In honor of National Make a Dog's Day.
In honor of National Make a Dog's Day celebrated on October 22nd, I decided to celebrate by doing things my dogs enjoy. Fortunately, it does not take much to make them happy.
In case it's helpful, below are the main points covered in this post:
Things That Make My Dogs Happy
It does not take much to make my small dog (Rascal) and large puppy (Lucy) happy. While they both differ in many ways, there are a few things they both love equally.
Joy Rides
If you have seen any of the journal design blog posts or videos, you know that I created a way to track things I do for my dogs, like when they go on a joy ride.
My dogs love the word "go" so much that they will stop whatever they are doing and make their way to the SUV. If a drive is too short for their liking, they would whine and refuse to exit the vehicle when we arrive back home.
Rascal has been on many long road trips. He has traveled through twelve states and spent at least one night in seven of them. In a way, Rascal enjoys staying in a hotel almost as much as he loves joy rides.
Lucy has yet to go on a long road trip (she has only stayed at a hotel overnight in a nearby city). Yet, I imagine she would quickly learn to love her first long road trip experience, especially if the scenery she is used to changes.
"Special" Foods
I add 'toppings' to their regular dry dog food. A lot of times I would split a pack of wet dog food to top off their bowls. Rascal tends to ignore mushy, 'gloopy' wet foods, so I buy wet dog food that has meat chunks and other ingredients like Tiki Dog's Taste of the World.
On special occasions like 'gotcha' days and holidays, I would make Rascal and Lucy home cooked meals. The meals are typically unseasoned meats and vegetables that are safe for dogs to eat. If I felt fancy, I would add a dog-safe broth.
Rascal is a picky eater and hates food repetition. He has staged hunger strikes if I used the same toppings for several consecutive days. If I failed to add any toppings to his food, Rascal would not even acknowledge that his food bowl was filled.
Lucy would eat dirt if offered as a meal topping. I do not have to worry about her developing a refined taste palate.
Things That Make Rascal Happy
There are some things that make Rascal a very happy old puppy!
Cuddles
If nothing else, Rascal is happy to have several cuddle sessions a day. He is an affectionate dog who loves being close to his loved ones. Cuddles are especially important when he is fearful of something like thunderstorms.
I love to cuddle Rascal while I dance. Rascal will jump up when I say, "Let's dance!" I would play a song and hold him in my arms while I dance.
If a song was fast-paced and upbeat, I would bounce, spin, and dip him while he was in my arms. It always felt like doing aerobics with weights (17lbs). If slow song played, I would sway him gently. Rascal would be relaxed and go limp. He has fallen asleep in my arms a few times.
Picnics
Rascal used to hate picnics! However, my first dog, Shadow, loved picnics. During Shadow's senior years, we spent more time having picnics just so Shadow could spend time out of the house. Rascal would whine while Shadow enjoyed the sights and fresh air. I could have left Rascal at home and took Shadow instead, but Shadow never wanted to leave Rascal behind.
After Shadow passed away two years ago, Rascal immediately developed a love for picnics. He only whines if he becomes scared but would spend hours outdoors with me. I believe Rascal is reminded of Shadow and his love for this outdoor activity.
Things That Make Lucy Happy
There are some things Lucy enjoys that Rascal could not care less about.
Fetch
Because of the failure of my small dog's fetch training, my niece would be ecstatic to know that I finally have a dog that enjoys a game of fetch! Lucy would play fetch non-stop for hours if possible.
Balls, ropes, plushies, blankets, pillows, and sneakers she is not supposed to touch are things she would be more than happy to retrieve once thrown. She throws a fit when I do not throw the blankets, pillows, and sneakers she gives me, but will get over it when I throw one of her toys in its place.
People Watching
While I have yet to include Lucy on a picnic (picnics are Rascal's special individual activity for now), there are times when she prefers to sit at a park bench instead of continuing with our walks. This is usually the case when many people and pets are at the park.
Lucy would watch children on the playground, people flying kites, dogs running amuck off-leash in large grassy areas, and groups performing live music in the amphitheater. She especially loves watching people playing Frisbee golf after one player took time to hug her during his group's play through.
What's Next?
Celebrate National Make a Dog's Day by doing something special for a dog you know! Playtime, treats, and gifts are a few ideas for making a dog happy.
Don't know a dog? Consider spending time with a shelter dog. Some shelters do not mind if you stop by to play or cuddle with a dog or two. You may be able to take a dog out on a "field trip" or "doggy day out" if your local shelter has such a program in place.
Comment below to share how you play to make a dog's day!
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Thanks, and have a great day!
~Simply Jelly Jam
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