Weekender Alicante North Issue 117

32 FRIDAY 15TH NOVEMBER 2019
www.weekender.news
Pets
Four-legged friends
boost mental health
HERE
TAKING your dog for a
walk has undoubted physical
benefits. However pet
ownership can also boost
people’s mental health,
new research has revealed.
A survey of 2,000 pet owners
has revealed that three
quarters believe their fourlegged
companions improve
their quality of life.
Also, 37 per cent said the
presence of an animal made
them feel calm, and one third
(33 per cent) feel noticeably
less stressed.
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Overall, three in owners
claim their animals have
helped to improve their mental
health. And a “significant
proportion” said their pets
provide them with more
emotional support than
friends and family.
Some pet owners revealed
that they had brought their
cats or dogs into their lives
specifically to boost their
mental health or to combat
loneliness.
The figures were revealed
by insurance com-
pany MORE TH>N. Andrew
Moore, its director of pet
claims, said: “Cats and dogs
provide comfort and support
throughout their lives.
“Pets can even sometimes
be better at responding
to human emotions than
other humans, and they
provide unconditional love
and companionship.”
The benefits of spending
time with your pet are clear,
with 69 per cent of those
quizzed stating that doing so
makes them feel happy.
However, MORE TH>N
says it is vital to ensure that
you’re keeping your pet happy
too. And it has put together
a list of fun games people
can play with their dogs.
It says: “Dogs are just like
us – they get bored. Playing
together deepens your bond
while also giving your dog
plenty of physical activity
and mental stimulation.”
Canine fun and games
are five fun games
you might want to try:
1. PUZZLE TOYS
You can use puzzle toys to
stimulate your dog’s mind,
ensuring that they spend at
least part of the day entertained,
even when you’re not
there. Puzzle toys are sturdy
rubber or plastic containers
that you can fill with dry food
or dog biscuits. These games
exercise dog’s problem-solving
skills and once they realise
they can get at the food,
it becomes a fun game with
a worthwhile prize at the end.
2. HUNTING FOR DINNER
Out in the wild, dogs and
wolves spend the majority of
each day in a pack hunting
for food. It’s their natural instinct
but many dogs spend
a lot of time indoors.
You can encourage their
natural scavenging skills by
hiding small treats around
the house and letting your
dog hunt for them. Teaching
them a simple command like
‘find the treat’, tells them that
there is something to hunt
for.
3. INTERACTIVE GAMES
A brief game of tug; a few
rounds of hide and seek or a
quick game of chase or fetch
can help to keep your pet engaged
and active. If you work
outside the home, make it
part of your routine to play
an interactive game before
you leave or as soon as you
get home.
4. TEACH YOUR DOG A
NEW TRICK
Dogs of all ages enjoy learning
new tricks. It can be as
simple as teaching them to
roll over on command or
to offer their paw to ‘shake
hands’. Gently move or show
your dog what to do and always
offer a reward for a trick
well performed. This type of
training will exercise your
dog’s brain and keep them
focused and engaged.
5. PLAN A PLAY DATE
Take your dog to a park
where they can run free and
socialise with other dogs.
This kind of interaction is fun
and socially stimulating and
not only will they get plenty
of exercise, they will feel thoroughly
happy. If possible, try
to arrange for play dates with
your friends and their dogs to
give your canine companion
more time to socialise.
Since
1977