Training with Kindness
Canine Enrichment
Before you look at ways of occupying your puppy/dog take into consideration their age so any activities you choose will be age appropriate.Always make sure they have access to water.
Puppies can need up to 20 hours sleep a day; adult dogs up to 14 hours, and elderly dogs will tend to 'cat nap' during the day.While the majority of this time will be spent asleep at night, puppies and dogs do need to have an opportunity to access a safe, undisturbed area in your home to 'rest' whenever they feel the need to. In doing this you reduce the risk of your puppy/dog of becoming overwhelmed and tired which could lead to changes in their moods and responses to you or any member of your family.
NB - If you use food rewards/ treats in an activity these need to be taken into consideration when measuring out their daily meals. It is advisable for all activities to be monitored.
IN YOUR HOME
Find it!
For this you can use a cardboard box (without cellotape or staples). Place screwed up newspaper inside, then hide toys and/of food treats for your dog to find. Your dog can then tear up the cardboard box, and while this may be messy you can recycle this, rather than having to replace more valuable items!
You could use plastic cups or small flower pots to hide intermittent treats under, or hide one between three pots/cups.Let your dog watch you switch them about and see if they are able to remember which pot the treat is under.Or, use cardboard tubes from toilet rolls stood up on end in a container with treats placed in each one, or placing a treat inside each roll and folding the ends over. Egg boxes are another alternative.
Tidy up Toys.
This can be a fun way to get your dog to put their toys away. Visual instructions can be found on YouTube, so have a go.
Teaching Tricks.
Such as: High 5,shake hands, roll over, play dead, spin to name but a few. Again there are numerous videos available or you may prefer these in book form. The internet can provide you with further information on this.
Please consider the age of your puppy/dog when introducing these tricks and whether they are physically able to do them.
Puzzle Challenges
These toys provide mental challenges for your restless/bored puppy or dogs. Ensure they are suitable for the breed and age of your pet.
There is a wide range to choose from :
Frozen Treats
Kong- combine kibble, small dog biscuits with a paste or pate and freeze.
Lickimats- cover with mashed banana, yogurt, paste or pate and freeze.
Yogurt- pour into lolly mould and freeze.
Cut thick carrot and cucumber sticks and freeze.
Feeding meals.
The following suggestions are for those puppy or dogs who are fed kibble.
Traditionally, the bowl has been our 'go to' to feed our puppies or dogs. Now, there are alternatives, here are a few for you to consider:
Scatter feed
You can scatter part/all of the meal on a floor and/or in the garden on a patio. If you are fortunate to have grass this is another area to use and will provide more of a challenge if the grass is longer than normal.
An old towel:
Fold a towel in half and lay the kibble width ways across leaving a gap between rows. Roll from the folded end so the towel is tube shaped. Let your puppy/dog sniff the towel first; some start to push with their nose straight away while others may need the first row to magically appear before they become engaged.
Plastic bottles (1 litre +)
Make sure the opening at the top is smooth and big enough for the kibble to escape steadily. Place a small portion of kibble inside to begin with, then leave them to investigate. If this proves successful you can always add more of their meal. Should they begin to become frustrated, discontinue, and feed as normal.
Snuffle Mats
These are 'open' rubber mats interwoven with strips of material, usually felt.You can make these yourselves or buy them from the internet. If you do buy make sure they are machine washable!
With these mats you can place the kibble between the strips providing another form of a mental challenge.
Slow feeders
These are aimed at those dogs who 'inhale/gulp' their food and/or who have sensitive digestions. There are many different designs to ensure your puppy/dog eats their meals steadily and slowly.
IN THE GARDEN
Hide and Seek.
Great fun for all. This engages the puppy or dog mentally and physically. Reward with a small treat or favourite toy.
Find it!
Adapting 'hide and seek' with emphasis on the puppy/dog finding favourite toys and/ or food treats. Ensure food rewards are in very small pieces and varied e.g. cheese, chicken, sausage and/ or liver. You can place them under empty flower pots, top of accessible statues, seats, benches, under tables or bushes. Sprinkling long grass with small treats can also work. Monitor how challenging you make this as if it is too hard they will lose their motivation to continue.
Tuggy Games
Always fun from the point of view of the puppy or dog. Do be careful not to hurt their mouths and give them opportunities to 'win', to ensure they are still engaged. Also consider the length of time you play as young puppies can become over excited. Watch their body language e.g. tension in their body muscles, dilating pupils, jumping up. Provide an alternative option once you finish , for example, a stuffed Kong, Lickimat, or chew so they have an opportunity to refocus on a calmer activity.
Ball Games
There are some dogs who can sniff a ball out of thin air! These type of games can be great fun for both of you providing you monitor the game constantly as this is another activity which can cause high arousal. Observe their body language and stop, if necessary. Rolling the ball on the ground can reduce the risk of dogs hurting themselves , as the risk is higher when jumping up in the air for the ball.
'Flingers' are known to cause 'high arousal' and 'obsessive' behaviours, and I would not recommend them. While it appears the dog is enjoying this game you may find he/she can not settle/is barking/ or jumping up constantly once the game has finished.
NB- Dogs who are in a high state of arousal can take up to 2 days to return to their normal levels.
Controlled Digging
If you have a puppy or dog who enjoys digging then consider fencing a small area of your garden which allows them to do just that. As an alternative use a shell sand pit and fill either with dirt or sand, hide treats and/or toys to occupy those paws!
Ball pit.
Another use for the sand pit is to fill it with plastic balls and sprinkle with small treats for them to find. This activity must be supervised.
Basic skills.
You may be experiencing some ' talk to the paw' moments! Use your garden to consolidate those skills which your puppy/dog needs to re-engage with.
WALKING THE PUPPY/DOG.
For puppies lead walking should be 5 minutes per calendar month of the age of your puppy. Off lead puppies ( in a secure environment ) should be monitored to ensure they do not become over tired.
Allowing your puppy/ dog to sniff as much as possible is important to them understanding what is happening in their immediate environment. During the day, aromas and odours will change so if it is feasible, try to vary the times of your walk(s), weather permitting!
Sniffari
Let your puppy/ dog decide the route of your walk, you may be pleasantly surprised.
Find it!
Hide the odd toy and/ or small treats for them to find on their return walk to the house. This is an activity which can involve the whole family and enrich the time you have with your puppy or dog.
