Are they Happy?

This is the number one question that I get from clients - are my pets happy?

The answer is almost always a resounding yes!

And that doesn’t mean that there aren’t things that we could do that would make them happier. (If you are questioning if you could make your pet(s) happier, then you probably know somewhere inside that the answer is probably yes.)

Remember - you are the whole world to your pets. Which means their world is pretty small if we are being honest about it. Even for a horse with a large pasture, that’s still a small space compared to what they would experience in the wild.

So knowing that, what can we do to bring more joy and enrichment to our pet’s lives?

The good news is there’s lots of things that can enrich our pet’s lives easily and without costing a lot (unless, of course, you want to go spend some big dollars)

Here’s an incomplete list of things that you can do to add value and enrichment to your pet’s life:

❤ Add more walks together: Even 5 more minutes at a time when you don’t usually go out can be fun for your pet. Finding time when you wouldn’t normally take them out can be exciting for them, or plan a different route, even something as simple as walking on the other side of the street can be new and novel.

❤ Learn new tricks (even cats and horses!): There are lots of “tricks” that can be taught to our pets to make their (and our!) lives easier - turn activities that might be scary or challenging into a game. Some examples are being handled by the vet, worming for horses, picking up feet, nail clips, taking temperatures, etc. There is no end to the number of things you can teach your pet to do (if they can teach hippos, tigers, seals and penguins to participate in their own care then your cat, dog, horse or other pet can, too!).

❤ Play games that require them to think and engage their mind: There are lots of puzzle toys available now, which are fun and creative. But it doesn’t take money to make puzzle toys for your pet. Rolling up small treats into brown paper is a great game for dogs and cats. They have to paw and explore the paper to find the treats. Using cardboard boxes for them to crawl into and through, hiding treats in the nooks and crannies is another great game.

❤ Plan “spa time” together: Take some time to brush your pet (another great time to work on “tricks” that relate to their care) and care for them. This can be great for horses - find a really juicy spot of fresh green grass and let them nom away while you lovingly brush them. For your dog or cat it can be extra special bonding time, too. This is beneficial because you’ll learn about your pet’s body so you’ll be likely to find ouchy spots, lumps, bumps or just something out of the ordinary that could be easily missed. Fussing over them and telling them how beautiful they are while you do it just has the added bonus of strengthening the relationship. (Double gold stars if you put on a mud mask and give yourself a spa treatment at the same time!)

One of the biggest reasons that I think clients ask this question is because somewhere inside they are wrestling with the fear and guilt that they aren’t doing enough for their pet. I know that I struggled with this myself - my dogs and my horse didn’t get nearly the exercise they deserved which would have helped with their behavior problems. For me it was a big mix of fear and anxiety around handling my animal’s behavior (which could be very volatile) and not knowing what to do about it, which only added to the sense of overwhelm I was feeling everywhere else in my life.

Here’s the thing to remember - you can only do so much with the time and energy you have. When opportunities open up to do more or change what you are doing, then you shift. But in the mean time know that your pet’s think you are enough, and love you just the way you are. ❤