Making A Connection
A post written by a veterinarian recently caught my eye, and I thought the premise of the article was brilliant: consciously make time at least once a week to truly connect with your dog. Connect emotionally and physically (if your dog truly enjoys your touch), and look for anything out of the ordinary; swollen joints, itchy ears, sore paws, change in energy level, etc.
If this conscious connection becomes routine, you may catch many ailments before they become serious, and forestall negative behaviors that could be directly related to your dog’s physical discomfort. It was great advice, except for the part about staring at your dog for five seconds to enhance the connection.
Dogs in general, and fearful dogs in particular, can find a stare to be very threatening. Depending on the dog, a stare can be interpreted as challenging or intimidating, and neither emotion creates or strengthens a sense of trust and safety.
Definitely make the time to truly “be” with your dog on a regular basis, but leave the long look out of the relationship. You can gather all the information you need by keeping your eyes soft and looking for just a second or two, before removing the pressure of your gaze.
Photo Credit: Pixabay / a348363899
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