Kent Sanders

Reflections on Writing & Creativity

Podcast: The Creative Benefits of Owning a Dog (with Faye Ruch, Entrepreneur)

January 31, 2019 by Kent Sanders | Leave a Comment

I recently read that around 68% of U.S. households own a pet, which includes 60 million households that own a dog. If you don’t own a dog, I’m sure you know someone who does. On today’s episode, our guest helps unlock the surprising ways that owning a dog can boost your creativity and improve your life.

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I’m excited to share my conversation with Faye Ruch from DogLifeMadeBetter.com. Faye is on a mission to help dogs have better owners. I love that tagline because it reminds us that we have a reciprocal relationship with our dogs—we have a responsibility to them, and in turn, then improve our lives.

I first met Faye in a mastermind group last year, and her passion for helping dog owners was immediately apparent. As you listen to our conversation, you’ll learn practical ways that owning a dog can help you be more creative, how to be a better dog owner, and some fascinating lessons Faye has learned on her entrepreneurial journey. This episode is packed with surprising tidbits that you can start putting into practice immediately. I know I certainly learned a lot!

Episode Highlights

In this episode, you’ll discover:

  • Why Faye focuses on dogs rather than other types of pets, and why she loves teaching people about dog ownership.
  • The tangible benefits of owning a dog, including better health, stress reduction, and establishing routines.
  • How pets can kids learn responsibility and respect, especially by using two leashes on a dog (one for the adult to hold, and one for the child to hold).
  • Common problems that people experience with dog ownership, and how to deal with them.
  • How to enjoy the benefits of spending time with dogs without owning one.
  • Practical steps to enhance your creativity and become a better dog owner.
  • Some lessons Faye has learned on her entrepreneurial journey.

Key Takeaways

1. Use your pet ownership as an opportunity to be more active and healthy.

We own an Australian Shepherd named Madison, and I take her for a walk every night. This interview has made me double down on my commitment to taking even more walks and being more committed to my health. Faye mentioned a Stanford study on the connection between walking and creativity, which you can find in the show notes.

2. Let your dog help you develop better routines.

Faye mentioned the importance of habits and routines, particularly going to bed on time. This can be a real challenge for many people since it’s so easy to stay up late playing on your phone or watching Netflix. Dogs love routines, and as we become better pet owners, our pets can in tur help us to develop better habits. After doing this interview, I have recommitted to getting more sleep and going to bed on time.

3. If you want to reach your entrepreneurial dreams, you must take action. 

Near the end of the interview, I asked Faye what she has been learning on her journey of setting up her website and building her business. I have really been inspired by her tenacity and ability to take action and “get it done”! This is a great lesson for all of us. “Done” is indeed better than “perfect,” so don’t let your perfectionism stop you from making progress toward your dreams.

Resources

I want to thank Faye for taking the time out of her busy schedule to share this amazing conversation!