By Chelsea Chan
As pet lovers, we might think we spoil our pets every day. If you are looking for a way to truly spoil them, maybe for Valentine’s Day, a birthday, or a Gotcha Day, I have a few tips that might help! Spoiling doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It can mean giving love and support and building confidence.
Spoiling your pet doesn’t mean feeding them from the table or letting them sit on your lap while you drive. We don’t want to risk their safety. Animals can sense our emotions, and you can really connect with them in many different ways.
Find their sweet spot! Greet them with the same enthusiasm they greet you with. Offer rubs and pets. Some dogs love to have their bellies or ears scratched. Some cats do as well! A bearded dragon, perhaps, might not, but would love some fresh crickets. Once you know what your pet likes, you can continue to do it. All pets are different, like people, and have different likes and dislikes.
High-value treats! Our pets are probably used to the routine we do and the treats we give, but give them an extra-special high-value treat they don’t usually get. Whether it's store-bought treats or something you make, it will be special to them. Human-grade treats are the best, and reading the ingredients is important to know what you are giving them without preservatives. Many pets have food sensitivities, so keep that in mind when choosing a high-value treat. It can be as simple as some cooked chicken!
Keep them active. Whether it's a nice walk together or fun indoors, being active is good for their health and bonding time for you. Sometimes the best part of their day is the after-dinner walk you take together. In the winter months, when it's too cold or the weather isn’t great, you can still find this same bond indoors, playing with toys or stimulating them with puzzles or games. This is another way to incorporate special treats and a fun game of hide-and-seek! Laser lights are popular for keeping cats moving and for some quality time.
If your pet likes to travel, you can take them for a car ride, even if it's just to the corner store or a quick drive around the block. Just make sure they are in the car safely and no matter the season, never leave them in the car alone.
When it comes down to it, spoiling our pets is really giving them what they crave from us—our love and attention. We get busy with our day-to-day lives, but we are their whole lives, so they deserve to be spoiled! They unknowingly spoil us with their unconditional love and a lifelong love that goes far beyond the years they spend with us.
