You know how much you adore dogs. Share your passion for canine friends by sharing a good read, a helpful article, or time.

Books are a great way to promote empathy and responsible pet care. Check with your school or church about reading books to children or give young adult or adult readers a book  on dogs. Find books for children, young adults, and adults at the Doris Day Animal League ‘Book Bag,’ Humane Society Youth Best Books List, and Bark Notable Reads,

Find an interesting article or newsletter? Forward helpful dog training and health information to your friends. Make sure the information is correct by checking with experts in the field like American Veterinary Medical Association or local humane society fact sheets, and urban myth/internet rumor checkers like Snopes. Rest assured, any information you find at Online Dog Coach has been verified with trusted sources before we post it.

Volunteer for a local shelter. You can do anything from walking dogs and answering phones at the shelter, to doing laundry and helping run fund raising events from home.

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Plant native plants and flowers in your yard to attact butterflies, hummingbirds, and other wildlife. All animals deserve to be treated humanly.

Worried about wildlife in your yard? While animals like deer, bats, skunks, squirrels and raccoons can be a nuisance, the best way to keep your pets safe and address conflicts with wildlife is to prevent conflicts from happening in the first place. By identifying potential problems and taking a few humane prophylactic measures, you can peacefully coexist with deer, bats, skunks, squirrels, raccoons and rabbits. Read American Humane’s Do’s and Don’ts for wildlife.

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There are a multitude of ways to spend quality time with your dogs. You can have fun training, going somewhere special, and playing games with him or her. If you are living in a multiple dog family, find a little time to spend with each dog individually.

 Training

Spend a few minutes each day working with your dog. It doesn’t matter which dog training lesson you work on as long as you keep it fun with positive dog training methods. Work on a quick sit-stay before feeding your dog breakfast or shake before dinner. Not only does your dog have fun, but you’ll start seeing results in a matter of days.

Go Someplace Special

Have you ever been confined to your house for several days in a row? Did you get stir crazy? Your dog can get cabin fever too! Take your dog out once in awhile.

Take your dog for a walk or hike. Please obey the rules, pick up after your dog, and keep him on a leash everywhere you go. Even remote places are negatively impacted by things your dog does or leaves behind.

Many cities now have off-leash dog parks – see our list of off-leash dog parks in Metro-Denver, Co. Please follow the rules and read tips on off leash dog park etiquette.

Your dog even enjoys a car ride when you run quick errands. But don’t leave your dog in the car on mild or warm days – studies show even a 72 degree day can turn a car lethal. Go to MyDogIsCool.com to learn how quickly cars heat up even with windows cracked.

Games

There are many tricks and games you can play with your dog. Play “hide and seek” by moving from room to room in your house and calling your dog to you, rewarding with lots of treats, play, or love. Rotate your dog’s toys, pulling a different one out each week, so toys remain new and interesting.

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When driving through neighborhoods and around parks, keep a watchful eye for pets that may have gotten away from their owner. We have all had the experience of an accidental escape, hopefully minimized by teaching your dog to stay at the door.

Extend humane treatment of animals beyond companion pets to the wildlife in your community. Drive cautiously through wildlife areas and slow down at times wildlife is more active – dusk, night, and dawn.

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Donate to or volunteer at your local animal shelter or rescue group.

Support rescues and shelters

There are city and county run shelters in almost all communities. There are also many privately run shelters. Most will do their very best to avoid euthanasia, and use it only as a last resort when they are way too crowded. Many of the private shelters are no kill shelters, and they have to work extra hard for donations to feed and shelter all the critters that come their way.

In addition to shelters, there are rescue organizations for just about any breed of dog you might be interested in. These are run by a group of people generally with a special fondness for a specific breed.  Volunteers pick up dogs (or cats) from city or overcrowded shelters, and take them to their own vet for a good check-up. From there, the dog goes to a volunteer foster family to live until a permanent placement can be made.

Contact your local shelter or rescue group to find out how you can best help. They all need volunteers who can walk, clean, or even file paperwork! If you haven’t any money to give, donate used towels or blankets, cleaning supplies, or pet dishes and leashes you no longer need.

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