Discovering a human friend’s love language is easy – it’s basically about asking and listening. But what about our animal companions who speak in woofs and meows?

Just in time for Valentine's Day, we asked HSSC’s resident canine and feline experts for their top tips for enhancing our bonds with our furry friends! 

Want to be every dog’s Valentine? Lynnette Smith, HSSC Canine Behavior & Training Manager, says, “the best way to love dogs is by loving them in a way that they want to be loved.”

To get you started, she and her team have outlined 5 keys to earning a dog’s love.  

The best way to interact with a canine that you are meeting for the first time and/or displays fearful behavior is to ignore them. This gives the dog agency and control over the interaction.

They will approach when they are ready. You are not forcing contact but leaving it up to the dog.  

In many human cultures making eye contact and facing the person you are meeting is considered respectable and appropriate behavior.

Dogs are not linear like humans but move in arcs and circles. In dog culture it is rude to meet face to face. Dogs sniff butts and approach from the side. If your desire is to make a dog feel comfortable and relaxed, you must always avert your eyes, not stare, and always turn your body so your side is toward the dog.

This is how to use your body language to communicate to the dog that you mean no harm. 

Following that same line of thinking, you want to keep your hands at our sides.

There is a myth that tells us to reach out our hands to an unfamiliar dog so they can sniff us. This is a grave error.

First, dogs have an amazing sense of smell and don’t need us to place our hand next to their nose to smell us better.

Secondly, and most importantly, most dogs do not enjoy having a stranger’s hand thrust into their face. This is rude behavior in both human and dog culture.

Additionally, dogs do not enjoy having their heads patted or “scruffed”.

Just keep your hands to yourself if you want to show a dog that you are a friend.  

Yet another myth is that it is a good thing to offer dogs food from your hand to show that you are friendly.

When a dog is unsure of a human the worst thing you can do is to try to bribe them with a treat or something they may want. This behavior places the dog in a conflicted situation. They want the treat, but do not want to approach the human. It can be helpful, but possibly triggering, to think of a creepy person trying to lure another person into a van.

We do not want to be that creep in a van. We want to help the dog to relax and not put more pressure on them. Always toss treats behind the dog to alleviate that pressure to be social before they’re ready.

This allows the dog freedom to move away from you and agency to choose to go get their treat.

The 3-second rule is a consent test. We are asking the dog if they would like us to continue touching them. If the dog approaches you and is a few inches away, slowly reach your hand out to the dog’s chest and gently scratch on the chest for no more than 3-seconds.

This gives the dog an opportunity to walk away if they feel uncomfortable. If the dog returns, then it is an indication that they want you to repeat the behavior.

 Continue to be gentle and watch the dog’s body language. Do not force your affection on the dog. 

Is your cat a pretty kitty who loves to be pet and brushed? Does playtime get your purr-bucket’s motor revving? Or, maybe treats are the way to your feline’s heart? We’ve rounded up a plethora of practical techniques from our Feline Behavior Program to show your cat you care!

You could go all out and buy something fancy for your cat, but you know they’ll just end up playing in the packaging!

Why do cats love boxes so much?

We explore that topic here: Cat in a Box

Many people know that long-haired kitties often need a helping hand when it comes to maintaining their coat, but even short-haired kitties can benefit from a good brushing.

It can help prevent hair balls, keep your kitty cooler when it’s hot out, help YOU by reducing the amount of shed fur in your home, and it can be a great bonding activity!

Some cats really love being brushed so even if they don’t NEED it, it can be enjoyable for both you and them.

Here are some things to consider for grooming your feline friend!

Brushing Your Cat

Sometimes, your cat might want to actively engage in playtime with everything from wand toys to bubbles.

At other times, they may appreciate “environmental enrichment” – activities that you set up for them to explore and enjoy at their own pace.

A few ideas to get you started: Environmental Enrichment

Yes, cats do sleep a lot, but play is an important component of any pet’s health and well-being too!

The release of energy triggered by regular daily interactive play sessions can help alleviate stress and prevent behavior problems.

Here are some fun ways to maximize playtime with your purr-baby!

Cat Toys and How to use Them

We’ll always say yes to a treat just for treats sake, but giving your cats treats can actually be parlayed into some practical training opportunities.

For instance, if there is something you want to get your cat to do, or something you DON’T want them to do, then treats will likely be able to play a role.

Dig in here: Giving your cat treats 

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