🤔What Happens When You "Gentle Parent" Your Dog?

🐶Welcome Back Better Smarter Dog Parent, here’s your fresh burst of pup‑wisdom for your ever‑curious brain. We’ll dive into what really happens when you “gentle parent” your dog, how kindness plus boundaries shape a confident pooch. There’s also a tuned-in look at how music can enhance your pup’s daily life. PLUS we’ll uncover why most homemade dog food misses the mark, what the Dog Aging Project found, & how you can make sure your pup’s bowl is balanced, safe, & nourishing…& plenty more!

On behalf of all of the Best DOG’S Life team, thank you for your support throughout this year & I wish you, your pups, your family & all others near & dear, a happy, healthy & safe festive & holiday season.

Enjoy! P.K. ❣️ 

P.S.S. …Something New & Exciting is Coming. It’s been a long labor of love…but it’s worth it to bring more happiness to your pups & strengthen your bond. Please see further below for something very special & FREE for you (for a limited time).🔽

🧐FACT or FLUFF??

‘Dogs can count’

Dig down the page to find out…

THIS WEEK’S WOOF WISDOM

• 🤔What Happens When You “Gentle Parent” Your Dog?

• 🎶How Music Can Make Your Dog Happier.

• 🥗Why Most Homemade Dogfood is Lacking & What to Do?

• Surely Santa Can’t Resist This Christmas Pooch?

• 🧐More to Chew On…

😏OK..NOW WHAT? (your Q & A)
What Happens When You “Gentle Parent” Your Dog?

When you “gentle parent” your dog you teach with empathy & rewards, & you set clear, calm boundaries. It’s relationship-first, you take time to learn to read their body language, guide their choices, & build trust so they feel safe & willing.

Gentle parenting is consistent coaching that helps a dog learn self‑control without fear.

• Trust & respect: Make safety and calm patience the baseline so your dog is ready to listen.

• Empathy: Watch how they act to know how they feel & adjust before stress grows.

• Positive reinforcement: Reward the choice you want so they repeat it.

• Clear boundaries: Make sure the rules are steady & kind, never harsh.

• Coaching, not controlling: Redirect to the behavior you want calmly instead of punishing.

• Reading body language: Ears, tail, eyes, body posture. Take note, use them & act when needed to prevent overload.

• Cooperative care: Teach consent for nails, brushing, & vet checks (like learning to hold out a paw (teaching targeting is a good option)).

• Understanding their behavior triggers: So you can separate them or change the surroundings.

• Emotional regulation: Like pausing play when rough, then returning when calm.

• Reject dominance: Skip shocking, shouting, & intimidation. Choose calm & clarity.

Gentle parenting done well builds a deep bond, confidence, & better choices…& a happier pup & you.

Done loosely with no rules & no guidance it slips into behavior & sometimes emotional chaos, & dogs can get anxious & impulsive.

The importance of being a calm leader cannot be overstated. Curious about the “why,” clear about the “what,” generous with rewards. That mix creates a dog who chooses you, even when life gets ‘confusing & noisy’.

🐾MORE HERE

💎POWER PRODUCTS FOR PUPS & PAWRENTS.
Our brand new story book for better bonding time, belly laughs & tail wags is about to launch!

…IT’S DESIGNED TO READ TO YOUR DOG! AND…

YOU CAN GET IT FREE!🙂

The best bonding fun for you & your dog is just one silly story away.

ARE YOU THE GOODEST DOG? celebrates every sniff, bark, treat-seeking nose nudge, & bed-hog moment that makes your dog exactly who they are. This humorous, colorful, rhyming picture book will make you and other hoomans big and small chuckle, & furry tails wag.

So…Is your dog the GOODEST?. It’s time to check the list!

& there’s another special reason why your dog will love this story.

It’s created with a unique reading rhythm that helps dogs feel calm & connected. Your voice, their ears, a few quiet moments. This story makes the most of them.

With every stretched out word, silly phrase, & spot where you stop just to breathe together, you’ll notice something. Your dog settling deeper, sighing contently, maybe even those slow-blink “I love you” eyes.

Your dog doesn’t understand stories the way you do. They feel them & the benefits of reading to them are valuable & scientifically proven.

If your pup snores through page six? That’s not a fail. That’s a five-star review.

On book launch, you will get a FREE digital copy invite for you as a Best DOG’S Life member. We’ll send you the details by email so keep your eye’s on your inbox (or look for it in your promo or spam folder…thanks Google🤔)

When you get your copy we would appreciate a book review if that’s OK, as it really helps us to help more pups, by getting the book out to more dog parents.

This isn’t just a story, it’s special moments you’ll share.

It’s part of “Books to Read to Your Dog” featuring our DOG TUNED™ Reading System (with a full guide in the back of the book for those who want to dive deeper).

Because a story’s always better when there’s a pooch present…

So keep you eye’s on your email & Grab you copy, for a limited time only,

…& enjoy those wonderful times together you both deserve!

We believe that all the products we create are only as good as the value they bring to you & all of our better smarter dog parent community.

Thank you, P.K. & the Best DOGS Life team💗 

🧠🌿WOOF WELLBEING
🎶How Music Can Make Your Dog Happier?

Let’s dig into what studies have taught us about our dogs & music. Science shows that the right sounds can lower stress hormones, ease separation anxiety, & even help them snooze more peacefully.

Music is a wonderful form of mental enrichment for every pup (included here in Easy Enrichment Games with many other fun enrichment activities). Music to their ears is a soundtrack that makes daily life calmer & safer.

Why music helps

• Reduces stress & anxiety: Slow‑tempo tracks lower cortisol & calm the nervous system.

• Masks loud noises: Fireworks, storms, or street sounds fade into the background.

• Encourages rest: Gentle rhythms help dogs settle & sleep more deeply.

• Provides company: Music offers a sense of presence when you’re away.

Best types of music*

• Classical: Simple melodies with low percussion soothe & relax.

• Reggae & soft rock: Matching a dog’s resting heart rate promotes calm.

• Instrumental/piano: Lyrics‑free tracks keep the focus on rhythm & tone.

• Dog‑specific compositions: Created to align with canine relaxation patterns.

*(You can get the full guide to the best music for dogs - including tempo / beats per minute - paired with reading & environment with our DOG TUNED™ reading system - See your FREE book offer further above & keep an eye on your email for your FREE copy)

Tips for success

• Start early: Introduce music during calm times to build positive associations.

• Pair with calmness: Petting your dog while music plays lowers stress for both of you.

• Monitor behavior: Adjust genre or volume if signs of stress appear.

Music is a valuable enrichment tool for connection, comfort, & joy. Your dog will thank you with calmer days & softer sighs.

🥗Why Most Homemade Dogfood is Lacking & What to Do?

Homemade dog food sounds wholesome, but research shows most recipes miss the mark. The Dog Aging Project (DAP) analyzed over 1,700 dog parent‑submitted diets & found only about 6% had the potential to meet essential nutrient standards. That means well‑intentioned meals often leave pups short on critical vitamins, minerals, & balance. Sometimes this can cause serious issues for bones, kidneys, & overall health. The problem is in the mix.

• Nutrient gaps: Calcium & phosphorus imbalances can cause bone weakness, kidney issues, or “rubber jaw” where calcium is leached from the bones.

• Unsafe ingredients: Grapes, bones, or casual ingredients unsafe for dogs can turn dinner into danger.

• Chronic illness risks: Dogs with kidney disease or GI problems are especially vulnerable to poorly balanced diets.

• Recipe drift: Even small swaps, like changing oils, can throw nutrient ratios off balance.

• Expert guidance: Board‑certified veterinary nutritionists, or trusted online tools (see link below), can design balanced recipes tailored to your dog.

• Verification: Lab testing of commercial homemade food ensures nutrient levels match what’s prescribed so always check the labels & look for verified “human grade” to AAFCO standards.

• Consistency matters: Measuring ingredients exactly & avoiding guesswork on nutritional balance keeps meals safe.

Preparing homemade food safe & suitable for your dog can be rewarding & beneficial, but it’s not a “pinch of this, splash of that” exercise. Done right, it’s friendly-science in your kitchen that protects health, strengthens longevity, & lets your love show up in every carefully balanced bite.

Want to build a balanced homemade recipe? Go Here.

🐾MORE HERE

🤔PAWSE TO REMEMBER

Mind the Blinds. Keep blinds & curtain cords out of reach to prevent accidents. The risks of blinds to dogs include strangulation, physical injury (ie getting their head stuck), chewing & swallowing cords. Check cords are secure & out of harms way, choose blinds that are dog safe & if necessary use deterrent sprays on cords & slats.

💎PLUS FOR PAWRENTS

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👃🏻QUICK SNIFFS
More to Chew On.

• 🦈🐩Tiger Shark & a Groodle face off in the shallows!…Watch it happen.

• 🎉Fido Festive Fear? Top tips to stop them getting stressed.

• 🥶What’s Too Cold? The signs & ways to protect your pup.

😮OH MY DOG
Surely Santa Can’t Resist This Christmas Pooch?

Every morning this adorable pup checks her Christmas stocking only to find it empty.😟

The comments say it all…“Get this baby a dog advent calendar now!”

That look, that face, that head tilt…sooo heart melting.

Somehow I think Mum gave in ❤️ 

🧐FACT or FLUFF??...Answer.  FACT

Yes, dogs can count. They can recognize different quantities, often up to four or five. Pooches can also understand the concepts of “more” or “less”. Like young children they use brain regions similar to ours to do this. They can also tell if something is missing.

We are here to please🐶…

Thanks for being part of the pack 😀

Keep yourself & your pups, happy & safe & see you next time!

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