How Do You Show Love to Your Pets?
Although Valentine’s Day is commonly associated with couples, it is meant to celebrate all forms of love. But with the emphasis on romance, we can sometimes forget to celebrate the love we have for our friends and family. For most pet owners, that includes our animal sidekicks. Lucky for us, they don’t know any different! Our pets won’t be upset if we forget to get them flowers or a heartfelt card on Valentine’s Day. They appreciate simpler gestures and are eager for our love all year round – not just on February 14th.
So, how exactly should you show love to your pets? Well, there is no single answer. There are many ways to express your love to your pets. One of my personal favorites is to cuddle with my pup, Leroy, in my bed during the early morning. He sleeps in his crate overnight, but once 5 a.m. rolls around, he gets to come out and snuggle with me for an hour or two. Another favorite method of mine is to simply engage and interact with him. He loves to play tug-of-war with rope toys and fetch with squeakers. Anything that my dog can pull on or makes a sound is an instant prize in his eyes. I also play hide-and-seek with him by putting him in a ‘stay,’ sneaking around the house, and using a squeaker toy to lure him. He goes absolutely crazy looking for me!
I prefer rope and squeaker toys like these. You can purchase them for your own dog here.
I’m always looking for new ways to spoil Leroy. As a pet owner, seeing my dog happy is the ultimate reward, and I know that other owners out there feel the exact same way. To find out some of the approaches pet parents choose to express their love to their domestic companions, I asked members of the Nurture Your Pet community to share their unique experiences. See what they had to say below!
“I let Gracie rampage at 2 a.m., then rub her ears to settle her down when she’s ready. Through the night I pick Harri up and resettle him on the bed, around 5-6 times! (His legs are short). Even on hot days, so I don’t get scratched I have a knee rug, so they can be on my lap whenever they want. Cuddles are infinite, love is huge, and I hate leaving them to go shopping and I hurry home to excited greetings.” -Mary Campagnolo
“I love on my dog and whisper sweet things to her, and she sleeps with me. She never leaves my side. She loves me also.” -Colleen Smith
“Petting, rubbing them, purchasing them surprise toys and throws. I talk and sing to my precious Misty Marie who is an 11-year-old angel, sweet dachshund. We give her the best of vet care we can, and she eats prescription dog food that is $3.70 a can because she has a digestive track problem. If you are going to have a dog, they love you more than anyone or anybody will. Please take very good care of them and show them that you love them as much as they love you.” -Sandra Burdick
That’s very wholesome advice spoken like a true dog mom. Pet owners everywhere have witnessed the infinite love that our animals hold for us. They show us daily just how much we mean to them through their wags, purrs, cuddles, kisses, tippy-taps, excitement, protection, loyalty, and so much more. So, this Valentine’s Day, I encourage you to think about the various ways that you show love to your own pets – and then do just that! They may not know the significance of it being Valentine’s Day or the meaning behind it, but I guarantee they will appreciate your affection just the same.