Paws-itive Perspectives: Around here, Valentine’s dates include a leash

By Angel Dumoulin on February 14, 2026.

It’s February and love is in the air! Also, there’s road dust and the smell of rotten things thawing after our reasonably short winter. But let’s stay focussed on the fun side of February. There’s Valentine’s Day, a day fully devoted to eating chocolate and giving flowers, and Family Day, an actual statutory holiday devoted to spending time with family. This is usually more tiring than actually going to work but it breaks up the monotony of the shortest but the seemingly longest month of the year.

It seems to me, as an extreme dog enthusiast, that we could be focussing on the wrong species when it comes to these special days. Chocolate and many flowers are quite toxic to dogs so Valentine’s Day is a complete bust if it’s celebrated with the usual north American traditions.

Family Day is especially exclusionary for dogs, as all the planned activities are typically held in non-dog friendly places. They are also full of children who are not crazy about having to share all that adult attention with the family dog.

Something you could do to help your beloved dog cope with these very unfair occasions is spend every other day of the month with them. Clear your schedule of all unnecessary activities like phone scrolling, YouTube or TV watching, Going out with other humans, etc. Instead, take your dog for a drive to their favorite pet store and buy them some extra special treats and a few new interactive toys. Find a quiet place to hand out with them where there’s nobody to distract either of you, and play with them. Let them run freely and sniff to their hearts content. I love True North Canine Compound for this type of activity.

There are dog clubs and classes you can take with just you and your dog or as a social group with other dog lovers. These can be for learning a dog sport, learning about scent detection, trick training, or even dancing with your dog. I would love to see more people exploring these activities with their dogs and I’m sure the other dog clubs would, too.

If you’d rather stay inside, play games in the house. Teach them some simple (or not so simple) tricks. Hiding toys or treats, or hiding myself are always popular games with my dogs. I can give you ideas if you get stuck. The point is, spend time with the dog you love.

By the time you are ready to focus on those human friendly holidays, your dog will be happy for a few hours away from you and sleep while you’re out.

Angel Dumoulin of Funny Farm Canine is a positive reinforcement trainer with 20+ years of experience, dedicated to humane, science-based methods that build trust, cooperation, and joy. Emphasizing compassion and respect, she fosters a partnership between dogs and owners without fear or force – only motivation, play, and clear communication. Her philosophy, “dominion over domination,” champions empathy and understanding, allowing each dog’s unique personality to shine. Play. Learn. Wag!

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