5 Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day With Your Furry Valentine

Let’s face it: The past two years have been ruff. But for many of us, we’ve had a constant companion by our side, helping us through quarantines, working from home, and social distancing.

This Valentine’s Day, let’s make sure that furry family member gets some love!

1. Treat Them to a Spa Day

Who doesn’t love to be pampered? In fact, a trip to the spa may be one of the most common gifts that humans give each other on Valentine’s Day. Your pets would certainly be happy to get even more of your attention and feel like the day is all about them.

Physical affection is a great way to show your pet how much you love them. If you choose to groom them, be sure to check out our list of tips for grooming your own dog. While they may appreciate a trip to the groomer, doing it yourself is a great bonding experience for the two of you.

And of course, not all pets may like water or to be groomed. In that case, doing other things to show you care -- like an extended brushing session -- will make your pet feel like royalty.

2. Buy Them Special Treats

When you think of Valentine’s Day, you probably think of big, heart-shaped boxes of chocolate and red roses. While chocolate will make your pets very sick, and veterinarians don’t necessarily recommend letting them eat rose petals, there are plenty of other ways to give your pets some special treats for this special day.

Here are some treat ideas for your pets, whether you’ve got a dog, a cat, or a horse.

For dogs, try these colorful Valentine’s Day Milk Bone treats. Not only are they cute, but they have little phrases on them like “Love,” “Hugs,” and “Cutie.” They’re like the pet version of Conversation Hearts for your dog.

For cats, there may not be a special Valentine’s treat available, but you can still treat them to a fancy meal! The Temptations Cat Treats brand has so many flavors, your cat is certain to find one he or she likes. For a special occasion, may we recommend the Lobster flavor?

For horses, feed their sweet tooth with these Paddock Cake Paddies. With a piece of peppermint candy on top of each one, it’s the closest you can get to giving your horse one of those candy boxes for Valentine’s Day.

3. Make Them Special Treats

If you’re feeling creative, you could even take it one step further and make your own special Valentine’s treats for your beloved furry family member. The internet is full of recipes for all types of pets and all types of tastes, so be sure to make something your pet will love -- you know what they like better than anyone else!

Here are a few quick recipes to try out.

For Dogs: Valentine’s Day “You’re My Honey” Dog Treats (Miss Molly Says)

“These tasty Valentine's Day 'You're My Honey' dog treats are perfect for a special Valentine's Day treat! They have just the right amount of sweetness to make them extra special AND they are super easy to make!”

For Cats: Valentine’s Day Homemade Cat Treat Recipe (Kitty Cat Chronicles)

“When you make your own cat treats, you know exactly what is in them – no worrying about animal by-products, preservatives, or other chemicals! Beware – your house will smell like cooked chicken and baked cat treats for hours, which will have your cats sniffing around the kitchen all day!”

For Horses: Valentine’s Day Horse Treat Recipe (The Plaid Horse)

“Just in time for Valentine’s Day, I present to you, Valentine’s Horse Treats. These treats are really easy to make and your horse will love them.”

4. Plan a Special Date

Humans often treat their human Valentines by spending time together -- whether it’s a date or just some quality time. Now, if your pet could plan their perfect day, what would it be?

Maybe your pup would spend an afternoon playing with you at the park. Your cat might enjoy an evening curled up on her favorite blanket on your lap, watching a romantic comedy. And maybe your horse would enjoy taking a trip to a new trail for the two of you to discover together.

No matter what you plan for your special date with your furry Valentine, the shared experience and memories you make together are certain to deepen your bond.