5 Sweet Things to Give Your Dog for Valentine's Day

While Valentine’s Day is very commercial, and often resented for it’s focus on relationships (or lack thereof), it is really just a day to celebrate love. Not just with a significant other, but with those who are important to you. Our dogs mean the world to us; so take time this Valentine’s Day to thank your dog for his or her year-round unconditional love. Here are 5 simple, sweet things to give your pup for Valentine's Day.

#5. A Sweet Treat- not necessary sweet in flavor as it is a sweet gesture, but it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser with your dog. You can find a variety of treats (including giant baked cookies) at local feed stores, Anaheim Feed & Pet Supply , or at dog bakery or boutique, like Three Dog Bakery. If you want to make some treats yourself, try this recipe:

Apple Crunch Pupcakes

Ingredients

· 2 ¾ cups water

· ¼ cup applesauce (unsweetened)

· 2 tbsp honey

· 1/8 tbsp vanilla extract

· 1 medium egg

· 4 cups whole wheat flour

· 1 cup dried apple chips (unsweetened)

· 1 tbsp baking powder

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Mix water, applesauce, honey, egg, and vanilla together in a bowl

3. Add remaining ingredients and mix until well blended

4. Pour into lightly greased muffin pans (try using a mini muffin pan if you have a small dog)

5. Bake about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

You can store your homemade dog treats in an airtight container and place them in the freezer. If you do so, allow the treat to thaw for 10 – 20 minutes prior to serving to your dog. Treats can last for up to 6 months in the freezer.

#4. A Sweet Trip- Plan a special outing to the park, the beach, or wherever your dog loves to go. Some dogs would just love the car ride, so if that is your dog you can just cruise around the neighborhood with the car windows down. Either way, a trip away from the house is sure to delight your pup.

#3. A Sweet Toy- There is no shortage of stuffed animals and toys around V-day, so why not surprise your pup with a new toy? If you don’t want to splurge on a new toy you can simply hide a favorite toy the week before V-day, then bring it out the day of. Or, you can wait until the day after V-day and buy toys on clearance. Your dog doesn’t know what or when V-day is, and he will be super excited either way, so don’t get hung up on feeling like you have to buy him something.

#2. A Sweet Meal- Enjoy a nice meal together. This could be at a dog-friendly restaurant or a night in at home. Dog-friendly restaurants, like the Lazy Dog Café, and places that allow dogs to sit with you on the Patio, are becoming more common. You could probably go to your favorite restaurant for lunch with your dog (you might want to call ahead first though). Some dog-friendly places have a dog menu, or you can order him something like a plain hamburger patty. If you want to stay in for the night, consider making him a special home cooked meal of chicken, beef, or salmon.

#1. Your Sweet Time- No matter what you do or where you go, your dog would love nothing more than to spend time with you. A walk; a game of fetch; some cuddle time on the couch – he’s happiest when he is spending time with you, his family.