5 ways to improve your dog’s life

The following are five easy ways you can improve your dog’s life this week as well as increase the bond between the two of you.

Just commit to one of these simple ideas for one week only. I think you’ll notice a happier, calmer, more relaxed dog.

Of course, some of you are already doing these things. If you have any additional ideas to add, please mention them in the comments section.

I’m always interested in how others bond with their dogs and what I can do to benefit my own dogs.

Five ways to improve your dog’s life this week

1. Walk your dog every day for 20 minutes.

Twenty minutes is not a lot. Heck, walk for 10 minutes if that sounds easier. The point is to get out and spend some time with your dog every day for just this week.

2. Spend 5 minutes training your dog every day.

Just 5 minutes. Do whatever you want. Practice loose-leash walking down the driveway. Sit and down on a walk. Teach her to roll over. Just spend 5 minutes every day for seven days. You’d be amazed at how much progress you can make with such little time.

3. Spend 5 minutes cuddling with your dog.

Some of you already do this for much longer than that! But seriously, sometimes we need to make a point of just lying on the couch for the sake of cuddling with the dog. Or spooning on the floor like I do with Ace. Or maybe a doggy massage. Again, just 5 minutes. No texting or checking your email. Just focus on your dog.

4. When you get frustrated, step back and look at the big picture.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed and upset over something our dogs do like pulling on the leash or freaking out over other dogs. Or, maybe pooping in the corner of the back bedroom. This week, try to let it go, breathe and look at the big picture. What progress have you made? What is the real problem? What could you do to slowly make a change? It’s never really the dog’s fault, is it?

5. Introduce something healthy to one of your dog’s meals.

We all want to feed our dogs the healthiest diet we can afford. Sometimes we put too much financial pressure on ourselves to buy the “holistic” kibble or organic canned food or the frozen raw diet.

How about just feeding your dog one healthier meal this week? That’s not too hard or too expensive. It’s also less likely to make your dog sick since there will be less change on his system. Maybe even feed it as a small snack. Just buy one small bag of the expensive dry food or one can of the organic canned food or one small bag of raw food.

Don’t put pressure on yourself to feed an entirely new diet to your dog. Just feed one healthier snack or one healthier meal per week, starting with this week.

Change is hard. Make it easy on yourself by making little improvements at a time.

What are some other simple ways to improve your relationship with your dog?