All You Need Is Love...& A Dog

Ah February, the month of love!

While the human world celebrates Valentine’s Day; teddy bears and flowers might not mean the same to your dog as they do to your significant other. And you definitely can’t show them you love them by gifting them a big box of chocolates! So how do you show your dog you love them in a way that they understand? It might sound easy, but each pup is different and has their own idea of what “love” looks like.

Here are a few ways you can communicate with your fur friend in an affectionate way that is appreciated! 

Body Language

Did you know that there are certain things you can do with your body to show your dog he/she is adored? For instance, eye contact is very important in the canine world. It can be viewed as a threatening or dominant move if a stranger is involved. However, according to Dr. Brian Hare, author of The Genius of Dog, when your dog is staring at you they are “hugging you with his eyes.” Try to pet your pup and give a relaxed loving look. What about raising your eyebrows? Based on a study of Behavioral Processes, dogs will raise their eyebrows (specifically the left one) when they see their owner, and show less facial expression when a stranger welcomes them. In turn, this leads us to believe that having a more expressive face and raising eyebrows could convey a positive message. 

Feed Them By Hand

Starting out as a puppy it is important to establish who is the pack leader and food provider. Feeding your dog by hand will allow for a positive foundation. There are many veterinarians and dog behavior specialists who will recommend that you feed your pooch by hand to also help eliminate aggression. This is an easy and intimate step that can result in a very beneficial outcome.  

Cuddle in Bed

Not only is it proven to help reduce anxiety, sleeping with your pup can be another way to show them they are loved. Gregory Berns, author of How Dogs Love Us, discusses research gathered through many years of exploring the canine mind. This research shares that when a dog sleeps with his human, it is the “ultimate display of affection” mostly because this is a time where the dog is at its highest vulnerability. When we sleep with our dog, we are telling them we trust them enough to be vulnerable around them as well.

Train Your Pup

When you have a dog that is lacking confidence, positive reinforcement is the perfect way to help build their self esteem! Training through positive reinforcement will help your dog to trust you more. Through this trust the relationship you share with your canine friend will start to grow stronger. And through the process you will begin to learn how to better communicate and understand your pup. 

What is Your Dog Telling You?

Of course we want to show affection to our most loyal companions, but it is important to know that dogs communicate differently than we do. Yes, we all know they don’t speak our language, but they also do and don’t like certain things. Pay attention to what your dog is really telling you through the body language being displayed. It will help you to respect one another and is another great way to show your love! 

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Your dog will appreciate these more than any diamond necklace (or collar). They love you and want nothing more than to be your best pal. Because we love them so much we want them there for every special occasion, especially the ones we hold most dear to heart. When you want to make your pet a part of a family photo shoot to document the love, or even want to include them in your BIG day, just remember FairyTail Pet Care is a click away.  

Gasparilla Inn Wedding with Rosco - Boca Grande, FL

Lisa reached out to us a couple weeks before her destination wedding on Gasparilla Island in Boca Grande, FL because traveling without her "hunny bunny", Rosco, was totally out of the question!

Her & her fiancé, along with their family & friends spent the week on this gorgeous island before the wedding. They had activities planned and knew they would be pretty busy throughout the week & with this in mind, asked us to travel with them to give Rosco an adventure of his own! We even brought our significant others for some added fun on this awesome 'work-cation'!

We'd never been to Gasparilla Island, but quickly made ourselves at home along the beautiful white, sandy beaches. Making sure Rooski (as we came to know him) was as happy and comfortable as possible was our top priority. Him & his momma have quite a special bond & we knew it was hard for him to be away from her & in a new place at that, which is why we filled our days with long walks through the town, sandy strolls at sunset, wiggles down Banyan Street, golf cart joy rides & relaxing in our cottage at the charming Gasparilla Inn!

We, of course, got some of the most amazing GoPro footage of our adventure, so make sure you check out Rosco's FairyTail Adventure video!

Lisa knew that Rosco would be nervous if he was a part of the ceremony, so we helped to include him in the special day in other ways! We greeted guests from the front porch of the Gasparilla Inn as the checked in, spent some time with the bride & family as they got ready & helped him pose for photos during formals.

Lisa & Dan took some of their portraits on the magnificent harbor side golf course behind the Inn. We were resting in the cottage with Rosco when we got a call from their photographer, Marc Edwards, that they were ready for Rooski. We walked him to the golf course & when Rosco caught eye of Mom & Dad he had only one thing on his mind, a man on a mission & we (with permission) let him live out his dreams & run full-puggle speed towards his family! (Check out minute 2 of Rosco's GoPro video to witness this epic reunion in motion!)

Needless to say, we became very close to this hilariously adorable puggle & his wonderful family. This is a FairyTail Wedding we will never forget!!

Professional photos courtesy of the most paw-fect photographer, Marc Edwards Photographs!

If you haven't seen the GoPro video from our adventure with Rosco, press play below & dance along with us & our handsome puggle friend!

Deck the Paws

Tis’ the Season for giving…you and your pet a howl-iday to remember!

Many of us are excited and anticipating a joyful remainder of 2016, but how do we incorporate our special furry family members in on the fun? Some of my favorite memories include family, hot chocolate, movies, and of course my pup cuddled up next to me on the couch. If you love your animals as much as we do, you want to make sure they are involved in as many holiday affairs as possible.

So what are some ways you can make this happen?

Include your pet in your annual family photograph

Not only does this give you the opportunity to spend some extra time together during such a busy time of the year, but you are sharing an extended part of you with others. Take some pictures at the park, beach, or even at your local pet store.

Check out these dates and locations to see if you can snag a picture with Fido and Santa.

Bake cookies together

Save the chocolate chip cookies for yourself, but don’t forget the doggie friendly treats too! These festive treats can be made with items you may already have at home and they are sure to please any dog that receives them. Get into the spirit together!

Go for a walk

You may go on walks daily, but what about a walk to look at Christmas lights around the neighborhood? This is a tradition we always had as a family, but it could be even more special by having your pet join in on the action.

Check out some of these homes and maybe drive over or walk around.

Make a personal gift for them

Instead of going to the store and getting a generic gift for your best furry bud, how about making them something both personal and practical? There are many DIY pet gifts for you to create, and I can guarantee the love will be returned.

Check out some of these cute ideas, and if you don’t want to make them yourself,

FairyTail Fashions has their own for you to purchase!

Have your own “ugly sweater party”

Invite some doggie friends over and have everyone wear their ugly sweaters. The pups play while you sip on the eggnog. This is a fun way to make memories with everyone you love and have some laughs.

Don’t let the hustle and bustle of the season take away from your quality time with the animal that is always there to love you. You will enjoy having them be a part of such a special time! Being able to spend this time with your pet also allows for a less stressful time for them, which in turn comes back to you!

Tis’ the season for giving back to the animals that always give to us.

Happy Howlidays!