7 Ideas on How To have Quality Time With your Dog even You’re Pressed for Time

In answering to one of the questions posted here, I would like to add a few more tips on building quality time with your dog in order to eliminate roaming behavior.

Almost any sound, healthy and young dogs will like to explore beyond their “confined” areas, and that’s because it’s their nature. However, if they are given room to explore (by that I mean plenty of walks with you), they’re less likely to escape to unknown places.

Material things like toys, treats are only one aspect of what dogs really need. Quality time with them is the most crucial thing that many dog owners overlook. The ability to dedicate 15 minutes a day (excluding his daily walk) spent with your dog is great.

However what’s even better is that dog owners could incorporate the quality time into their lifestyle. And that can be achieved without having to fork out extra time on your part.

Here are the seven ideas on how to have quality time with your dog.

• While watching TV, you could have him on the sofa with you as you do some therapy massages for him.
• While you cook, you could have him act like a tester.
• While you work (in a home office), you could place him on your desk, under or somewhere near you.
• While you do your leisure reading on your reclining chair, you could place him next to you. And if you’ve a very small dog (6lbs and under), you could even place him on your chest with his head resting on your heart. Many young dogs love this as it gives them a great sense of security and comfort like the time they were in their mother’s womb. Before you know it, your dog will soon doze off leaving you alone enjoying your book.
• While practicing my music, I place a couple of my dogs on the bench next to the piano. Pausing occasionally, asking them to contribute a note or two.
• While watering my potted garden, my dogs are there “assisting” me. They’d press the sponges deeper into the water bucket, so once the sponges are heavily soaked, and I’ll take them out to water my plants. Rinse and repeat.
• While you are doing craftwork, your dog could play a part in the creating process like dog t-shirt bed as one example.

All these bonding activities are never forced, but we should make them inviting for our dogs to join in except for the second point. They’ll forever volunteer to be food testers. =)

Dogs are social beings, so the more you make him filled an important role in the family, the less tempting and welcoming the outside world will be.

[tags]quality time with your dog,small dog[/tags]