Having Fun at Home with Your Dog
Many people, due to social distancing, have been spending increasing amounts of time at home. This also means extra time spent around Fido. Instead of going stir crazy, there are plenty of things you can do with your canine companion from home that will keep both of you entertained. Here are just a few.
Get Creative with Your Feeding & Treat Routine
With feeding toys and treat dispensers, you can turn dinner time into a stimulating and fun game. For pups who eat too fast, dispensers can also help make mealtime last longer. But besides that, this can also give your four-legged friend some much needed mental stimulation. Another thing to consider, if you don’t use them already, are bully sticks or other long-lasting chews. These are perfect rewards, but last much longer than a simple treat.
Make Time for Training
The extra time also means more opportunities to reinforce training. If you’ve let some obedience skills slide, now is a great time to bring them back. Help your furry friend remaster all the tricks they’ve already learned. Then you can take the time to teach them some new ones. Not only is this a great way to reinforce their obedience training, but it also facilitates a bonding experience between you and your pooch.
Play Doggy Hide & Seek
A game that can be fun for both you and Fido if you have the time is doggy themed hide & seek. In this version of “hide & seek” your canine companion will have to use these senses to either find you or some treats.
If you’re playing with treats, you’ll want to start by allowing your pooch to see where you’re “hiding” them so they can get an understanding of the game. Then slowly but surely, you’ll work up to not letting them see you hide the treats but still placing them in the same spots you were before, to then hiding the treats in new places. If your pooch seems lost, don’t be afraid to give them a “subtle” hint or two.
If you decide to play with people, you’ll want someone to stay with the dog in another room while another person hides. Then the person waiting with the dog needs to encourage them to find the other person. Our pups know us by the names we call each other, so have them use the person’s name repeatedly. And once again, it’s alright if you need to give Fido some hints. In the first few rounds, your pup will most likely need some guidance.
Work on Fido’s Scent Skills
Creating scent trails for your furry friend is a great way to work their brain while also bonding with them and building up their confidence. Start by leaving small pieces of treats a foot or so apart in a straight line, leading up to more substantial final treat. Then as your pooch starts to get the hang of it, you can start increasing the difficulty. You can space the treats out farther, making the trail longer, and creating creatively snaked paths – instead of just straight lines
Right now, there is a lot of uncertainty and stress among people. But one positive thing you can focus on is that for pet parents, this means getting to spend more time with your furry friend.