Dogs bring us joy. Companionship, pure goofy dog comedy and having a snuggle buddy are ways dogs can add happiness to our lives. Dog ownership also includes difficult moments resulting in anxiety, and feelings of hopelessness and frustration.<\/p>\n
Related: The Zen Dog<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n As an active volunteer with local animal rescues and the national nonprofit, Pinups for Pitbulls<\/a>, I see stories of struggles people face with foster pets or recently adopted dogs. Issues like dog reactivity, medical concerns and training hurdles are peppered in my Facebook feed every time I scroll. I also regularly see posts about people\u2019s aging pets, and the myriad of issues that can stem from their advanced age.<\/p>\n We bring dogs into our lives because we recognize that the positives far outweigh the negatives. Even so, struggles can sometimes cloud that context. Thankfully, we\u2019re not alone. I spoke with a trainer, a licensed psychologist, a veterinarian and a college instructor with a background in positive psychology in order to give you four different ways to help you to keep \u201cup\u201d about your pup.<\/p>\n Photo: amandafoundation.org | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby<\/a> shares, \u201cWhen I work with dog owners that are thriving, it\u2019s because they have a support system. It could be in the home, a relationship with pet sitters, a connection with a veterinary team and online friends who understand their experience. The important part is they have a team that they draw strength from.\u201d It takes time to establish connections, but the reward allows pet owners to not feel isolated when dealing with any number of issues.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are resources that can help you, regardless of the issue,\u201d says Victoria Meyer, certified dog trainer and behavior specialist with Mischief Managed Dog Training<\/a> in Fishkill, New York. \u201cThose resources wouldn\u2019t be successful if they passed judgment.\u201d<\/p>\n It might be intimidating to reach out for help, but the benefits for you and your dog will have lasting positive effects. Your team can also provide a respite; a safe space where you know you can ask tough questions and receive answers with you and your dog\u2019s best interest in the forefront<\/p>\n I don\u2019t have children, but I have nieces and nephews. When I visit them, I can see how much they\u2019ve grown in a way that their parents can\u2019t see. They\u2019re with their children every day, and their growth may be hard to recognize (like not being able to see the forest for the trees). The same is true with our pets. Taking the time to appreciate and acknowledge tiny accomplishments and areas of growth is more valuable than worrying about the long-term goal.<\/p>\n Dr. Buzby relates to this subject by reminding us to take a lesson from our dogs by living in the moment. \u201cYou can\u2019t ignore the reality of what you\u2019re going through, but if you allow yourself to live in the moment, and appreciate little moments of joy, you\u2019ll be less consumed by \u2018what-if\u2019 scenarios that you can\u2019t control.\u201d<\/p>\n Victoria, paired with a difficult dog while in school for her dog-training certification, would often end her day exhausted and with fresh bruises.<\/p>\n Through the extensive training, she reminded herself that \u201cmy current struggle is temporary and that tomorrow is going to be better.\u201d She uses that context to inform her clients. \u201cWe haven\u2019t had a first chance yet for this to be our last resort,\u201d she says. She shares with clients that her training wasn\u2019t perfect, but success doesn\u2019t mean being perfect each time, it comes with appreciating the learning moments along the way.<\/p>\n Photo: damircudic | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Licensed psychologist Kristin Zaccaro, PhD, reminds us: \u201cSocial media breeds comparison, and comparison is the thief of joy.\u201d It is a filtered lens where we often only post our best pictures or best moments, when the reality is that life is filled with a spectrum of events. It\u2019s important to have this context when using social media.<\/p>\n I have found myself falling into the comparison trap on Instagram. I\u2019ll look at a photo of a dog at the summit of a mountain and think, \u201cMy dog should be doing that, too.\u201d Dr. Zaccaro\u2019s retort is \u201cShould, according to whom?\u201d<\/p>\n Life with our pets is a journey that isn\u2019t linear. Much like preparing for a marathon, even if you walk for a little bit during training, you\u2019re still training.<\/p>\n While social media can breed comparison, it can be a valuable tool. Carin Zinter, MAPP, is a psychology instructor at Holyoke Community College in Massachusetts. She shares: \u201cSocial media allows us to connect with people we may not see in real life. Human connection can help us to grow our village of people with like minds and circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n Carin also reminds us to recognize our triggers, what\u2019s leading to joy and what\u2019s leading to stress. If being a member of a certain group or a friend with certain people is causing anxiety, it\u2019s OK to set boundaries or block posts. Setting a timer for scrolling allows your time to be used in a positive and constructive manner.<\/p>\n Photo: Fly_dragonfly | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cYou can see the obvious value in play, because it\u2019s what kids, and puppies, do naturally,\u201d says Carin, whose master\u2019s degree is in Positive Psychology. \u201cThe more opportunities that you can give yourself, such as creating space in your day for play, the more positive emotion you are going to generate.\u201d<\/p>\n Positive emotion can help you to connect, but it can also help you to problem-solve. While you\u2019re at play, your brain is still at work in the background. You\u2019re more likely to come up with a creative solution if you disengage from a problem and perform an activity that has no stakes attached, purely for enjoyment.<\/p>\n Staying \u201cup\u201d about your pup isn\u2019t always easy. It\u2019s my hope that with resources like creating a strong network for you and your dog\u2019s team, reframing how you view success, using social media as a positive tool and bringing play into your lives will strengthen your relationship. Our time with each other is finite, and finding joy together is what we hold on to as memories after our dogs have crossed the rainbow bridge.<\/p>\n Top photograph: Minerva Studio | Getty Images<\/em><\/p>\n Read Next: Activities for Senior Dogs<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The post How to Stay Positive for Your Pup<\/a> by Bryn Nowell<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n The post How to Stay Positive for Your Pup<\/a> by Bryn Nowell<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n Dogs bring us joy. Companionship, pure goofy dog comedy and having a snuggle buddy are ways dogs can add happiness to our lives. Dog ownership also includes difficult moments resulting in anxiety, and feelings of hopelessness and frustration.<\/p>\n Related: The Zen Dog<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n As an active volunteer with local animal rescues and the national nonprofit, Pinups for Pitbulls<\/a>, I see stories of struggles people face with foster pets or recently adopted dogs. Issues like dog reactivity, medical concerns and training hurdles are peppered in my Facebook feed every time I scroll. I also regularly see posts about people\u2019s aging pets, and the myriad of issues that can stem from their advanced age.<\/p>\n We bring dogs into our lives because we recognize that the positives far outweigh the negatives. Even so, struggles can sometimes cloud that context. Thankfully, we\u2019re not alone. I spoke with a trainer, a licensed psychologist, a veterinarian and a college instructor with a background in positive psychology in order to give you four different ways to help you to keep \u201cup\u201d about your pup.<\/p>\n Photo: amandafoundation.org | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby<\/a> shares, \u201cWhen I work with dog owners that are thriving, it\u2019s because they have a support system. It could be in the home, a relationship with pet sitters, a connection with a veterinary team and online friends who understand their experience. The important part is they have a team that they draw strength from.\u201d It takes time to establish connections, but the reward allows pet owners to not feel isolated when dealing with any number of issues.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are resources that can help you, regardless of the issue,\u201d says Victoria Meyer, certified dog trainer and behavior specialist with Mischief Managed Dog Training<\/a> in Fishkill, New York. \u201cThose resources wouldn\u2019t be successful if they passed judgment.\u201d<\/p>\n It might be intimidating to reach out for help, but the benefits for you and your dog will have lasting positive effects. Your team can also provide a respite; a safe space where you know you can ask tough questions and receive answers with you and your dog\u2019s best interest in the forefront<\/p>\n I don\u2019t have children, but I have nieces and nephews. When I visit them, I can see how much they\u2019ve grown in a way that their parents can\u2019t see. They\u2019re with their children every day, and their growth may be hard to recognize (like not being able to see the forest for the trees). The same is true with our pets. Taking the time to appreciate and acknowledge tiny accomplishments and areas of growth is more valuable than worrying about the long-term goal.<\/p>\n Dr. Buzby relates to this subject by reminding us to take a lesson from our dogs by living in the moment. \u201cYou can\u2019t ignore the reality of what you\u2019re going through, but if you allow yourself to live in the moment, and appreciate little moments of joy, you\u2019ll be less consumed by \u2018what-if\u2019 scenarios that you can\u2019t control.\u201d<\/p>\n Victoria, paired with a difficult dog while in school for her dog-training certification, would often end her day exhausted and with fresh bruises.<\/p>\n Through the extensive training, she reminded herself that \u201cmy current struggle is temporary and that tomorrow is going to be better.\u201d She uses that context to inform her clients. \u201cWe haven\u2019t had a first chance yet for this to be our last resort,\u201d she says. She shares with clients that her training wasn\u2019t perfect, but success doesn\u2019t mean being perfect each time, it comes with appreciating the learning moments along the way.<\/p>\n Photo: damircudic | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Licensed psychologist Kristin Zaccaro, PhD, reminds us: \u201cSocial media breeds comparison, and comparison is the thief of joy.\u201d It is a filtered lens where we often only post our best pictures or best moments, when the reality is that life is filled with a spectrum of events. It\u2019s important to have this context when using social media.<\/p>\n I have found myself falling into the comparison trap on Instagram. I\u2019ll look at a photo of a dog at the summit of a mountain and think, \u201cMy dog should be doing that, too.\u201d Dr. Zaccaro\u2019s retort is \u201cShould, according to whom?\u201d<\/p>\n Life with our pets is a journey that isn\u2019t linear. Much like preparing for a marathon, even if you walk for a little bit during training, you\u2019re still training.<\/p>\n While social media can breed comparison, it can be a valuable tool. Carin Zinter, MAPP, is a psychology instructor at Holyoke Community College in Massachusetts. She shares: \u201cSocial media allows us to connect with people we may not see in real life. Human connection can help us to grow our village of people with like minds and circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n Carin also reminds us to recognize our triggers, what\u2019s leading to joy and what\u2019s leading to stress. If being a member of a certain group or a friend with certain people is causing anxiety, it\u2019s OK to set boundaries or block posts. Setting a timer for scrolling allows your time to be used in a positive and constructive manner.<\/p>\n Photo: Fly_dragonfly | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cYou can see the obvious value in play, because it\u2019s what kids, and puppies, do naturally,\u201d says Carin, whose master\u2019s degree is in Positive Psychology. \u201cThe more opportunities that you can give yourself, such as creating space in your day for play, the more positive emotion you are going to generate.\u201d<\/p>\n Positive emotion can help you to connect, but it can also help you to problem-solve. While you\u2019re at play, your brain is still at work in the background. You\u2019re more likely to come up with a creative solution if you disengage from a problem and perform an activity that has no stakes attached, purely for enjoyment.<\/p>\n Staying \u201cup\u201d about your pup isn\u2019t always easy. It\u2019s my hope that with resources like creating a strong network for you and your dog\u2019s team, reframing how you view success, using social media as a positive tool and bringing play into your lives will strengthen your relationship. Our time with each other is finite, and finding joy together is what we hold on to as memories after our dogs have crossed the rainbow bridge.<\/p>\n Top photograph: Minerva Studio | Getty Images<\/em><\/p>\n Read Next: Activities for Senior Dogs<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The post How to Stay Positive for Your Pup<\/a> by Bryn Nowell<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5347","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"dog](\"http:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2006_Time-Training_Getty124265715.png\")
<\/p>\nGet a support system<\/h2>\n
Use a new lens<\/h2>\n
![\"dog](\"http:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2006_Phone_getty943315662.png\")
<\/p>\nEstablish social media boundaries<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2006_Jump-Up833428150.png\")
<\/p>\nDon\u2019t forget to play<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\nGet a support system<\/h2>\n
Use a new lens<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\nEstablish social media boundaries<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\nDon\u2019t forget to play<\/h2>\n