January is ‘Walk your dog’ month but if you are like us and still have a lot of snow, here’s some
advice for those of you venturing out with your furry best friend.
There is not only a lot of ice but the snow has now frozen, so be aware of not walking into deep snow as it has the potential to cause leg injuries to your dog & possibly you.
When you return home also give your dogs paws a good wash, due to the salt content & chemicals used in the road grit. Grit can cause irritation, or burning to their pads, if ingested may cause complications such as vomiting and or lethargy and in some cases has been known to cause kidney damage.
Maybe rather than your walk today opt for some enrichment within the home.
Some enrichment ideas…..
Start with your cue word
Encourage your puppy/dog & help them.
When your puppy/dog finds the toys, mark the behaviour with either GOOD or YES, then reward with a foodie treat while removing the toy.
You can repeat these 5 to 6 times, then rest.
The next time you play this game, make it slightly harder, place the toys in the same place but disguise them slightly, maybe place a towel or shoe in front of the toy.
Each time you play the game your puppy/dog is really starting to understand it, you can make it harder, gradually working towards maybe hiding inside a box or hiding inside a slipper & placing the slipper into a shopping bag.
You will find that 20 minutes of performing a scentwork game will mentally tire your puppy/dog out as much as a 30 to 40minute walk. This will alleviate any boredom that could be incurred due to exercise restrictions.
Swap A Puzzle For A Homemade Puzzle
Another great problem-solving game is similar to a puzzle but use a muffin tin & tennis balls.
Take your muffin tin.
Place a foodie reward in a few of the muffin cases.
Place the tennis balls over the top.
Encourage your puppy/dog to ‘go see’.
You can also use an old egg box but hide the treats inside the closed egg box.
They will then have to use their problem-solving skillset in order to find the reward.
Again, this is getting your puppy/dog to use their nose, this then sends messages to his brain hitting the limbic system which then releases dopamine (the happy chemical) this helps calm him/her while working the brain.
🐕 HOMEMADE SNUFFLE PUZZLES
Swap a Snuffle Mat for a Homemade Towel Tornado….
Towel Tornado
Fold the t-shirt/towel back & forth.
Place either kibble or tasty rewards in-between the folds.
Swirl the t-shirt/towel around forming a circle.
Encourage your dog to sniff out the rewards.
Your dogs will soon get into the swing of it.
Cup Shuffle
Take 3 plastic cups.
Place a treat under 1 of the cups, then shuffle around.
Ask ‘Your Dog’ to ‘FIND IT’.
Once your dog is proficient at this part of the game, you can then make it harder.
Show your dog the treat or toy.
Allow your dog to watch where you place the treat/toy. This should be in sight but slightly hidden.
Ask your dog to ‘GO FIND IT’.
Repeat several times
Over time the game should be made progressively harder until your dog can be placed outside of the room while you hide the item. If there are two of you playing the game, one can stays with your dog outside of the room while you hide the items. Then you can recall your dog and the other person says ‘GO FIND IT’.
Save up old newspaper, again take some tasty rewards. Place into the newspaper, then fold the newspaper like a fan, twist around & tie as if you were tying a knot. Encourage your puppy/dog to sniff out the treats.
Sometimes, it can be easier just to let our dogs be dogs…. Things that dogs find stimulating but also rewarding & calming to their brains.