“Borrowing from JFK, ‘Ask not what your dog can do for you, but rather what you can do for your dog,'” says Tamar Geller, best-selling author and Lillian Vernon guest blogger. “We all have a dream of what our new dog will be like, how awesome our relationship will be, how proud they will make us, and how connected we will be. But to get there it takes some play-training.” Tamar shares some tips for training your dog, and go-to gifts to reward him for best behavior, below:
I strongly believe that dogs are angels from God who come into our lives to teach us how to give and receive love, and to show us how lovable we are. But having said that, they are different than we are, as they are foreigners to our culture and our rules. It’s up to us to gently and playfully coach them on how to switch from impulse-based behavior to mindful behavior, not unlike we do with toddlers. Patiently and lovingly, we want to share with them our heart and our ideas of how we would like them to behave: how to greet us, where to potty, what games we like them to play, and to come (happily) when they are called.
Having coached dogs for nearly 30 years, I never get tired of seeing the joy that both the dog and his owner experience when they connect on a whole new level. I still get teary-eyed on a regular basis and my heart sings with joy when I see a dog learning a new skill and looking with gratitude and love at their owner who took the time to teach him playfully. I love people who want to give to their dog, who want to share their love, and in return get the most loving friend they could ever ask for. -Tamar Geller
Treat yourself and your pet to a new bed (personalized for free), playful plush toys, food bowls, comfy blankets, and much more. HERE
Tamar Geller is a New York Times best-selling author of The Loved Dog. Her innovative methods have inspired and changed pets and owners alike, including Oprah, who called Tamar “A Life Coach for Dogs and their People”. The Loved Dog method that she created 25 years ago is based on the knowledge she acquired as an intelligence officer in the Israeli Special Forces and from the wisdom of nature during the time she spent observing wolves in the wild. To contact or learn more about Tamar, go to theloveddog.com