Treat Your Sweeties Right
- Feb 13, 2015
- 2 min read
By Jamie Damato Migdal, CEO and Pet Industry Entrepreneur
I was reading an article today about Petco’s expansion of the range of organic pet foods carried in its stores, and it got me thinking about the things that we do for our pets to keep them happy and healthy, as well as the things that we tend to put off when our lives get hectic.
So instead of giving you another dog-friendly Valentine’s Day cupcake recipe, I’ve made a list of things that are much better for your dog than cramming them with festive treats.
Schedule those annual check ups, vaccinations, and dental cleanings. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve let these important appointments creep past their due dates because of my own overscheduled life.
Take your dog to the groomer. It’s easy to let this slide over the winter when you don’t want to deal with a damp dog and freezing temperatures, but you know your dog needs a bath and trim right about now.
Spring for some professional portraits. Sure, it’s less expensive to take the pictures yourself, but in years to come you’ll be happy for those beautiful photos of you with your pets.
Sign up for a class. It’s time to start instilling new behaviors (or brushing up on old ones) so that you can be ready for the warmer days and longer walks. Added bonus: you’ll be able to bond with your dog in new ways.
Take longer walks. Start building up your dog’s tolerance for those multi-mile outings along the lakefront this summer.
Learn some relaxation protocols. For noise-sensitive or anxious dogs, spring thunderstorms can be pretty terrifying. Take your pup to a TTouch class on February 26 with the excellent Betsy Lane, or head on over to Chicago Canine Massage to learn the basics.
Start researching pet resort or in-home pet sitting options. If you can find a company that you trust now, you won’t be scrambling for a reservation when you want to get away for a few days during spring break.
Re-evaluate your pet’s diet and supplements. A dog’s nutritional needs can change rapidly as he gets older, and it makes sense to evaluate those needs regularly. Replenish the pet supplies, re-read the labels on the food, and make a note to discuss any changes with your vet during the appointment you scheduled after reading item #1, above.
What would you add to this list?
Happy Valentine’s Day, everybody!
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