Taking some time to shower yourself with some tender loving care can be a welcome break from your daily routine. Your dog will also appreciate some extra attention and pampering. But what are the best ways to pamper your dog?
The best ways to pamper your dog include something as simple as spending extra minutes together. Take them on playdates, spend time at the beach, and go on spa visits. You can also do something personal like a doggy massage, homemade snacks, and DIY toys.
There are many ways to pamper a dog, and this article highlights the best 12. Keep reading to find out the best one(s) for your dog.
Quality Doggy Time
Our dogs don’t ask much of us; a back rub and sloppy kisses and they’ll adore you for life. But when life happens, you might not remember to spend as much time with your furry friend.
A helpful tip to incorporate spending quality time with your pet is to resist the urge to plop on the couch when you come back from work. Instead, crouch to the level of your dog and give the good boy a back rub. You’ll see him respond immediately to the extra attention by endearing displays of affection.
You might want to consider organizing a movie night with your dog. Get some snacks, pick out a movie, and you’re all set for your movie date. Consider having your dog curled up on your lap; he will appreciate the skin contact.
If you work from home, then creating a doggy workspace close to you might be all you need to increase your time spent together. While you work, your dog goes to work on his bones beside you. Whenever you take a break, remember to give the good boy a back rub and kisses.
Here are the things to put in your dog workspace:
- Pillows or a dog bed
- Comfy blanket
- Bones
- Toys
- Treats
- Water
Dog Massage
You don’t need professional training to give your dog a massage. Rub a small area firmly but gently. Pay attention to your dog’s reaction during the massage. You’ll know your dogs are enjoying the massage once you see the closed eyes and relaxed posture. Your pet will communicate with you by body language you’re rubbing too hard, so pay close attention.
Your dog might get some degree of pain relief from a good massage. If you still don’t understand how to give your dog a massage, you can use any of the several dog massage tutorials on the internet.
Playdates With Your Dog
Who doesn’t love the time spent with friends? Plan a date with friends and have them bring over their pets for a good time. Provide toys and treats for the date. It would be a good idea if you and your friends joined the dogs in their games.
You might want to plan the games. Fun games to play with your dog and guests include:
- Frisbee
- Tug of war
- Chasing bubbles
- Hide and seek
Relax With a Cool Bottle of Beer
Crack open a cool bottle of dog beer for your furry friend, and he will love it. Dog beer is a non-alcoholic beverage that comes in different meat flavors. The beer might also contain essential vitamins your dog needs for healthy bones and teeth.
Please don’t give your dogs human beers or other alcoholic drinks. It’s toxic and can result in gastrointestinal disturbances, coma, and death. If you don’t have dog beer, you can use your pet’s favorite beverage instead.
Beach Time With Your Dog
If your dog loves to swim, then a day at the beach counts as pampering. He’ll spend time with new and old friends, have a wide range to run, and the ocean to swim and cool down. It can be a bonding experience for you too. Get involved in the fun. Your dog will love having your attention.
The beach can also be a fun location for a picnic. You might want to invite some friends and their dogs for the picnic. It’ll be fun.
DIY Dog Toy
Express your love for man’s best friend with a toy you made yourself. Dog toys typically only require a few household items to make and very little skill. Once you have made a new toy, please test it out with your pet by joining him in games. I’ll tell you how to make one right now.
The materials to make these toys are:
- Old fabric
- Old socks
- Plastic bottles
- Rope
- Tennis ball
To make a sock toy:
- Cut open the toe side of the sock.
- Stuff a water bottle into the sock.
- Tie the ends of the sock, and the toy is ready.
To make a denim dog toy:
- Find an old denim trouser and rip one of the legs out.
- Tie multiple knots on the fabric, and the toy is ready for chewing.
The tennis ball toy is great for playing tug of war with your pet. To make a tennis ball toy:
- Cut or drill a hole in a tennis ball.
- Pass a rope or braided fabric through the hole.
- Tie the ends to keep the ball in place.
- Add extra knots for your dog to chew on, and the toy is ready for tugging.
You can toss the braided toy for your dog to fetch. It’s washable and easy to make. To make a braided t-shirt:
- Cut into strips an old T-shirt.
- Tie the strips together in a knot at one end.
- Braid the full length of the fabric.
- Tie a knot at the other end, and the toy is ready for tossing.
Homemade Snacks
You don’t have to worry about additives and preservatives when you make your dog’s treats yourself. While your dog might enjoy this snack, you might want to set a limit. Treats should form 10% or less of your dog’s daily diet. I’ll share with you the recipe for my dog’s favorite homemade snack.
Peanut Butter Dog Cookie
Peanut butter is excellent for dogs because it’s packed with vitamins. You might want to ensure that the peanut butter you use in this recipe doesn’t contain xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol substitute that is toxic to dogs.
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup natural peanut butter (no xylitol)
- 1 cup of water
- 2 tablespoons honey
- One egg
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Combine flour, baking powder, peanut butter, water, honey, and egg in a large bowl and stir. You will have a stiff and sticky dough.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut out fun shapes.
- Bake for 20 minutes till golden.
- Store in an airtight container.
You might want to check the Internet for other fun homemade treat recipes to try out. When following recipes, ensure that they don’t contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs.
Doggy Spa Day
A spa day is an excellent way for your dog to get pampered and groomed by professionals. You might want to seize the opportunity to get spa treatments as well. Your pet will get a massage, a relaxing bath, pawdicure, and some grooming.
If you’re on a budget, you can give your dog an excellent spa treatment at home, and it can be a great way to bond with your furry friend. You don’t need any training.
How to Do a DIY Spa for Your Dog
- Start with some exercise. Play some outdoor games your dog loves.
- Dog massage. Massage his head and shoulder to relieve tension.
- Pawdicure. Clip your dog’s nails, but take care not to cut the quick that lies inside the nails. Add a fun coat of nail polish to brighten his paws.
- Give a warm bath. Though not all dogs like water, a warm bath can be relaxing for those who do. If your dog doesn’t fancy getting wet, make it quick. Incorporate massages and relaxing conditioners into the bath, and your dog will love it.
- Gently brush his fur. Using a soft brush, gently brush his coat with slow strokes.
- Enjoy some treats. Share some snacks and treats to mark the end of the spa day.
New Dog Bed
Do you know how you feel when you get new sheets? Yeah, your dog might like that too.
Consider pampering your dog by giving him a new bed or sheets. You might want to look at shops around you and online before choosing.
You might want to consider these factors to make the right choice for your pet:
- Choose a bed large enough to contain your dog. Measure your dog from nose to tail base to get the correct measurement.
- Pick a comfortable bed shape. The shape of the bed you choose depends on what your dog prefers. You might want to give your dog options.
- Select a unique bed for your dog’s particular needs. If you have an older dog, you might consider investing in memory foam or orthopedic mattresses to relieve pain and aches.
- Buy a bed for each dog. You might need a bed for each dog to prevent competition. If your dogs like to snuggle together, then a large bed that can contain them will be a great addition.
Making a DIY dog bed is an excellent option if you’re on a tight budget. You can use old bed sheets for sewing fabric. Some sewing skills would be ideal, but you don’t need to be an expert seamstress to make a dog bed.
How to Make a Dog Bed by Yourself
You would want to have the following tools:
- Sewing machine
- Fabric
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
- Drawstring
- Pillow stuffing
Follow these step-by-step instructions:
- Fold the fabric two times.
- Measure out a comfortable length with your measuring tape. Pro-tip, measure your dog laying down from nose to tail base, and add a few extra inches.
- Mark out the point to cut.
- Unfold the material to reveal a circular fabric. Do this a second time to create another circular fabric.
- Place both fabrics facing each other, sew around the circle’s edges but leaving out 15cm.
- Turn the fabric to the other side to hide the rough edges.
- Stitch in a circle about 3cm from the edge.
- Add a second stitch about 26cm from the edge.
- Stuff the bed with pillow stuffing.
- Pass the drawstring through the outer tunnel of the bed.
- Close up the hole.
- Congratulations, your dog has a new bed made with love.
You might want to check out this YouTube video by Nina’s ideas for an easy tutorial on how to make a dog bed.
Pet Vacation
If you’re feeling incredibly generous, think about sending your dog to a pet hotel when you’re not in town. These luxurious establishments can also offer your dog a comfy place to stay for shorter durations, like while you’re at work. You can also consider purchasing a spa and grooming services.
At a pet hotel, your pet gets to play and have fun with other friends. Alternatively, how about your vacation with your dog? Look around for hotels that provide services to people and their pets. Now you can both benefit from a luxurious menu, a spa day, and grooming services.
Go for a Walk
A walk is a great outdoor activity for your dog, and it counts as pampering. If your pet loves to explore new places, consider going down a new path. Your dog might benefit from the opportunity to explore a new area, new smells, and possibly new friends.
Think about including a 30 minute to 2hour walk with your dog into your daily routine. If your pet is up for it, try hiking together. But you might want to watch out, so you don’t overwhelm your pet during the trek. If you have an older dog, check for signs of discomfort, aches, and pains during the walk.
Take along some essentials like water and treats to keep your pet hydrated and comfortable during this walk. You might also want to take along a dog waste bag and an extra leash or dog collar.
Frozen Treats on a Hot Day
There’s nothing like a cool treat on a hot summer afternoon to keep your dog cool and hydrated. Dogs regulate their body heat by panting. The air moves quickly over the tongue, causing evaporation of liquid and effectively cooling the body. Contrary to some online posts, giving your furry friend a cool treat is safe and helps speed up this process.
These frozen treats are safe for your dog, but you might want to pay close attention if your dog tends to inhale food or has problems with the larynx to prevent choking. Consider making smaller sized treats or crushing them if the larger sizes pose a choking hazard to your dog.
Your dog might enjoy some of these treats straight out of the fridge, but others might require only a few steps to prepare into pupsicles.
Items your dog might enjoy straight out of the fridge include:
- Frozen sardines
- Frozen broth
- Frozen baby food
- Frozen yogurt
- Frozen cheese
Pupsicles
These are like popsicles but made with ingredients your dogs will love. Some might require you to blend a few of your dog’s favorite foods or snacks and freeze them. I’ll share a few recipes of my pup’s favorite pupsicles
Beef Pupsicles
To make this savory treat, you can use only three ingredients.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- ½ cup beef broth
- Beef treats
Instructions:
- Thoroughly whisk the plain yogurt and beef broth in a bowl.
- Spoon your mixture into small cups and freeze partially.
- Remove the partially frozen pupsicle and place a dog treat in the center to serve as a stick.
- Place the pupsicles back in the fridge for about 2 hours or till frozen.
- Remove the popsicle from the plate and serve your dog on a flat plate.
- To make smaller sized pupsicles, you might want to use an ice tray to freeze the mixture.
Banana Pupsicles
You make the banana pupsicles with a combination of fruits, yogurt, and honey, and it’s perfect if your dog has a sweet tooth.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups plain yogurt
- 2 mashed bananas
- ½ cup natural peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Peanut butter treats
- Blueberries (optional)
Instructions:
- Cream your mashed bananas, honey, and peanut butter in a bowl.
- Add yogurt and blend till smooth.
- Place blueberries at the bottom of the freezable cups.
- Scoop your mixture into the cups and place in your refrigerator until partially frozen. It typically takes about an hour.
- Remove the partially frozen pupsicles and place your peanut butter treats in its center to serve as sticks.
- Return your pupsicles to the freezer for about two more hours or till frozen.
- Serve it to your dog on a flat plate.
You might have to check online for more exciting recipes to try for your dog.
Final Thoughts
We love our dogs so much, but sometimes we don’t show it enough. Our pets deserve our love, affection, and some pampering for all the love they give us. Choosing the best way to pamper your dog depends on the type of activities they love and their overall health.
The article lists 12 ways to pamper your dog, but it might require a few tries to figure out which one your dog loves best. So, try them out and gauge your dog’s reactions before picking out the best way to pamper your dog.
