Five Dog Approved Relaxing Activities

By Linda Cole

During waking hours, most dogs go a mile a minute. There's guarding the home, or at least barking just to let their owner know they're on the job. Then it's off to make sure squirrels, outside cats or other critters are properly reprimanded if they step foot in the wrong yard. All of that takes time and energy, and sometimes it's nice to just relax and enjoy some dog approved activities with their favorite human. That’s the one thing dogs enjoy more than anything else!

Being involved with your pet helps to strengthen your bond and build trust. What's great about dogs is you don't have to spend a lot of time doing an activity with them. They don't ask much from us, and spending some extra time puts them on top of the world.

A Slow Walk

Many dog owners walk their dog on a daily basis, but not necessarily as a way to relax. Since I have a dog enclosure where my dogs can hang out, do their business and enjoy the day, our walks are mainly a way I can give them some mental stimulation. Dogs get tired of the same old thing day in and day out. They like a set routine, but they also enjoy an impromptu outing now and then.

A slow walk around the neighborhood or on a trail is a good way to relax. Let your dog sniff around under the bushes, while you enjoy the fresh air and everything nature has to offer. After all, if you're too busy to stop and smell the flowers once in awhile, it really is time to slow your world down a bit. There's something about being on a slow walk with your dog that helps both of you relax from the rigors of the day. Take your time, and if you find a bench where you can sit, enjoy some quiet time with just you and your dog.

Grooming

Not all dogs need a good combing, but they do need attention paid to their toenails, teeth and ears. Most dogs enjoy a good brushing, and combing your dog can be a relaxing activity. My Siberian Husky, Cheyenne, loved being brushed. She would patiently lie on her side while I combed, and combed, and combed. Then, she'd roll over so I could do the other side. Brushing or combing your pet is a good one-on-one activity you can do with your dog. It also helps lower cortisol levels for both of you. Cortisol is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, and high levels are unhealthy for us, and our pets.

Massage

If you have never given your dog a massage, it might be a good idea before you begin to talk to your vet and read this RPO article: How to Give Your Dog a Massage. You can also find good information online and in books. Massage therapy has some really good benefits for pets. It's another great way to build a bond with dogs. However, my dogs just enjoy a casual rubdown from time to time, even if it isn't a true massage. I rub their legs, paws, tummy and sides. Your dog learns that your touch is soothing, and when you need to trim toenails or inspect his body, he's more likely to allow you to poke around. Whether you give your dog a true massage or simply run your hands over his body, either one will help him relax. Don't forget to reward him with some CANIDAE dog treats after you've finished his massage.

Watch TV and Cuddle

If you don't allow your dog on the couch or in your chair, sit on the floor with him. Watching TV together and cuddling makes him feel safe, and is a great way to help him relax as he sits or lies by your side.

Read/Play Music

To a dog you've bonded with, your voice is one of the sweetest sounds. I talk to my dogs all the time. If you can't think of anything to talk about, pick up a book and read out loud to your dog. It doesn't matter that he can't follow the plot line. The only thing he cares about is listening to you. Like our smell, listening to our voice is comforting and relaxing. Soft music is another relaxing activity most dogs enjoy just as much as we do. Keep the volume low, and while you listen, give your pet a nice massage.

Like us, dogs can become stressed, and even anxious with daily life. They need some quiet time, too. Spending just a little extra time with your pet makes them happy, and it can also help you relax after a long day at work.

Top photo by Cedric Ramirez 
Bottom photo by Berkeley T. Compton

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How to Massage an Arthritic Dog

By Langley Cornwell

My friend Karen recently adopted a senior dog with general arthritis and hip dysplasia. Good for her, right? It started with a conversation we were having about the high number of senior dogs in shelters, and how sad it was for an older dog to live out his or her days behind bars. In our local shelter, senior dogs make up about 10% of the overall population at any given time. When trying to understand why, a shelter worker told us that oftentimes families surrender their senior dogs when they reach an age where they require extra care. What a shame.

Karen’s goal is to provide her new dog, Goldie Girl, with a safe and comfortable home during her twilight years. Their union is heartwarming; it’s amazing how quickly Goldie Girl and Karen have bonded. And the dog seems to have turned back the clock several years. She holds her head a bit higher and her limp is less pronounced. Karen attributes the quick bonding and Goldie Girl’s improved physical state to massage.

The article I wrote titled The Benefits of Massage Therapy for Pets helped convince Karen that her new dog would get a lot out of regular massages, but she didn’t want to cause Goldie Girl any additional pain. Having no experience with massage, Karen went looking for advice on how to massage an older, arthritic dog. She found what she was looking for on The Dog Channel, where there is a helpful tutorial on massaging a senior dog. Here are some simple pointers.

Why massage an arthritic dog?

Arthritis is a degenerative disease that causes pain and soreness in a dog’s joints, specifically the hips, lower spine and knees, and, less severely, to the elbows and shoulders. Massaging your senior dog’s aching muscles a few minutes every day will help slow down the degenerative process of arthritis. Furthermore, massage can help relieve some of your dog’s arthritis pain and reduce some of the muscle tension associated with the disease.

How do you do it?

Start by lightly petting your dog all over, then slowly concentrate your efforts on the area you are about to massage. Continue to lightly stroke the area with very little pressure – this is called effleurage – which helps to increase circulation in the area.

Next, begin lightly kneading the tight muscles. Then rub your hands against your dog’s skin to create light friction which will loosen the tight muscle fibers and encourage deeper circulation. Continue to alternate light kneading with light hand friction. About every 10 seconds, use light effleurage strokes to assist drainage. Avoid putting any direct pressure on the dog’s painful joints, but do work the area around the joints to stimulate circulation and drainage.  

During the massage, you may want to perform some gentle stretching exercises on your dog, to increase the elasticity of the tissue you are working on. When your massage and stretching session is over, softly stroke your dog’s entire body to help her relax. Then you may want to give your sweet dog a soft and tasty CANIDAE TidNips treat.

How long should the massage last?

The massage should last about 10 minutes for smaller breeds and between 15 - 20 minutes for larger breeds. Start with less time and increase the duration gradually, otherwise you risk overworking a specific part of the dog’s body and exacerbating the inflammatory process often present with an arthritic condition.

Does time of day matter?

If you can manage it, try to massage your dog twice a day: once in the early morning and then again in the evening. A massage first thing in the morning is useful because it helps reduce the soreness and stiffness resulting from the previous night’s inactivity. A second massage in the evening will relieve muscle aches brought about by the day's activities.

While massage isn’t a cure for arthritis, it will certainly help your older canine friend feel better. The added bonus is that the bonding experience will benefit both of you!

Read more articles by Langley Cornwell