February is all about LOVING your pet! From Treats, walks and regular dental care, we do a lot to show our pets we love them! Here are some tips and tricks for showing love!
Good & Bad Ways of Rewarding
Rewarding is one of the easiest ways to show your pet the love, but doing it right helps not only your pet understand what your asking him, but makes you feel good too. Rewarding is a great way to teach new tricks and behaviors you want for your pet. Good rewarding is given when your pet does something beneficial for you and your life together.
Teaching your pet to sit before going through a door is a great example of a behavior that can save your pet’s life. If someone unexpectedly comes to your home unannounced this trick may save your pet’s life. When your pet sits reward with their favorite thing. It could be a treat, a ball or a favorite toy. An example of bad rewarding happens when most parents think their pet is doing something “cute”. For example, when your pet jumps up on you or your family and you “reward” them with petting, hugging or kissing, you are rewarding the jumping up behavior. Remember rewarding should be just that! A reward for a job was well done. You can get some great advice on training tips, no matter what your pet’s age is, here!
Let Your Dog LOVE Others!
Having a lot of dogs whether you’re at home, a dog park, a playgroup or at the grooming salon can be a fun-filled way to get out lots of energy. Understanding dog mentality and the personality of your pup will help you understand when your pet meets a new friend. Many dogs are capable of being in a pack. Knowing how to keep your family members safe takes time and practice. Many pets should be socialized young. This helps with fear, aggression, and confidence. Many pets benefit from the interaction with other dogs, making them healthy and happier. Many times dogs teach dogs better than we teach dogs. A dog park is a great place to run and play outdoors, and a playgroup is a great way to have supervised playgroups. Having multiple dogs in a home is equally fun, although can sometimes cause problems such as guarding, behaviors and jealousy. To help combat any of these issues talk to a trainer!
Make your pet some yummy Peanut Butter Hear Treats!
This recipe is fun and easy to get your pet the love he needs this month!
Supplies:
Yields: 1-2 dozen (depending on the size of cookie cutter; recipe uses a 1 1/2 inch size)
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/3 cup natural peanut butter
- Dash of cinnamon
- Heart-shaped cookie cutter. Get it here!
Directions: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, add both flours, applesauce, peanut butter, egg, and cinnamon. Mix well until combined. Roll the dough out on a level workstation until it’s about 1/4” thick. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out the Valentine treats from the rolled out dough. You can take the scraps that are leftover and re-roll the dough again to get a few more treats if desired. Place the heart-shaped dough pieces on the lined cookie sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes or until they are just beginning to turn brown around the edges. Transfer the treats to a wire rack and allow to cool completely. Store in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.