I’ve got some good news, or unfortunate news depending on how you view it.
Our pets are always learning.
Whether we are trying to teach them or not, living creatures are always learning. They are learning what works for them, what doesn’t work for them. They are learning when they are safe and when they aren’t. They are learning how to read us and what to expect based on their human’s behavior.
Some days, I’m like, “Sweet! That means I can make a difference EVEN THOUGH we didn’t do that thing I planned to do!”
Some days, I’m like, “Ugh, CAN’T WE TAKE A DAY OFF?!”
And both are valid. Being a human is hard already, so this is one area where we can make things as painless (and even better fun and enjoyable) as possible.
And if you’re like many of my absolutely incredible, dedicated, I can’t gush about enough clients, you may have a history of putting your pet first.
We talk about sustainability a lot here. Like here where we talk about creating habits, or here where we talk about tips for increasing sustainability, or here where we talk about how being strategic helps with sustainability, or here where we talk specifically about sustainable management plans.
I think it is pretty clear we care about sustainability. Our journey with our pets continues throughout their lives. They are, and we are, always learning from one another, we will always need some level of management in place, and we will need to continue to meet their needs.
The good news is that we can do this sustainably. It does not need to be an all-out effort all the time. Things ebb and flow. When Griffey’s allergies are flaring up, the effort put into helping him is greater than when we are simply maintaining. During times of stress, we really double down and try to show up, and then when the dust settles, our dogs might simply get fed out of a bowl with some extra snuggle time while we catch up on some other aspects of life that we let slide. (I know, I know, blasphemy!)
But here’s the thing, I’ve taken the time to figure out what’s needed and when it is needed, and I have my pet’s support team to lean on when I can’t make those decisions on my own. My vet is incredible, I have my own consultant to help me prioritize.
And, I also know that I start to feel guilty if I haven’t “done enough.” And I will also be honest that sometimes my brain will refuse to see “enough” even if logically, I can observe with my senses that my dogs are happy, healthy, and safe. Those stories about what is “enough” are STRONG, and frankly, very unwelcome.
All The Small Things
So, for myself, there are small things that we work on every day that can move that needle toward our ultimate goals. I figured I share how I make room for that small practice so that at least I can shut down that story that I’m not “doing enough”.
01. Quick Treat Eating + Eating Multiple Treats Quickly
This is to help with two goals:
- I don’t want my dogs to think that treats are a one-and-done with me. I don’t want them to eat the treat and immediately take off.
- I’m working toward easy medication in my future planning.
Griffey is on twice-a-day medication, and Laika is in her senior years. Both of my dogs being able to fluently take food from my hand or another device (syringes, squeeze tubes…), eat it quickly, and then get a “chaser” is a high priority for me. For now, as we are practicing, this might look like: small treat, small treat, big treat, extra special treat. I want variety in what I’m asking them to eat, in size, texture, taste… so that they trust me no matter what I’m handing them.
So, sometimes, we take 4-5 treats of various excitement and tastiness and practice eating one right after another. I can tell you, that exercise has helped many times for surprise vet related things!
02. Come When Called
A rock solid come when called is built upon the history we have with our pets, not what we have in the moment. This means, even when the chips are down, I’m tired, I’m cranky, and I just wanna take a nap, I can practice their “hey, eyes on me!” or “bring your body over here” cues a couple of times and we can add some deposits into their recall account.
03. Bolstering Our Relationship
At the end of the day, I want friendship with my dogs. I want trust. I want them to wiggle and show joy when they see me, just like I feel with them. And like any relationship, it takes intentional work and effort, but lucky for me, my self-care routine involves social time with my dogs. Sometimes that’s some deep pressure therapy through some cuddles, sometimes it is some sort of play, and sometimes that’s problem-solving together. There are a lot of ways to invest in the relationship, and I have gotten a lot of inspiration from the Small Things Often podcast.
At the end of the day, small, intentional efforts can pay off big in your life with your dog. If you find yourself worried you aren’t doing “enough” or your brain is deciding today is the day to bully you as a pet parent, know you aren’t alone. You’re doing a great job, and if you need a little support to find a routine that is do-able, to prioritize sustainable growth toward goals, we’re here to help.
Now What?
- Take a beat and think of 3 small things you do that help your dog’s life be a little bit better. Remember, small things can have huge impacts. Don’t underestimate how powerful something as small as seeing their request for attention can be.
- Breathe and remember, we’re always here for you if you need a support system. It takes a village.
Happy Training,
Ellen