Your Dog Can Have Summer Goals Too!

Summer has not officially started, but I’m sure we are all thinking about what we would like to accomplish over those three months. For those of us that are dog owners, consider creating goals that you and your dog can work towards together. You can establish short or long term goals, simple or complex. Research shows that many of us set goals for self improvement, improving relationships, and to achieve something that may otherwise have been out of the picture. Below are some steps from Psychology Today to help set your goals. I added a little spin on them to include your pooch.

Write what comes to mind for you when you hear the word, ‘goal’, or ‘achievement’.
Take what you wrote and make sure it is realistic, achievable, and about you, or you and your dog.
Be sure that your goal is worded positively. It should be something you want more of or are striving toward, rather than something you want less of or are trying to remove from your life. For instance, I would like to be able to walk my dog farther and longer on a loose leash. Instead of, I want my dog to pull less.
Think about how you can make your goal as specific as possible. Include detailed language or numbers. Think about specific behavior, whether it is your dogs behavior or your own. Avoid using general statements such as, happy or healthy. While those are meaningful things to work towards they are hard to define.
Think about how you can measure your progress. Will creating a spreadsheet or writing in a journal help? Is there an app that you can download to help track your progress?
What is the time-frame for you to achieve your goal?
Is there anyone that can help or guide you in achieving your goal? Personal trainer, dog trainer, dog walker, vet, doctor, family?

My goal by the end of summer is to comfortably walk all three of my dogs together on a loose leash. They get TOO excited before a walk. My plan is to work together with my boyfriend by walking each of our dogs individually at first, every day, rain or shine. Then, we will work towards walking all three together. If we can curb the initial excitement by making it part of our everyday routine, I believe we will have success and confidence to walk all three pups at once and be able to finally enjoy walking around the park and neighborhood. I will keep you updated on my progress with photos and videos on the road to achieving my goal.

We would love to hear from you about your dog-orientated goals. Please share your progress with us on our Facebook page. Let us know if a Floofins & Co. Pet Care Specialist can help you and your dog achieve your goals.