I often feel guilty about leaving my little Chi alone for so many hours of the day while I work, but as pets and their owners often do, we have just naturally learned how to adapt to each other�s needs.
For example, I was never one to sing as I am a bit tone deaf and it�s not a particularly pleasant sound when I sing. I accidentally discovered one day that if I sing my dog�s nickname of �bubby� that he becomes enraptured with the sound of my voice because he loves to hear his own name. Over time, I just naturally started singing to him more often, because I could see how much he enjoyed it.
Now that we have been living together for over 3 years, I find myself singing to him for hours of every day. When I get home from work I always participate in his exercise routines, going for walks, playing fetch in the back yard, etc for at least the first 20-30 minutes. That is not enough attention for an animal who has been home alone for that many hours so it was often difficult and guilt laden when I would try to get household chores done or find time to sit at my computer reading and writing.
Chihuahuas are notorious for being high-attention-demand animals and mine is no exception. Singing has turned out to be the solution for us. It�s just a simple little ditty of only a few notes and even fewer words. It goes like this �Bubbylubby lubby lub, bubby lubby lubby, Bub bub bubalub bubalubby lubby.
I go on for many stanzas of similar phrases occasionally changing the tempo and rhythm, which seems to keep him interested endlessly.
It�s easy and mindless for me, which allows me to divert almost no energy or mental attention away from my other activities and the dog is completely convinced that he has my undivided attention as long as I don�t stop singing to him.
It works and is a very convenient solution to our scheduling conflicts.
I just thought I�d share in case others had not also stumbled across this little gem.
