All month long, we’re focusing on the love of our four-legged best friends! Here are some of the amazing benefits that having a pet like a puppy can do for you, as well as some great ways to #pawitforward for your pup, including how to spread love to the ones still waiting for their forever homes!
Our puppies come into our lives and bring us laughter, adventure, and a ton of new experiences together! May is National Pet Month, a time to celebrate these life-enriching qualities and also draw attention to how we can help more people enjoy all the amazing benefits puppies have to offer.
Before we dive into how to celebrate National Pet Month, let’s highlight the top ways pets make our lives better:
1. Unconditional love. Pups and humans share and incredible bond, and with that comes some of the strongest love you’ll ever feel!
2. Companionship. Having a pup can also feel like you gained a best friend; the best listener, the best snuggle-partner, and someone who is always there for you when you need them!
3. Improve our mental health! It’s pretty obvious that puppies make us happy! There’s something about those adorable faces and addictive personalities that get us hooked. They can be an instant mood-booster and a positive influence on our mental well-being and state of mind. Having a pet has also been linked to reducing anxiety.
4. They get us moving! Another wonderful health benefit here! Even if you enjoy binge-watching the latest Netflix series on your weekends, something about having a pup makes you determined to get up and make sure they get their exercise in, even if you’ve chosen to skip your workout that day. Having a pup almost guarantees you will be moving that body of your daily!
5. They make us more social! Having a pup and taking them outside usually means you will be interacting with other pup owners you come across on your outings. You never know the new friendship that could spark and pup playdates that can ensue, all because of having a pup!
Now let’s dive into our fav ways to celebrate your pup and other pets for National Pet Month!
Plan special excursions with your pup!
Give your puppy devoted time and affection by planning a few fun activities to do together throughout the month!
Depending on where you live, that could be an outdoor adventure like hiking a new trail, trying out a dog beach, or attending a local pup-friendly event!
Learn how to prep your pup for pup’s first hike here, “How to Prepare for Your Puppy’s First Hike!”
Have a puppy party!
Now that you’re probably making new puppy friends wherever you go, plan a playdate with some of their favorite pup friends in your own backyard or at a local park!
If your puppy is new to socializing with other dogs, start off with one or two they naturally gravitate to and match the energy level. For more tips on how to properly socialize your puppy so you ensure it’s always a great experience, check out our socialization blog!
Play with your puppy!
One of the best ways to bond and show your love with your pup is through structured playtime sessions with them!
This is where you’re actively playing and interacting with your pup through fun activities that also strengthen their listening skills and basic obedience commands. Our favorite games for this are Tug and Fetch! Learn more about how to play with your puppy and improve their skills while you do so in our blog, “Puppyhood Made Easy for New Owners: How to Play with your Puppy Pt. 1!”
Do some puppy training with your puppy!
Puppies love to learn new things! Teaching your puppy obedience commands and training routines is both mentally and physically stimulating for them, which helps them feel more fulfilled!
Bonus: not only will you build your relationship and bond together by working more together, you’ll have a well-mannered pup that can accompany you out in public for all your adventures!
Puppy training helps puppies achieve their full potential, working on their natural love of work and play. In our Online Puppy School, you have all the tools necessary to train your puppy from the comfort of home, while teaching your pup some awesome skills they’ll use for life!
With our curriculum of on-demand and live training classes, we’ll show you step-by-step exactly what to do to help your pup grow up to be an amazing companion dog that you can take anywhere and enjoy life to the fullest with! Try out our favorite routines right away when you enroll into The Puppy Academy Online School.
Have another way you love to celebrate pets? Let us know in the comments!
#PawItForward
If you don’t have a pet yet or want to know how you can further extend the good for National Pet Month, here’s some ideas to consider:
Adopt a homeless pup
Adoption not only saves the life of the puppy or adult dog you are bringing home but of another dog too! By adopting, you are allowing a rescue organization or shelter to open up space and resources to another homeless pup.
Fees that go into adoption sometimes include an amount to help cover expenses for food, bedding, medical supplies, and toys for other pups in the shelter.
And by adopting a puppy, you are becoming an advocate for that rescue or shelter, bringing their name, work, and pups in need to others in your own network!
Become a foster
Opening your home to a pup, even if it’s just for a period of time before they find their forever home, can change their life for the better!
As a foster, you can help a puppy learn to adjust to living in a home with people and even other dogs if you have them. That first experience can have a positive impact on that puppy that will carry on with them as they grow.
Oftentimes, fosters can give pups a new lease on life by introducing them to a structured home, a daily schedule, and basic puppy training.
Donate to a rescue organization or local shelter
When adoption isn’t an option, you can still help by donating valuable resources and covering financial burdens for a rescue organization or shelter in your area!
Many of these groups will post their pups' needs on their website or social media! Pups with health issues greatly benefit from caring individuals donating to cover their vet bills and additional care!
Have more questions about raising your puppy and training? Join us at a live Ask a Puppy Trainer q&a on our @thepuppyacademy Instagram. Bring your questions about how to raise, train, and care for your new rescue puppy and our trainers will help you live!
Also, sign up for the Very Important Puppy mailing list to receive weekly puppy training tips every new puppy owner needs!
Check out these blogs related to puppy training and more!
8 Effective Ways to Bond with Your Puppy!