Let's get on the floor..

We all know the importance of training our dogs. Training them at home as well as outside the home, helps make them more acquainted to our environment and our expectations while learning the behaviors needed to be successful in our everyday situations. 
But among all the training exercises and your work schedule, do you remember to sometimes just get on the floor and play and roll around? Or to just get on the floor to sit with your dog and just pet him or give a little massage? 
I feel, that whenever I remember to take the time to sit down or roll around on the floor with my dogs, I can get a better sense of their mental state and well being. Will Cedar let me mess with his sensitive paws today or does he instantly feel the need to mouth my hand? Is Jackson in the mood to play or is he too tired or too sore, and just need a belly rub. Getting on the floor, helps me feel connected with my dogs again - something which is often forgotten during the everyday routines of getting kids ready for day care, work, making dinner, getting kids ready for bed and so on. 

So my advice to you is, get on the floor and get connected with your dog. Believe me, you will both appreciate it......and be thankful you did, when some day you will no longer to able to do so. Because it is when we stop and connect with loved ones, being children, spouse, family, friends or in this case our dogs, we make the memories we will forever be thankful for.