And it’s not just because of my bad jokes
Eko and Penny are getting as much time outside as I can manage, but back in the apartment there’s significantly more moping, pacing and zooming than usual
No matter how long I’ve made our walks or outings in the past couple weeks, there is a general sense of listlessness from both dogs. It’s not fun but luckily it is temporary. What this experience has really reinforced for me is that in order for Eko and Penny to be truly happy they need the freedom to run wild.
The pups have enjoyed the games and puzzles and walks and visits of the past two weeks, but there is no substitute for cutting loose
No matter the weather, how happy Eko and Penny are is directly related to how much time they’ve had to run
Off-leash time is not just about romping, it’s also about socialization and making new friends
Unstructured playtime where the pups can enjoy themselves is a critical component to their happiness
And it’s not a puppy-thing. Penny has more energy, but Eko loves nothing more than tearing up and down the shore
Despite all that freedom, Penny often chooses to do what she can do at home anytime – bug Eko!
It hasn’t been the most fun two weeks, but what’s most important is that Penny is just about fully recovered. This has also been a good opportunity to get a better idea of just how important our trips to the beach are – for both Eko and Penny’s happiness and my own.
All dogs are not the same though, so I’m interested to hear from you guys. Do your pets have a particular “need” in order to be happy?
