With such gloomy, rainy weather it can be difficult to give our dogs proper mental and physical stimulation. Both of my Border Collies, Fly and Rey, are itching to get outside and play! Though they would be content playing in the mud puddles, the weather simply isn’t ideal for training outdoors. Here are few tips to get you into training mode and give you and your pets something to do while stuck inside!
Make Food Fun! Make breakfast or dinner more fun by stuffing their favorite treats and kibble into a Kong toy! Get creative! Peanut butter, canned dog food, squeeze cheese, and kibble fill the Kong easily and keep your pooch busy and out of trouble. They can even be frozen to keep your dog busy longer! Feeling culinary? Kong© has a list of yummy recipes safe for dogs at their website http://www.kongcompany.com/recipes/.
Let’s Play! Get out your dog’s favorite toy and have fun! Play hide and seek with their favorite tennis ball, tug with their favorite toy, or play fetch indoors; the simple interaction with your dog will strengthen your bond and release some pent up energy! If your dog doesn’t love toys, try to find toys that hold kibble or treats to get them moving and mentally stimulated. We recommend the Kong Wobbler, Tricky Treat Ball, or similar treat dispensing toy that can be found online or at local pet stores.
Teach Tricks! Take the time inside to teach your dog a new trick, even the old dogs! Here’s a video of Fly and me showing off his tricks a few months ago!
Along with practicing obedience sit, downs, and stays, teach your dog to shake, roll over, sit pretty, weave through your legs, or bring you a soda! The possibilities are endless and the online Do More With Your Dog! © Program even has Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert Trick Dog titles for dogs that have mastered their tricks! For trick ideas or an application for a title, see more at http://domorewithyourdog.com/downloads/trickdogtitle.pdf.
Go on an outing! Another great way to mentally stimulate your dog is to take them to local stores that allow dogs such as feed or pet stores. America’s Country Store, where Puppy Love classes are held, is a great place to work on attention and obedience training with new smells, distractions, people and dogs! A well-socialized dog that’s mentally and physically engaged will be a much happier and well-rounded dog!
Hit the doggy gym, inside! Wobble boards, balance discs, or Paw Pods are a great way to condition your dog from the comfort of your living room! Building muscle, body awareness, and coordination is an exceptional foundation skill for performance dogs and can help prevent injury down the road. FitPaws© has a great line of indoor conditioning products and Harley, on the right, loves his conditioning routine!
Happy Training! Have fun with your pups!
Elizabeth, Fly, and Rey
You must be logged in to post a comment.