A Happy Dog Makes for a Happy You

Giving your dog compliments is essential to his development. When he's exhibiting good behavior, tell him so. Positive reinforcement is the way to do it.

Get him going with a good view. Set up a chair or a dog bed in front of a window that lets him see out to the world. Be sure to pull back the curtains or blinds before you leave, so your pooch can stay entertained during the day.

Dogs love to walk. Get outside and get moving! He'll feel better and so will you. You can simply go around the block, or you can take a hike. Explore a local park or walk to your neighbor's house for a quick visit. It doesn't matter; just get out there and do it!

Have any bacon in the house? Cook it up and give it to your dog as a treat! There's no canine that can resist that crispy goodness.

Take him with you in the car the next time you're running a quick errand. He hates to watch you leave without him—and what dog doesn't love a car ride?!

Start and end every day with a hug and a kiss! There's no one who loves you more than your dog, so you should reciprocate as often as you can.

You can take your dog to a groomer for a full-on pampering session or you can simply do it yourself. It's best to do it outside before the fur starts flying. Grab the dog brush and go to town! Get all those knots out of your dog's fur and make sure he feels silky smooth. A clean dog is a happy dog.

Who's a good boy? Your dog! Reward him with some lovely belly rubs. He's going to love you for it!

Give your dog a spoonful of peanut butter. A dog always wants a treat and this one is mainly fun for you to watch. He'll be smacking those lips for quite a while but the peanut butter is worth it!

Ensure that you are changing your dog's water daily. You can even do it twice a day! Would you want to drink water that had food particles floating around in it or some spittle from drool? Nope! So, don't make your dog do it either.

Create a game for those hours while you're away from home. Take some small treats and hide them around the house. See how many he can find by the time you get home. We're guessing all of them!

Have a dance party. It's just you and him? That's fine with him. Put on some fun tunes or just grab your dog and do a quick twirl while you're outside.

Teach him a new trick. Keep your pooch mentally stimulated while learning something he can do to show off in front of visitors. It's an excellent time to bond with your dog and it will reinforce his ability to follow commands.

Clean his ears and then give them a good scratch. Dogs can have many health issues with their ear canals, so be proactive about keeping them clean. After the cleaning is done, go to town with ear scratches. Your dog deserves a reward!

Take him to a game. Any kind will do! A local outdoor soccer, baseball or football game is the perfect place to spend a warm summer evening with your dog in tow. He'll get a kick out of the action and, of course, there's the added benefit of spending time with you.