How do you indulge your furry loved one?
According to a Pet360 survey, 99.4% of respondents said they consider their pet to be a part of the family. That sounds about right. Personally, I find my dog even more agreeable that most family members (don’t tell), and he is definitely the family member I most love to spoil.
There are countless ways dog owners shower their pets with affection and indulgence. Here are a just a few ways you can spoil your dog.
Homemade Dog Biscuits
Homemade dog treats, baked with love in your own kitchen are SO much better than the store-bought kind. Surely your dog will appreciate all the effort you put into making those treats, which are chock full of natural, wholesome ingredients, no preservatives, and made with tender loving care. Here's a super easy recipe for homemade peanut butter dog treats – just roll, mix, and cut. Or, try this recipe for frozen apple treats, so healthy and just perfect for summertime. And, you can make your dog feel extra special with a personalized dog bone cookie cutter.
Disclaimer: Yes, my dog scarfs down homemade treats just as quickly as any store-bought variety. However, I’m sure that deep down he knows the difference. Right?
Birthday parties
That look on his face when he receives a new gift – multiplied! How could your dog not love the attention of a birthday party in his/her honor? Invite all your doggie-loving friends and encourage them to bring gifts for the dog-of-honor (or, even better, encourage them to make a donation to a dog-friendly organization). You’ll need to prepare a doggie cake, made of safe, dog-friendly ingredients. Serve it alongside a second birthday cake that will satisfy all your human guests and make it a festive occasion for all.
Bark Box
Sign up for Bark Box, and you’ll receive a box full of new treats and toys delivered to your doorstep each month. Since Bark Box launched, dog owners have been raving about the high quality and top-notch customer service. Or, if you have a puppy, try PupBox. It's a similar service that delivers products and training information to walk you through every stage of your puppy's development.
Personal Trainers
Yes, people are hiring personal trainers for their dogs. A trainer will provide your dog with well-rounded workouts intended to burn calories. Depending on your dog’s needs, training sessions might also focus on teaching your dog essential skills such as swimming or Frisbee-catching.
Pure Pampering
Nothing feels better after a good doggie workout than a massage. Fetch Club NYC even offers custom aromatherapy treatment to give your dog a full sensory experience. Can you even imagine how amazing aromatherapy must be for dogs with their heightened sense of smell?
If you don’t have the budget to go the high-end professional spa route, you can always take the DIY approach. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Dog Beer
Yes, dog beer. Bowser Beer is meat infused, low on the hops, and nonalcoholic. Enough said.
Doggie Couch
Does your dog crowd you off the couch? As a Brooklyn resident, I have a small couch with just enough space for two. On evenings when it’s just me and the dog, things are usually fine. But when I entertain another human there is often some jostling for space. But the solution exists – a doggie couch, of course.
A dog sized-couch allows your dog to have his/her own personal space whenever needed. This is advantageous when you don’t want his paws slowly (but effectively) edging you off the human couch. It may also prevent your dog from running to take your warm spot the minute you get up for a snack.
If you prefer a different aesthetic for your living space, you can purchase a bamboo dog hammock here.
Pet Dating Services
Yes, this is now a thing. Doggies Match describes itself as "a full-service social networking site for dog owners to find the perfect match for their favorite pooch." This service makes pet connections the primary goal, even more important than the potential connections between the human owners.
If forging connections with other humans is your objective, there are numerous platforms to help you meet single pet lovers. A few include DateMyPet.com, PetPeopleMeet.com, and DoggoneSingles.com. Special kudos go to AnimalAttraction.com for helping raise money for pet charities like the ASPCA. When you register a profile, Animal Attraction gives a dollar to the charity of your choice. The more you log in to their site, the more money they donate.
Dog Portraits
The best pics of your dog don’t have to be limited to Instagram. As a dog portrait artist, I admittedly have a somewhat biased opinion on this one, but what dog would not love his portrait immortalized forever in a piece of art? A unique masterpiece featuring your dog attests to the love you have for your furry family member, and it’s a really cute way to preserve their most adorable moments. And, a custom portrait costs less than a doggie hammock.
Yes, it’s easy to make a dog happy. They just want to eat, have a comfortable spot to sleep, an occasional belly rub, a nice walk, and then maybe eat again. But how much fun is it to spoil your fur baby every now and then when they look at you with so much love? So we do it. We all do. And it’s ok.