Ever since I got my first dog, I’ve been pondering how to make a dog happy. It’s a topic I find rather complex.
Throughout my canine career, I’ve encountered various categories of dog owners with different opinions on this matter and also leading different lives.
Unfortunately, the largest category consists of people who have dogs as companions. These dogs typically live on the couch, eat three times a day, and go out in the morning and evening for their bathroom breaks. It might seem like a dull life, and many of these dogs probably feel the same way, but I must admit that when their owners return home in the evening, these dogs radiate happiness from every pore. They wag their tails incessantly, jump into their owners’ arms, and lick their faces. After all, it’s said that a dog lives for its owner, right?
I have to say that my vision of a happy dog differs from this, but I’m sure these owners would argue otherwise.
However, within this category, there are some owners I admire. They take their dogs on long walks every weekend, whether it’s by the sea, in the hills, or up in the mountains, never leaving them at home.
Then there are the real “working dogs.” Dogs that live in the barn and go out in the morning to round up the flock, taking them on walks through the mountains and plains all day, every day. They are dogs you can observe repeatedly without finding any sign of dissatisfaction. Their body language is extraordinary. They live in packs with other dogs, encounter unfamiliar dogs, and have no behavioral issues whatsoever.
Here, I must admit, we are getting closer to a happy dog, but I can already hear the voices of many dog enthusiasts murmuring that they are often mistreated.
I want to clarify that in my world of “working dogs,” it’s synonymous with “herding dogs.” Therefore, I can’t speak for hunting dogs, herding dogs for defense, pet therapy, search and rescue dogs, sled dogs, etc.
In reality, I have to admit that I’ve seen some trainers do things that border on mistreatment.
Then there are all those dogs that participate in various sports, like agility, obedience, protection, Disc Dog, dock diving, and so on.
I believe that in this category, most dogs are happy, but only when the satisfaction of participating in these sports aligns with a genuine relationship between the dog and its owner in daily life, and when the dog enjoys the sport itself. Because it’s entirely true that just because you love a sport, it doesn’t mean your dog will love it too.
In conclusion, I want to tell you how I try to make my dogs happy.
I let them live on the couch, feed them in the morning and evening. We do Disc Dog at least twice a week and herding at least once. In the summer, I always take them swimming. We take walks in the countryside. In the evening, when I come home from work, I get all their slobbery kisses on my face!
But most importantly, we have plenty of cuddles in bed when we go to sleep and in the morning when we wake up! 🙂
Remember, making your dog happy is making yourself happy.
Enjoy & Play Disc Dog
