
- Hiking
- Cycling
- Cross-country skiing
- Swimming
- Frisbee
Provide safeguards for their future care
While it isn’t the easiest topic to think about, not everything in life can be planned so finding ways to ensure that your pet’s care can be maintained is a way to show them how much you love them. The costs of pet care can be expensive at times and while you may have a financial plan for their future, do you have a safety-net prepared for a designated caretaker if you were unable to continue providing for them?
If not, it could be beneficial to research new life insurance policy options or use a portion of your existing policy to allocate funds to a beneficiary for their care if you were to pass away. This is also a good time to set up a designated caretaker by looking into pet trusts to give you added peace of mind that your pet will be adequately cared for in this unforeseen circumstance.
Monitor their health
While you most likely have an established relationship with a veterinarian to provide routine and preventative care for your pet, there are ways that you can further ensure they are maintaining optimal health and detect issues earlier rather than later. With technological advancements, it is now possible to be able to monitor your dog’s health every day just by attaching the FitBark device to your dog’s collar.
From this device, you are able to receive information about their sleep habits, anxiety and stress levels, and even understand any skin conditions they may have through the tracker. Having all of this information about your pet at your fingertips allows you to not only learn more about their personal health, but you can then use this information to bring any concerns you may have to your veterinarian, allowing you to address any issues earlier than later.
Invest in a training class
By investing in a training program, you can show your dog how much you love them by establishing a sense of security and safety. Even though dogs and humans are very compatible, there are still inherent differences and investing in a training class can give you a better understanding of how to improve communication with your pet. Training classes will help you set clear boundaries for your dog and eliminate any confusion, as dogs thrive on hierarchy and structure. Additionally, by going to training classes together, you will have more designated time to bond with your pet and show them your undivided attention.
Whether it is spending more quality time with your pet, investing in ways to monitor their health, or protecting their future, finding unique ways to show your pet how much you love them is rewarding for both you and your furry friend.