Canine Care Christmas Countdown - Day 54

Remember the lead up to Christmas when you were a child, and your Mom or Dad would read to you wonderful stories of Santa and his workshop? It may surprise you to know that reading to your dog is beneficial to instilling a calm state of mind prior to their evening sleep.

Here's what it means to your dog:

• They hear your voice calm and controlled, meaning everything is good
• They equate book-reading time to sleepy time, a time to turn-off
• It imprints your voice as an additional calming tool to use in other situations besides bedtime

The latter point is particularly important. For example, reading out loud provides guidance to your Dog to stay calm in stressful situations like waiting in the Vets office. Also, it increases the effectiveness of new-to-the-market, remote electronic interactive devices, which are touted to help relieve Dog boredom. The devices allow you to dial up your dog and speak to it, and even give it a treat.  By reading every day you provide him with a clear signal that your voice, even heard remotely, is a good thing and a time to relax.  

Reading bedtime stories in a calm, soft tone not only delivers pleasure to your dog, but is a wonderful gift to deepen the bond between you and your Best Friend.  You can also consider having your children read to the dog, proven to increase their reading skills and confidence to read out loud. 

See Day 55 Tips on Holiday Dog Bite Prevention