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Viewpoint

Dr. Anne Papalia is their barks indicating danger or happiness, for example. Dogs also demonstrate
an associate professor
the Department of their communication through the number and insistence of their vocalizations.
Special Education at Dogs are truth tellers; what they communicate is based upon their love and
Shippensburg University bond with their owners. Dogs may be aware of your stress building before you
of Pennsylvania. She is are even cognizant of it. Take the cue and relax!
a member of the Council
for Exceptional Children, 8. Talk or Write about Your Dog
TASH Disability Advocacy
Organization, and the Blogging and vlogging have become quite popular! What is your favorite story
Council on Learning about your dog? Sharing stories about your dog(s) through a creative outlet
Disability. Papalia is also may help your mind to focus on positive aspects of dog ownership and the
an associate member simple joys of life (see https://blog.feedspot.com/dog_blogs). Family, friends,
and evaluator for Therapy and other canine aficionados can share in the fun of the doggo-adventures.
Dog International and an Teachers may want to check out the top-rated dog blogs (see https://pupjunkies.
Obedience Judge for the
Companion Dog Sports com/dog-blogs) for general dog-related stories or breed-specific writers.
Program. aopapalia@ Writing a story from the dog’s perspective may be a fun way to share stories,
ship.edu too. Reach out to loved ones through cards sent from your canine companion!

7. Photograph or Draw Your Dog
Consider how many pictures you have of your dog on your phone; you are
intuitively capturing meaningful moments of hilarity, sincerity, and the human-
animal bond. If you are feeling stressed, take out your phone at lunch or on a
break to think about your furry friends and how much they affect your life. Do
you have an artist’s flare for color, texture, and scale? Become a Pug-casso!
Find an inexpensive medium (e.g., pencil or chalk) to draw your dog from
different points of view. Not artistic? This strategy can also include creating
TikTok videos or Instagram posts of your canines and their antics. Creating
a physical photo album of a pet may be a good way to de-stress after a long

Anne with her dog, week or to serve as a remembrance of a former pet. Local art studios can help
Ruthie (Chidbrooks teachers to create art from their pet’s favorite toys, blankets, and beds.
Notorious RGB). Ruthie
is being trained as a 6. Care for Your Dog
therapy dog, in agility, While the TikTok trend of taking a dog to the pet store and buying whichever
and to compete in
obedience trials. toy it first touches may not be practical, you can still hone your well-being
by caring for a canine. The simple act of brushing or grooming a dog
forces you to take a break, get out of yourself, and nurture another
being. How does your dog prefer to be pampered? This can include a
simple bath at home or a day at the groomers. If your dog’s favorite
sentence is “Do you want to go for a ride and get ice cream?,” this
could be a way for you both to get out of the house and to a place that
is new or old. What textures and tastes does your dog enjoy? Make
a special canine-friendly treat recipe found online if baking reduces
stress. Finding calming music on YouTube is also a way to “treat”
yourself and your canine friend (see channels such as Calm My Dog or
Relax My Dog).

5. Recognize Their Sense of Humor
Yes, dogs do have a sense of humor! Watch for the funny things they

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