Earlier this week, the dogs and I were on a holiday decoration viewing walk in a near by Seattle neighborhood and we came across a fun light display that had an interactive aspect. I pushed a button to make a snowman inside the homes front window dance in a stream of bubbles. As I watched the fun, the festive display's home owner came onto the porch to invite the dogs and I up to see the tree and his famous collection of holiday toys. After a jubilant (read: loud) greeting the dogs sat politely at the threshold while the sweet retiree showed off his parachuting Santa Claus, a Deck The Halls Singing flamingo, dancing reindeer and more. I was incredibly happy to have had such a delightful only-in-Seattle holiday experience and I looked down at my three respectfully well-behaved dogs thinking what fantastic exposure this was for them too. Moments like that are such a wonderful gift for my happy, social, and fit dogs (and cat and cockatoo too) and I want to give them more.
- A Walk: I faithfully walk the dogs almost everyday and Amelia and Leo join us whenever possible. Gifting the pets a longer walk, a walk on a new route or in another neighborhood is something we can all benefit from.
- A New Trick: All of my pets love training because they are very intelligent and because they love the individual time with me. Giving the dogs, cat and cockatoo a coupon for training time is equivalent to giving them a pass for staring in a center stage production where exuberantly cheering me is the audience. Encore!
- A New Game: I admit that I get stuck in the same old, same old routines with treat and training games. I need to branch out, The pets would benefit from me branching out. It is possible to teach an old human new games, er, a not-too-old human new games to share with her pets.
- A Massage: At one time or another, all of the pets are in the mood for a massage. However, their moods don't always mesh with my schedule. I need to do a better job of making the necessary medical once overs of all the pets more pleasant massage time for them. The coupons are an excellent reminder of that as well as to just to more healthy, fit dog, cat and cockatoo massaging. Who doesn't love an occasional massage?
- A Trip: We all love being on the road and all of our trips are very pet-centric. My hope is that a travel experience gift will mean Jason and I do a better job of taking one-on-one half or full day trips with each pet or that we'll just travel all together more.
- A Moment: It's the time of year that the movie "White Christmas" is played on our TV at least once a day. Having watched the film as much as I have, it is clear that the entire plot is based on one busy mans desire for "45 minutes all to myself." Every active, fit dog, cat, cockatoo or person needs me time and I want to give my pets more of their very own time to do what they want.