Dog Training & Self Care
For many pet guardians, it feels like training your dog and taking care of yourself are diametrically opposed activities. Dog training is posed as a selfless activity that requires your full attention and physical acuity. Often, we end up feeling like we’re giving everything to our dogs at the expense of our friends, family, and ourselves. So begins the endless shame spiral that is dog ownership in the age of social media, but I’d like to propose an essential mindset shift.
In recent years, we’ve seen a growing movement that rejects the commercialization of self care and grounds itself in mundane tasks. Instead of self care necessitating expensive spa days and bottles of wine, it’s the simple (and yet not so simple) act of washing the dishes, decluttering your workspace, or stretching for five minutes between meetings. The first version of self care centers around glamorized needs while the latter hones in on and takes pleasure in what is truly essential to taking care of your body, mind, spirit, and home.
Luckily, you and your dog are both members of the animal kingdom, so our essential needs are much more alike than different. This begs the question, can meeting your dog’s needs also meet your own?
For me, the answer is yes! Dog training can be an amazing tool for human self care, but how you approach your training sessions may need some adjustment. We devote lots of attention to creating moments for our dogs moments to pause and sniff or play, but where can we create similar moments for ourselves within the context of dog training? Here are some ideas:
Make putting on your treat pouch the cue to do some breath work. If I have 10 minutes to train with my dogs, I put on my pouch, breathe for 3-5 minutes, and train for the remaining time. Box breathing is my go-to, and I like to use an app like Headspace to keep me honest.
Engage your senses while your dog sniffs. What shade of blue is the sky today? What birds can you hear? Can you smell the neighbor’s jasmine? Can you taste the lingering flavor of your morning cuppa? Is the wind tickling the hair at the back of your neck? Give each of your five senses their due while your dog does the same.
Too tired for an active training session? Set out a mat or cushion for your dog to relax on in the sun and sit next to them. Soak up your vitamin D while sharing a snack between you. Cheese, berries, apples, and carrots are great for this. Relaxation training totally counts in these fast-paced times.
Dog training isn’t just for your dog. It’s for you as an individual, and it’s for both of you together. Don’t let dog training be another item on your to-do list that inhibits your self care. Design your sessions so that self care is part of the package. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself training more and stressing less.
Ready to build more self care into your dog training practice? Sign up for a Virtual Consultation, so we can optimize your routine together.