How to spoil your dog for free.

Dogs give us a wonderful type of unconditional love that is unique. They love us at our worst moments, and love us at the times we thrive. For all the love they give, I think our dogs deserve to be pampered and spoiled. Best of all, there are ways you can love them for free.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A dog, your love, free time

1. Appreciate your dog!
   
   Remember that your little furry friend is a living creature, and hungers for your attention, take at least five minutes a day to appreciate your dog, because their life is not eternal, it is very short lived in comparison to our lives. Show your dog he or she is valued every day.
2. Walk your dog!
   
   With our busy lifestyles, sometimes walking your dog is last on your list. As we all know,whatever is left last on your list, often is left undone.
   
   Remember that dogs need exercise on a regular basis. Ditch your fancy gym for your cardio workout, because you can use that time to walk with your dog instead.
   
   For example, take him or her on a different route everyday. Make a special trip to a near by park or hiking area. Take time to let him or her smell the flowers, because they are appreciating life at the same time you are.
3. Let your dog sightsee.
   
   Sounds simple right? Sometimes dogs need a break from walking. I know this sounds a little unnatural, but my dog really enjoys sightseeing. I take him to local plant nurseries and other friendly dog places where I can keep him contained, while he in enjoys the sights.
   
   In this picture, my dog Moe, is perfectly peaceful in my bag enjoying the sights.
4. Oops! Remember that it’s not their fault!
   
   I remember when I first brought my puppy home. He made a bigger messes than I could ever imagine. Although there were times when I needed to discipline my dog, in retrospect, it was always my fault in the first place.
   
   For example, if your dog goes into your room and chews up your shoes, it is really not their fault. Understand that they are just dogs, and may either be going through their chewing phase or are expressing resentment towards you. They cannot talk to us, so ultimately it was my fault for leaving my shoes out in the first place.
   
   Ask yourself, is my dog trying to tell me something? Have you been ignoring him or her lately?
   
   I am all for training, but I think that we have to remember that they are just dogs.
5. I'm listening! Talk to your dog.
   
   I talk to my dog almost all day. I know he doesn’t understand me, but sometimes I think he does. Maybe he understands the differences in my tone with the words I say. Remember that dogs have emotions too, and talking to them makes them feel special.
   
   You can even change it up and talk to them in Spanish, German, Italian, French, Chinese, Japanese, and just about any other language. Heck, it’s all Greek to them!Your dog is your therapist, and cheaper by the hour too!
6. Hi MOM! Drive around with your dog.
   
   Dogs love riding in cars, I don't exactly know why, but I know this is true for most of them. I remember I once took two dogs at one time for a car ride, and it was a mess. One of them got carsick, while the other was having the time of his life.
   
   I recently bought a car seat for my dog, because it is high enough for him to observe the world, while keeping him comfortably confined.
7. Cuddly! Hug & Kiss your dog.
   
   Like all living things, dogs love hugs and kisses. I hug and kiss my dog on a regular basis, especially when he is being a good boy. Even though he cannot hold a conversation with me, I have a special relationship with my dog that I have no one else, and I appreciate him for that.
8. I am ready to Salsa! Dance with your dog
   
   I know this may sound a little corny, but dancing with your dog not only enhances the life of your dog, but enhances your own. Think about it, dancing is exercise.
   
   I remember hearing about studies that dog owners live a more fulfilling life. I think there is truth in that research, because dogs give you a unconditional love that is hard to reproduce.
9. Sorry for the mess! Have patience!
   
   Dogs are very smart, they are able to pick up on our likes and dislikes. Whenever they do something wrong, I just reinforce the meaning of no. I also take into account that training them is a process, and expecting anything more from them is unreasonable. I have learned to be more patient with my dog, because yet again he is just a dog.
10. Set me free! Do not lock them up! (except maybe at night)
    
    When I saw the Oprah special that she did on dogs, it literally broke my heart. Imagine if someone left you trapped in a cage all day? Or imagine being confined in the back yard all day? Dogs are living creatures, and they need to be able to explore new and different things.
    
    When I was younger, we had a family dog. For lack of knowledge, we kept him in the back yard all day while we lived our busy lives. That dog tried to escape every chance he got, because we didn't take him out to play. I am sad to say, that he died of old age, but in retrospect we did our best, but he deserved a more fulfilling life for his loyalty.

Tips & Warnings

• At the end of the day, our dogs just want to love us, so we should love them back.