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YOUR DOG NEEDS MENTAL & PHYSICAL STIMULATION

By Eleanor Scheidemann, The Dog Lady


 

Chances are your dog leads an under-stimulated life.

 

If your dog lived in the wild he would spend the majority of his time in survival activities. He would be hunting for his dinner. He would have to find prey, run it down, hang onto and kill it, and then rip it apart to eat it! Not a pretty picture but true. (Remember, they are animals.) He might even have to protect it from other predators. That’s a lot of work! Dogs are programmed to work-they need and want a job. Busy dogs are happy dogs. Tired dogs are good dogs. There are many things you can do to keep your dog busy. Your imagination is the limit - as long as it is safe. If you come up with a great idea, please share it with me so we can list it for other dog owners.

 

Feeding Ideas

 

Nothing for free (NFF) rule; never give your dog food without making him work for it. It can be as simple as a “sit” or as complicated as running an agility course. This includes treats, handouts while you’re fixing your own meal, or putting his bowl down in front of him.  This means by everyone in the family. There’s always a softie who thinks it is mean, but in reality, it’s meaner, to not make your dog work than to make him work. Try some feeding variations like a feeding cube or ball. This is a square or round shaped ball which you fill with dry food and the dog has to roll it around on the floor to get the food out. Don’t worry, when he finds out there is food in it, he won’t let it go under the furniture. Or forget the ball and just scatter his food all over the floor. You will be surprised how even picky eaters will soon be loving meal time. Try a Kong. Kong’s are chew toys that can be stuffed! You can stuff them with almost anything. Try stuffing it and then hide it. Here are some stuffing ideas:

 

  • Buy more than one, save time by stuffing them ahead of time and keep them in the frig.
  • Stuff with peanut butter, cheeze whiz, cream cheese, cottage cheese, can dog food, chopped hot dogs, cheese, or dog treats.
  • Stuff them and then freeze them, it will take the dog longer to eat them.
  • Plug the opening with white bread to keep the stuffing in.
  • Too messy! Give it to him outside or in his crate.
  • Put it in a margarine container or tie an old rag around it, he will learn how to get it open.
  • Hide it-make him hunt for his dinner.

     

    Exercise Ideas 

     

    Have you heard the saying: If your dog is overweight, you aren’t getting enough exercise! All dogs need exercise. A walk is great for your dog’s mental stimulation and allows him to encounter other dogs and people. It is also a great leadership exercise; we call it “follow the leader”. However, it is not a substitute for strenuous exercise. Can’t walk very far; get him a back pack and let him carry a little weight. If you exercise by jogging or bike riding, take your dog with you. (Check with your vet, make sure his health will allow this type of exercise.) Here are some games you can try:

     

  • Fetch- You can come home after a hard day’s work, and exercise your throwing arm. It doesn’t matter what he fetches: ball, Frisbee, stick, your slippers. Just make sure you keep playing until he is worn out.
  • Tug of War – This is a great energy burner and it also addresses predatory energy. Too often people like to ignore the fact that dogs are predators. They try to eradicate the predatory drive which can lead to other behavior problems. Instead, you should channel the drive into useful activities. If you play tug-of-war remember the game has rules;

     

  •      Use a specific toy which is YOUR toy, not the dogs. Put it away when you are not playing.
  •      You say when the game begins and ends. (Get the advice of a trainer if you are not sure how.)
  •      The dog must never touch you with his teeth.
  •      If the dog breaks the rules, the game is timed-out or over.

     

    Dog Parks

     

    If your dog has a good recall take him to an off-leash dog park and let him run and play. If he doesn’t have a good recall, teach him one. Or, you can set up play dates with your friend’s dogs. Dogs playing with dogs is great exercise, increases their social skills and problem solving abilities.

     

    Sports

     

    There are a lot of dog sports out there which are fun for you and your dog. You can do it for fun or for competition. Figure out what is involved in participating, what you and your dog enjoy and go from there.

     

    Obedience

     

    Obedience training is great mental exercise for your dog. Make him practice at home. Join a class or competition – Don’t forget “The Dog Lady” has a lifetime group membership which is geared toward learning, mental stimulation and socialization (for both you and the dog).

     

    Toys

     

    There is no shortage of different types of toys out there. Everything from plain old balls to electronic learning toys. Make sure your dog has plenty of fun toys and chew things. They need to chew to keep their jaw muscles and teeth in good shape. This applies to adult dogs as well as teething puppies. Experiment to see what your dog likes and then make sure you have plenty around. Just don’t give them all to him at once. Rotate a few different toys and/or chews each day. You can even let him pick which ones he wants every day. This is also a good way to keep him from chewing things he shouldn’t. What! You don’t give him stuffed animals because he tears them apart. Well, remember that predatory thing you don’t want to think about. When he holds the toy down and picks it open he is ripping open its stomach and gutting it; uck! He will love it if you let him do this but make sure it is a supervised ritual. Toy guts are not as digestible as the real thing and we don’t want him to really eat it.

     

    Jobs

     

    Your dog does not have to be a service dog to have a job. Teach him to fetch your slipper, fetch the newspaper, or bring you a tissue when you sneeze. Give him chores, just like you would your children. Make him pick up his toys and put them back in the basket before bed time. He will probably enjoy it much more than the children do.

     

    At the doglady.org we train service dogs and know that dogs can do amazing things. If a dog can physically do it, you can train him to do it on cue. Use your imagination, think out of the box! Give him a job, teach him tricks. Do it to impress your friends and neighbors. Do it because it is fun. Do it because you love him and he needs it. He will love you all the more in return. And remember, if you need help, give us a call.

     

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