On the second Saturday of May, the pet community celebrates "Dog Mom Day." Wave your paws in the air and give us something to bark about! Caring for our furry besties means meeting their basic needs such as shelter, good nutrition, healthcare, grooming, affection, and exercise.
To celebrate this unique motherhood, here are a few paw-some gift ideas!
Let's think about safety first!
Hydration. Hydration. Hydration.
Exercising our pets means making sure they are healthy, especially in the humid and hot weather approaching us. Make sure to offer them a drink every 20 minutes to prevent overheating. Get a dog water-dispensed water bottle. It may be more accessible when going for a walk or run.
An LED dog leash or collar is a safety game-changer for walking in the early morning or late evening.
It provides better visibility to drivers. Did you know that an estimated 1 million dogs are killed by cars each year in the United States alone?
LED leash lights your walking path, which is helpful when your path may be uneven sidewalks.
Finally, it also alerts passersby, fellow dog walkers, cyclists, e-scooters, etc., that your dog is an extension of you.
Here are a few practical gift ideas.
A gift certificate for your dog to get professionally groomed. Grooming isn't just looking good! Groomers can help identify skin or health problems on your dog, such as lumps or bumps, bites from insects, fleas or ticks, etc. It helps to keep shedding and ear infections down too.
A dog's coat can become matted, a painful and unhealthy condition. Routine grooming will help prevent this. Finally, nail trimming reduces the risk of bad posture or bone deformation.
Gift a package of dog training sessions.
Not all dogs walk nicely on a leash with their owners or play well with others. Some dogs bark excessively, jump on people, chase a cat or squirrel, or do not follow through on basic commands for good behavior.
Dog trainers help nurture the relationship with your pack by giving you skill sets for success. Yes, it will take a daily commitment from you.
And you know what? Training doesn't stop. Gibbs is six years old, and we still have mini-training sessions with him. Repetition and rewards for good behavior create a powerful and loving pack.
Finally, here are some fun gift ideas.
You can find many dog-friendly healthy activities and eateries, whether close to your home or on a weekend getaway. Here are a few examples, take a kayaking tour, a golf cart guided mural tour, or find a dog paw painting event. Afterward, refuel with your pack at dog-friendly restaurants. Many have healthy dog menus too! Gibbs chose the peanut butter carrot muffins.