I admit it. I’m
“one of those dog moms”. You know, the ones that are crazy about their dogs and
love to talk about dogs, and schedule their lives around their dogs? That’s me.
My dogs are my life- they’re my fur-kids and my source of joy and comfort.
After I lost my
Great Dane and best friend Truman to doggie cancer, I was devastated. I never
thought I’d recover and surely never believed I could love another dog. Time
passed, and I fell in love again and found there really was room in my heart
for a new dog. I wanted to be the very best pet parent possible, for Truman’s
memory and for the sake of all the dogs I’ll love for the rest of my life. I
wanted to do it better. So I set out to learn what the best pet parents do.
Here’s what I found.
1. They know their dogs.
And I’m not
talking about knowing what time they eat or how many times they pooped that
day, these pet parents really know their dogs. If the dog is anxious, cranky,
overly tired, scared, or lonely these parents pick up on it instantly. It’s
almost like they have ESP and can read the dog’s mind!I later learned they were
just really, really good at reading doggie body language and had observed their
dogs’ normal behavior very closely in the past. When anything unusual occurred,
it was a red flag for them because they were always tuned in to what their dogs
were doing, even when they were busy other things.
2. They respect their dogs.
There’s a joke
going around the Internet you’ve probably seen. It says, “No! I don’t want to
come to your cat’s birthday party, freak! My dog is getting married that day!”
It’s funny and exaggerated (slightly) but wonderful pet parents really do place
a high value on the needs of their dog. They schedule appointments during
breaks in their dog’s normal routine, avoiding feeding times, walk times, and
nap times when possible. They would sooner remove a tantrum-throwing child from
the room than make the dog go to a room alone to avoid causing anxiety for the
fur baby, after all, it is the child that was misbehaving. The dog is treated
equally with all the rights and respect of a family member.
3. They anticipate their dog’s needs.
Not only do
exceptional pet parents make sure their dogs are well cared for, they make sure
they are well loved. The dog gets extra cuddle time and treats during a
thunderstorm or when things change around the house. Good pet parents leave a
nightlight on in the hall because they know if the bedroom gets too warm, the
dog likes to sleep in front of the bathroom door where it’s cooler. They leave
the TV on when the dog is home alone for a few minutes so he doesn’t feel so
lonely, and they always, always make sure there’s fresh water in the bowl.
4. They pay attention to their dog’s environment.
Dog moms have been
known to start up conversations with the neighbors to find out who has cocoa
shells in their yard mulch and which neighbors use pesticides, to avoid
exposing their dog to toxins by mistake. Fleas don’t stand a chance because
they check their dogs for fleas, ticks, hotspots, and other injuries on a
regular basis. Pet parents have been known to lower the temperature in a room
because the dog is too warm, only to go put on a sweater themselves. On walks,
they constantly scan for potentially harmful items like a dropped piece of
chocolate on the sidewalk, a crazed tree squirrel out for revenge, or things
that might startle the dog.
5. They don’t buy just any dog food.
Wonderful pet parents
take the time to research what a dog should eat. They don’t let some
advertisement tell them what they should be feeding their dog, they find out
for themselves. They know that most pet foods available in stores simply aren’t
healthy for dogs, in fact, many of them are the equivalent of doggie fast food-
or worse. Good pet parents feed their dogs raw foods, OMEGA oils, fresh foods,
and nutritious treats.
6. They visit the veterinarian.
Not only do they
make and keep regular vet appointments, they have the vet’s number on speed
dial and know doggie poison control numbers by heart. They ask questions, lots
of questions, because they care about what’s best for their dogs and how they
can help them live longer, healthier, happier lives. They read the research on
vaccinations, spaying and neutering, dog flus, flea and tick prevention, joint
problems, and ear care. They become self-taught experts in everything
pertaining to caring for a dog because they know their dog depends on them to
provide the very best care possible during his lifetime.
7. They believe in the power of a dog’s love.
Above all else,
spectacular pet parents believe that dogs have the power to change lives. They
take their jobs as pet parents seriously because they know they are entrusted
with the care and keeping of a furry angel with invisible wings for a few short
years. And they know that dog has the power to save lives, to change lives, and
to inspire life itself in the darkest moments. Dogs truly are a gift from God
and good pet parents are thankful every single day for the privilege of caring
for a fur-child.
(Source)
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