The Top 10 Gifts That Last a Lifetime

BY LINDA MICHAELS, M.A., Psychology
The lingering aroma of hot cider, eggnog, and evergreen, sparkling lights that brightened each night, and my great hope for a wonderful holiday season, stir me to share a list of “gifts” that can enhance the quality of every dog’s life. Your thoughtful choices make a big difference-- from adoption to the priceless value of your love.

Our precious pups bring such joy to our lives and deliver unconditional love all year long. Consider saying “Thank You” with gifts that keep on giving throughout the year. Some of these may make you smile — all of them will make your dog smile. Dogs are our closest, most beloved animal companions, so it behooves us to carefully consider every aspect of their care and well-being during the season of joy… and throughout the new year!

Dog receiving a Christmas gift from Santa under blue skies.

1. Adopt or Donate

Consider adoption as a first-choice. There is no greater gift. There’s a huge array of deserving dogs that need families. You may find an already house-trained, obedience-trained, and socialized dog that easily fits in with your family and lifestyle. Consider adoption to fill that special place in your forever home, or donate some resources to your local shelter or rescue group. Learn how to “Find a Dog That Fits Your Lifestyle Before You Fall in Love” in the very first chapter of the Do No Harm Dog Training and Behavior Handbook, and use the checklist of: Must have traits, Flexible traits, and Do not want traits. You want a dog whose personality and genetic traits are a good match, and whose size, activity level, and care-needs are also good match.

2. Food!

Be careful about what you put into your dog! Read the ingredients list. Feed a super-premium grade food with a specifically named meat as the first ingredient and avoid fillers, by-products, artificial flavoring, preservatives, coloring and sugar. Rotate between meats and brands to achieve variety. Provide at least a little wet food each day or soften kibble with broth every single day. Canine nutritional expert, Dr. Doug Knueven, DVM tells us. “There is no greater obstacle to canine health than poor diet”. Learn to feed a biologically appropriate and nutritionally balanced diet in the Proper Nutrition chapter, page 20.

3. Gentle Veterinary and Gentle Grooming care

Be pro-active about your dog’s health and ask questions. Choose a veterinarian both you and your dog like and trust, and importantly, one that takes the time to bond with your dog, and practices gentle handling and restraint. Consider integrative care that combines both standard and holistic treatment. Check out pet health insurance, and don’t forget to take care of those pearly whites. Get that orthopedic bed your dog has been dreaming about! There’s so much to learn about preparing your dog for those critical veterinary and grooming visits and a lot that you can do at home in terms of “simulating” the visits. You ought to also go visit the facilities “just for fun” before the first medical or grooming visit to get “cookies” from the staff and get the lay of the land. Choose a groomer who takes the time to make your dog feel safe and practices gentle handling and restraint. Would your dog appreciate a spa massage treatment or a blueberry facial?Take your time to find the right Veterinarian and Gentle Groomer

4. Spay/Neuter

Help stop the over-population problem by choosing to spay or neuter. Don’t breed. Reliable research tells us that spay/neuter may prevent or decrease some behavior problems and may have some medical benefits as well.

5. Training and Gentle Leash-walking Gear

Scientifically-endorsed, non-aversive methods work for wild animals at the zoo and wolfdogs! They can work for your dog too if you take the time to learn to speak to your dog in a dog-friendly language your dog can understand. Force-free, Do No Harm training is effective, long-lasting, safe, and often very fast. Get a quick start with an easy-to-use roadmap for solving simple and complex behavior problems using the Do No Harm Dog Training and Behavior Handbook. Check out the detailed index to quickly find what you’re looking for.

Socialization is the most critical learning activity of all. Begin at 8 weeks of age, if possible, or as soon as your new rescue pupster settles into her new home. Remember teaching the basic operant skills can be easily learned at any age! The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior advises: "Training should be based on positive reinforcement with frequent rewards, praise, petting, play and/or treats. Positive and consistent training is associated with fewer behavior problems and greater obedience than methods that involve punishment and/or encourage human dominance" (2008). Socialize, socialize, socialize, slowly and thoughtfully. Participate in socialization activities regularly and frequently. Hang out at Starbucks together or run holiday errands together!

An X, Y or H shaped harness, or a step-in for toy breeds, is best. Avoid shock, prong and choke collars. These devices are singled out as equipment to avoid by veterinary behavior experts in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 2006 (“Good trainers: How to identify one.” Vol. 1). They can cause a variety of documented medical injuries and may cause aggression. They are illegal in a growing number of countries.

7. Exercise

Provide your dog with sufficient exercise for her size, breed and activity level. Most medium, large and giant breeds need to run. The health and behavioral benefits of a happy, well-exercised dog are priceless. Check out the many great trails, beaches, parks and neighborhoods you can explore together. Consider enrolling in a dog-sport class.

8. Environmental Enhancement

Your dog needs and enjoys novel scenery, sounds, objects and activities just as people do. See the book Chapter, Doggy Enrichment Land, for great ideas on creating a space that your dog will prefer, loaded the things your dog loves best! Provide comfort items, chew items, a window with a view where you can crack the window for scenting, a toy box, and activities that will keep your dog stimulated and happy. Rotate food-toys, interactive puzzles, and safe chew-items. Doggy Enrichment Land can be used for Greeting Visitors, Dog and Babies and, importantly, just to give you a break while you’re preparing for the holiday, knowing that your dog is safe and happy (all covered in the book.) Doggy Enrichment Lands provides a quiet place where your dog can rest away from all the excitement of the holiday season. Consider re-landscaping a dog-friendly yard for your pup and create an outdoor Doggy Enrichment Land.

9. Dog Body Language

There is nothing more important than learning to “listen and hear” what your dog is saying to you. Dogs are communicating to us All. The. Time. about how they are feeling and literally telling us what’s about to happen next with them! Understanding that Body Language, Behavior and Vocalizations are the only way our dogs CAN communicate with the us and the world will help make life with your dog more mutually joyful and peaceful!

10. Your Everlasting Love—The Best Gift of All

Infuse all of the above with a big dose of your everlasting and steadfast, reliable love!

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email at LindaPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar, Solana Beach, and Rancho Santa Fe.

Learn more about your dogs needs

and how meeting needs resolves behavior problems in the best-selling Do No Harm Dog Training and Behavior Handbook.