#FiveSibes Lovebirds Valentine Flashback & Simple Ways to Shower Your Dog with Love!

February 2015 FiveSibes Flashback:"Will you accept this rose?" Our #FiveSibes "married" couple ~ Gibson & Harley

Welcome to the month of love! Ah, yes, love. Poets and authors write about it. Singers croon about it. Artists create visions of it. While every day is a day for showing our pets how much we love them, February is a time to celebrate that love with Valentine’s Day on February 14 and Love Your Pet Day on February 20! Today's FiveSibes Flashback Friday is in honor of Valentine's Day and love of our Huskies, in particular our romantically sweet lovebirds, (now furangel) Gibson and his absolute once-in-a-lifetime love, Harley, as featured in these adorable photos from 2012 and 2015. My article is a reprint, originally published in 4Knines February 2017. Enjoy, and have a Happy Valentine's Day!

 
While we can certainly count the many ways our beloved dogs love us and we love them, here’s a few ways of showering our canine best friends with some l-o-v-e!

Love Is Simple

Nothing says, “I love you,” more than hugs, kisses, and some belly rubs! Dogs are pretty easy to please. They don’t need anything fancy to let them know how much they are loved, just your time and attention (although treats and toys are willingly accepted).

Fetch Me Some Love!

You work all day and can’t wait to get home. Is there anything better than happy, wiggly butts and wagging tails greeting you at the door to wash away all of the day’s stresses? Return the favor by picking up their favorite toy and engaging in a fun game of Fetch to let them know you missed them, too!

Love Is Being Together

There’s nothing that says, “I love being with you,” to a dog more than spending time together. And dogs love to go o-u-t! Go for a stroll, a hike, or just have fun running around the yard together! If your dog has special needs or a medical condition (like arthritis or weak hind-end issues) that prevents them from walking well on their own, a lift-harness is helpful to aid them on short walks (or potty breaks), or simply sit together and just breathe in the outside air while enjoying each other’s company.

February 2012 FiveSibes Flashback: Our FiveSibes Lovebird Huskies. Gib's heart beated with love for his girl, Harley.

Healthy Love

One of the most loving gifts we can give our dogs is to ensure that they are in the best health possible by taking them to the vet for their scheduled check-ups and keeping their vaccinations current. Also have them microchipped, feed them a healthy diet, have fresh water available, and be diligent in following up on anything physically or behaviorally suspicious, and if your dogs are on medications and/or supplements, be sure that they receive their doses on time.

Love Is Sweet, but Not the Treats

While red heart boxes filled with candy can make us smile, be careful not to let sweet treats near your dog. Chocolates, nuts, anything with Xylitol, raisins, caffeine, and more can be toxic to your pet. Check the ASPCA’s full list of foods to avoid HERE.  Also, keep your vet, the emergency animal hospital, and animal Poison Control phone numbers visible near your landline phone and programmed into your cell phone.

Love Hurts

Oh, boy, it sure can. When we lose a beloved pet, it’s a loss we feel so deep in our hearts we fear we will never heal. To help ease that hurt, why not visit a nearby shelter or rescue and bestow some happiness on a homeless pet. Donate a toy or food in your furangel’s name, give a shelter dog a much-needed hug, and ask to take a dog out of the kennel for a walk. By sharing the love in your heart with a dog less fortunate, you will not only help a dog in need know love, but can also help heal the hurt in your own heart. And who knows? You may even find a new best friend to bring home and love.

The Language of Love

Do you tell your dogs you love them?

I do! Communication is just as important for reinforcing the amazing human-canine bond, as it is to spend time playing and interacting with them. The best part about having a conversation with your dogs is when they answer you back with enthusiastic howls, woofs, woos, licks, and/or tail wags! Pure joy!

FiveSibes Flashback: February 2012

Whether your “puppy” is 12 years or 12 months old, all s/he wants is to be with you and share that special bond called love. Not only will you cherish the time spent together, but your dogs will also be happy knowing they are forever cared for and loved.

My original article, "7 Simple Ways to Shower Your Dog With L-o-v-e" first appeared in the February 3, 2017 issue of 4Knines blog. 

Our Pupsters Want to know...

 Valentine's Day 2019

You're Invited!
Join us each week for a walk down Memory Lane by linking up to our Flashback Friday Blog Hop! Share photos of your pets on your blog or social media from yesteryear or yesterday, grab our badge with a nod to our post, and link up to the hop. Link open all week, so join in any time!

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