If you’re currently without a pet, please know there are so many shelter dogs who would love a visit, a walk, or a few minutes of kind attention.

And if you’ve recently lost a pet, I just want to say: I see you. Love Your Pet Day can feel tender, not cheerful. If you’re not ready for “celebrating,” that’s okay. One gentle option , when and if it feels right, is to visit a shelter dog. Rather than “replace” anyone… just to offer a few minutes of kindness to a pup who would deeply feel it. Sometimes that small act of love helps your heart breathe again.

Love Your Pet Day is Friday, February 20. Most people celebrate with treats and toys (love that). But if your dog is stiff, sensitive, or emotionally “wired,” the most loving thing you can do is simpler:

Start the day with comfort.
Start the walk with calm.
Start the relationship with rhythm.

The love language your dog understands: “I hear you.” This month we’ve been living inside the PAWER Loop: Pause → Air → Watch → Execute → Review

For Love Your Pet Day, we’re focusing on the part that changes everything: The Calm Warm-Up. If you already know my observe and hold foundations, this is the next layer: Warm-up and slow step-overs for a nervous-system friendly way to get joints, muscles, and focus online.

2-Minute Comfort Warm-Up

1) Doorway Pause + one breath (10 seconds)
Hand on leash. Inhale. Exhale. Shoulders down.
Then ask: “What does my dog’s body look like right now?”

2) Matching Pace (30–45 seconds)
Walk at your dog’s pace to warm up those joints. And your joints.

3) Step-overs (30–45 seconds)
Use a broom handle, curb edge, or low “invisible line.”
Slow. Controlled. 3–6 reps. Stop while it’s still easy.

4) Sniff reset (20–30 seconds)
Let your dog sniff one spot intentionally. Sniffing helps the brain settle.

That’s it.  You’re engaging smarter.

The Love Your Pet Day add-on: Omega-3 (Education Only)

If you want a “love gift” that supports comfort from the inside, omega-3s are one of the most common vet-supported options, specifically the EPA/DHA forms found in fish oil.

What I want you to know is that:

• Benefits are often gradual and can take a few weeks to show up.
• Choose products that clearly state EPA + DHA amounts instead of just “fish oil 1000 mg”.
• Watch for GI upset; stop and talk to your vet if you see persistent vomiting/diarrhea, abnormal bruising/bleeding, or pancreatitis concerns.

There’s also research showing EPA/DHA can modestly improve clinical signs in dogs with osteoarthritis.

Relationship (R): Love grows faster in community.  If Love Your Pet Day is about the bond, here’s my bias: Relationship strengthens when you have real-life reps together.

That’s why I host K9 Doggie playdates. Dogs settle better when the environment is safe and predictable, and humans get to learn what “normal” movement and emotion look like, so you can spot changes early.