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The season of love is just around the corner, so it's the perfect time to think about pampering your pup!
Our dogs offer us unconditional love all year round, so what better way to repay them than pampering them at home?
In this guide, we've compiled our top tips on pampering your dog without breaking the bank! From the things you can do for free to the best products to give them a spa day at home, it's never been easier to make your dog feel super special this season!
Why should you pamper your dog?
Pampering your dog helps to strengthen the bond you have with them and rewards them for their unconditional love and loyalty.
For our dogs, the most rewarding thing we can give them is our time.
Dogs offer us so much. They understand our behaviours, comfort us when we feel sad and celebrate with us when we're happy.
When we think of being pampered, we think about spa days and being pampered in a luxurious setting. Whilst grooming is a nice treat for our dogs, whether we groom them, play with them or simply take them for an extra walk, the most enjoyable and pampering part is that they get to experience those things with us, their best friends.
Here are some other ways that our dogs benefit from being pampered;
- A little extra attention is good for your dog's mental health. A new toy, a tummy tickle or a special treat all help to stimulate your dog's brain, preventing them from becoming bored.
- Their physical health improves. Pampering through an at-home grooming routine can help to stimulate their skin cells, improve their circulation, and keep their coats in great condition. At-home grooming can also be a great way to spot any health issues, such as lumps and bumps on the skin that may need to be checked by a vet or to spot parasites that need treating.
- Pampering improves your dog's mood, showing them they are loved and cared for and helping them to feel safe and secure in their environments.
How to pamper your dog at home
If you want to give your dog a spa-like experience at home, there are plenty of ways your dog will benefit from it!
Aside from showing them how much you care and building on your strong bond, dogs love to be pampered, and seeing them relaxed and happy will make you feel happier!
Most dogs find having their nails cut quite a stressful experience, so unless you're super confident or your dog isn't phased by having their nails clipped, it might be best to leave this to the professionals at your dog's next grooming appointment to prevent them from becoming stressed.
Here's how to give your pup the pampering they deserve;
- Take your dog for a walk or give them some playtime to help them relax
Playing with or walking your dog before grooming them at home is a great way to help them relax. Keep their exercise short and simple to not tire them out too much before you groom them and concentrate on activities they love, such as chasing a ball in the garden or taking a quick walk in their favourite spot.
- Create a spa-like environment at home
Although dimming the lights, lighting a candle and putting on some relaxing music might not benefit your dog directly, if it helps you to relax, your dog will feel relaxed too! However, take care not to overstimulate your dog's senses with too many overpowering scents or sounds.
- Try massaging your dog
With your dog sitting in front of you, start by massaging their head. Working in small circles, rub your fingers around their heads, moving down their neck and massaging their shoulders. The sensation of your touch will help to relax your dog whilst stimulating their skin and allowing it to breathe.
- Brush your dog
Whilst your dog's coat is still dry, take a brush and run it through their coat to remove any mats and tangles. If your dog has a double or dense coat, a slicker brush will be the best choice here, or for dogs with long, smooth or silky coats, use a pin brush.
- Give your dog a warm bath
Now your dog should be starting to feel more relaxed, run them a bath of warm, clean water. With all mats and tangles removed, rinse your dog's coat and apply a delicious smelling and gentle shampoo to help clean and stimulate their coats, leaving them feeling clean and fresh.
The My Dog Spa shampoo range is ideal for giving your dog an at-home pamper session between their grooming appointments. There's a scent for everyone in this collection, available in a range of delicious scents, including citrusy Daisy and woody Storm. Alongside their delectable smell, My Dog Spa products are also pH balanced, so gentle on your dog's skin and made with sustainable ingredients such as sustainably sourced palm oil; they're paraben-free, vegan-friendly and completely planet-kind.
Wet the coat using warm water, apply a small amount of shampoo (or dilute one part shampoo to twenty parts water) and gently massage into the coat. Rinse thoroughly with warm water, repeating as necessary.
- Towel-dry your dog’s coat
Once clean, dry down your dog with a towel. Once your dog’s coat is completely dry, give it another brush to prevent tangling.
- Finish with a conditioning fragrance spray
Follow up with a My Dog Spa Fragrance Spray to condition the coat and leave it smelling fresh. Simply spray on a dry coat, leaving the spray to dry naturally. Pair your scent with its coordinating shampoo for a long-lasting scent that will keep your dog happy and its coat healthy!
- Reward your dog with a treat for its good behaviour
Whether your dog’s favourite treat is something tasty, or their favourite toy, reward them for a successful pampering session! After all, playtime with you is a form of pampering too!
How to pamper your dog for free
Whilst an at home spa day is great, there are many other ways to pamper your dog and show them how much you love them!
These top tips should provide many ways to help your best friend feel great! And the best part? They're all completely free!
- Walk to the park or take a morning stroll
There's nothing your dog loves more than a trip to the park! Or, if there's no park near you, take them for a stroll along their favourite route. The sights, sounds, smells and mental stimulation of meeting new people and dogs are a great mood booster for your dog, making them feel happy and relaxed when it's time to come home.
Whilst walking at any time of the day is super beneficial for you and your dog, walking first thing in the morning is the perfect way to start the day!
Your dog will be excited to taste the fresh morning air after being cooped up inside all night, whilst your body clock will benefit from being up and out at the start of the day.
- Set aside extra time for play
Taking time to sort through your dog's favourite toys and setting aside time to play is a great way to pamper your dog at home.
Setting aside ten minutes a day dedicated to playtime with your dog, whether to run around and play chase, to play with treat toys, or to throw their favourite ball, can make such a difference to your dog and can help strengthen the bond you have together.
- Playdates - socialisation
Dogs are pack animals by nature and love to socialise with their four-legged friends, so if you're looking for new ways to pamper your dog, why not take them on a doggy playdate? Allowing your dog to meet up with their friends can improve their socialisation skills and benefit their mental health, helping to keep them happy and relaxed.
- Bake some dog treats at home
Although you may have to spend some money on ingredients for this one, baking homemade treats for your dog can be a fun way to give them a special treat.
Ensure the ingredients you use are natural, healthy and good for your dog and remember to adjust their diet accordingly when treating to avoid overfeeding them.
- Spend time grooming your dog
As well as keeping your dog's coat in superb condition, spending time grooming them is a perfect way to pamper them. Helping to stimulate their skin and keep it clean, remove dead hair and prevent mats and tangles, at home grooming between appointments can also help your dog to relax and enjoy spending quality time with you.
And if your dog doesn't enjoy being groomed, why not dedicate some time every day to stroking them to help them relax?
Shop My Dog Spa at Groomers
Now that you have many options for pampering your dog at home, why not browse the My Dog Spa range and stock up on essentials for your dog’s home pampering routine? Whether you’re choosing a deliciously scented shampoo or a stunning dog fragrance, we have everything you need to keep your dog smelling fresh and happy! Or, for more pampering products, why not browse our health and wellbeing collection?
