Showing your dog love on Valentine’s Day
On this day when I was 4, next to my cereal bowl was a card and a red, heart-shaped box containing a heart necklace, both from my parents. As my mom secured the necklace around my neck, she explained that when someone takes time to write you a note, give you a box of candy or a Valentine’s Day surprise (she tapped the necklace), you know someone thinks you’re special.
I still have the heart, although I’m not sure what happened to the chain. More importantly, I have a special memory.
That’s how Valentine’s Day became my day for letting my family and friends know how special they are.
And this, of course, includes our furry canine, Teddy, for whom this day brings even more behindthe-ear scratches than he usually gets.
Nothing makes him feel more special.
Why? Because Teddy has three nerve centers that are more responsive to my touching than other parts of his body — his belly, behind his ears and between his toes. Because of my balance issues as a paraplegic, I rub his tummy less and his toes never. But, to date, the pooch has never lodged a complaint about the lack of paw massages. He loves the ear scratches. When I begin scratching behind his soft, velvet-like ears, Teddy’s body literally goes limp. His tail, which
MORE DETAIL
Signs a dog doesn’t want to be petted: Ducking or moving away
Leaning away from the person’s hand Looks stressed, ears are back Growling or whining
Licking the lips multiple times Doesn’t take an offered treat or aggressively takes it
had been moving at a fever pitch, barely moves and his eyes slowly close.
He relaxes, just like I do when I get a massage. But Teddy’s body relaxes more than mine can because of the ear scratching.
It sounds simple, but it’s a complex act that turns on nerve impulses that stimulate specific organs.
“The act of stroking their ears stimulates the pituitary and hypothalamus glands, which releases endorphins,” tailster.com says. “The secretion of these feel good, pain killing hormones makes a dog feel relaxed to the point where they’re somewhat in a trance. In short, it’s like a natural tranquillizer.”