8 Photos of Happiness

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8 Photos of Happiness

It’s Monday and everyone can use a little pick-me-up on a Monday morning, right? Today’s post is all about putting a smile on your face and getting your week off to a great start. Fiona from Muffin the Muse nominated me to participate in 8 Photos of Happiness which was created by Ariel’s Little Corner of the Internet. I don’t know about you, but it always makes me happy when I look through my old photos, remembering fun times and laughing at goofy pics that were taken. I’m also a firm believer in having an attitude of happiness and gratitude, so I’m “all in” on this one. I did decide to change it up a little bit though by adding a quote along with each photo. Enjoy! 🙂

Haley’s 8 Photos of Happiness

Smiling DogThose who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves.James M. Barrie
Dogs Playing with StickCount your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears.John Lennon
Dog Playing with HoseSanity and happiness are an impossible combination.Mark Twain
Dog Chewing on ToyIt is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.Charles Spurgeon
Dog HikingIndependence is happiness.Susan B. Anthony
Dog with BalloonNobody can be uncheered with a balloon.Winnie the Pooh
Dog Attacking BallJumping for joy is good exercise.Author Unknown
Napping PuppyHappiness is a warm puppy.Charles M. Schulz

My Bonus Photo of Happiness!

I had to include one more photo from a Gary Allan concert we attended this past weekend. The concert was fantastic and to top it off, Gary brought his dog Lucy on stage to hang out during the encore. See if you can spot her in the image below.

Gary Allan and Lucy

Now I Want to See Your 8 Photos of Happiness!

I decided to nominate these four blogs since I’ve been wanting to get to know them a little better.

Paved by Paw Prints
Whiskers to Paws
Inspire Greytness
raebyday

If you decide to participate, just follow the steps below.
1. Post your 8 photos of happiness.
2. Thank your nominator and provide a link to their blog.
3. Link to the creator of this event, Ariel’s Little Corner of the Internet.
4. Nominate some of your favorite bloggers to participate.

Thanks Fiona and Ariel for including me in this event. The hardest part was picking only eight photos, haha! It was fun putting the post together and I hope it makes everyone’s Monday just a little bit happier.

When you look through your photos, which ones make you the happiest?

Why Does My Dog Greet Me With a Toy?

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Why Does My Dog Greet Me With a Toy?What’s the deal with dogs that greet you with a toy when you walk in the door? I don’t mean to sound like Jerry Seinfeld here, but I’ve always wondered why Haley does this. Sometimes she does a little panic routine as she frantically searches for something to put in her mouth. Usually it’s a toy laying nearby or an abandoned sock from the previous night’s sock ball ritual but she normally tries to find something that she can bring to the door when I arrive home. So, why does my dog greet me with a toy? Here are some of my theories.

Why Does My Dog Greet Me With a Toy?

It’s a gift!
Maybe she missed me so much that she wants to celebrate my arrival by presenting me with a gift. How sweet!

Nah, surely she would pick something other than a dirty sock that I wore the day before or a worn-out, gutted duck if it were a gift for me. Plus, she doesn’t want to give up the toy right away. If she does give it to me, she usually takes it right back.
She’s a retriever mix and that’s what retrievers do.
That sounds logical, right? They have soft mouths and were bred to retrieve things.

But that doesn’t explain why so many different types of dogs do the same thing. Terriers, herding dogs, all kinds of breeds and mixes exhibit this toy greeting behavior.
She wants to play!
She was so bored while I was away, she can’t wait to have some fun with me.

That might be true for some dogs, but Haley’s not interested in fetching the toy or playing tug-of-war, she’s only interested in greeting me and having a love fest.
She’s greeting her alpha dog and showing respect.
I’ve read that in dog packs, lower ranking dogs will give up valuable items to the alpha to show respect and submissiveness.

No, I don’t think so. Haley respects me but I don’t believe we have that kind of hierarchy relationship where she views me as some type of alpha figure that she has to submit to.
She’s been trained to do it.
The first few times she brought a toy to the door, a fuss was made over her and now she assumes it makes me happy.

Hmm…that sounds like a possibility. I’m always happy to see her and greet her, but I’ve never made a big deal about the toy. That also doesn’t explain why she did it on her own the first few times.
It’s a calming behavior for when she’s overly excited.
She’s so excited that grabbing a toy helps her channel that excitement and calm down.

That’s an interesting theory, but she only does this when I come home and not other times when she’s overly excited. Sometimes when I come home and she’s been napping, she greets me in a quiet low-key manner but still grabs a toy.
It’s a way of displaying happiness.
Dogs don’t have a lot of options for how they can show various emotions. They can’t hug us or clap their paws when we arrive home, so they use their mouths to grab a toy to show happiness.

Could be, but there are other times when Haley’s very happy, like when we’re headed out for a walk or a car ride, but she doesn’t want or need a toy.

It’s such a sweet homecoming to be greeted by a happy, wiggling dog holding a toy in her mouth. Even though I still don’t know why my dog greets me with a toy, the last two theories make the most sense to me. What do you think? Does your dog do this? I’d love to hear your thoughts and theories!

How to Teach Your Dog the Off Command

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How to Teach Your Dog the Off CommandIt’s amazing that some of the easiest commands to teach a dog can also be the most useful.

Got a begging dog panting in your face?
Is your dog about to roll in something nasty in the yard?
Did you accidentally drop a pill on the floor but your pup thinks it’s a treat?

Don’t worry, the Off command comes to the rescue! It’s similar to the Leave It command so feel free to change the words if you like. Heck, you can call it anything you like, it just means that your dog is supposed to back away from whatever he’s currently interested in. Look how easy it is to teach your dog the Off command.

Teach Your Dog the Off Command

Have your dog sit in front of you while you hold a yummy treat in front of his nose.
Allow your dog to sniff the treat, but make sure he can’t grab it.
Your dog may paw at it or get a little frustrated while trying to get the treat.
Give the verbal command, “Off”.
As soon as his nose makes the slightest movement away from your hand, give him the treat and praise.
Practice the command with several short sessions a day.

Most dogs figure this out pretty quick, but in the beginning you’ll reward very small movements away from your hand until you see that your dog understands what you’re asking. He may just move his nose slightly down or away from the treat, but that’s what you’re looking for at first. Once your dog “gets it” and consistently makes movements away from your hand with the command, you can slowly increase the distance he moves away by repeating the command or by holding on to the treat a tiny bit longer each time as he slowly increases the amount of distance that he backs up.

Need some tips?

  • If you use a clicker for training, simply click when you see your dog’s nose move away from your hand then give your dog the treat and praise.
  • While teaching the Off command, you can also combine it with training the Take It command by saying “Take It” when you give your dog the treat.
  • Once your dog is reliably backing away from you when you give the command, start withholding the treat until your dog makes eye contact, then gradually work to extend the eye contact duration for several seconds. This can strengthen the bond with your dog and help get your dog’s attention when needed.
  • Don’t push your dog away from you or have someone pull them back by using a leash; this will only trigger their opposition reflex. Your dog will learn quickly on his own by timing your rewards when you see movement.

Easy Ways to Reinforce the Off Command

  • While playing with a toy your dog wants, say “Off” and wait until he backs away before giving him the toy and continuing the play.
  • Place a treat on the floor in front of your dog but cover it with your hand. Give the command and if your dog moves away, give him the treat.
  • Use the command if your dog tends to rush the door when going outside. This works well when combined with the Wait command to teach good door manners.
  • Use the command around the house if your pup becomes a little too interested in something that’s off limits, like the kitchen trash can.
  • Challenge your dog by taking treats along with you on your walk and reward him for listening to the Off command when you want him to avoid something undesirable. It’s good to train on things that are only mildly interesting at first, since those undesirable things usually smell rather attractive to dogs.

Check out Haley’s video below for three good reasons to teach your dog the Off command.

There you have it! It’s easy to train the Off command and it really comes in handy in so many different circumstances. Who knows, it could even save your dog’s life one day!

Did you teach your dog the Off command? Tell us when you use it the most and share your tips for training the command.

Who Does Your Dog Look Like?

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Who Does Your Dog Look Like?

Click me!

Some people look like their dogs.
Some dogs look like people.

Since Haley started going gray in the face, she reminds me of a certain 70’s rocker. I kind of hate seeing all that gray but she’s got some new character and designs on her face that look pretty cool on a senior lady and she still has the energy of a rock star!

Who does your dog look like? Haley doesn’t want to be the only pup that’s been humiliated by an embarrassing photo on the Internet. Go ahead, show off your pet by uploading a picture in the comment section below and tell us who or what you think they look like!

Bark for Life – Honoring Canine Caregivers and Families

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Bark for Life Honors Canine Caregivers and FamiliesThis past Saturday was our local Bark for Life event sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Maybe you’ve taken part in a Relay for Life event before, but have you and your dog ever participated in Bark for Life? This was our first time attending the event with Haley.

Bark for Life DogIf you’re not familiar with Bark for Life, it’s a fundraising event honoring canine caregivers and those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For many cancer patients and their family members, dogs play a huge role in helping to provide unconditional love and compassion and this is a beautiful way to honor all of them. Anyone is welcome to bring their dog to the event and join in the walk.

The Bark for Life includes a one mile walk with your dog and other fun, dog-related events like contests, games, canine demonstrations, music, food and of course, a little fundraising. Sponsors set up tents where you can talk to various pet professionals, browse cool dog products and maybe even pick up a few samples or freebies.

Bark for Life DogIt was heartwarming to hear cancer survivors share their stories of canine companionship during the event. Yesterday, we heard from a local woman who decided to rescue a Rottweiler dog while she was battling breast cancer. She was so grateful for the love, comfort and companionship her dog provided during her illness that now, as a cancer survivor, she has created her own Rottweiler rescue organization. It was an inspiring story of hope, love and giving back.

Despite a few sprinkles here and there, the event was a huge success and it felt wonderful to take part in the celebration. Bark for Life events are a great opportunity to meet and support others in your community and celebrate your common love of dogs. It’s also a fun way to exercise and socialize your dog while supporting the American Cancer Society’s commitment to eliminate cancer.

Bark for Life Dogs

Canine Caregivers Celebrating Bark for Life

If you would like to participate in Bark for Life, check their Find an Event page to search for events in your area. You can register in advance or just show up at the event with your donation. If you participate in Relay for Life, there are ways for you or your team to also incorporate Bark for Life into your fundraising strategy. You may also be interested in organizing or becoming a volunteer at your local Bark for Life event.

Do you have a favorite dog-related fundraising event? I would love to hear about it!