TIRED DOGS SLEEP!
When
your dog picks up something he shouldn't, trade him for something much
more interesting that he SHOULD play with - make a big deal about the toy
you have to offer! Rotate his toys and chews to keep them interesting.
When you see him choose the right thing notice it! Praise him and have
a quick game. Most dogs steal things because it is certain to get you out
of your chair. Catch me if you can is an awfully fun game - for the dog...
Toys fall into two categories: INTERACTIVE
and PACIFIER.
Interactive toys are toys which are
the most fun played with YOU.
Pacifier toys are toys designed to keep the bored dog occupied.
Provide Safe
Pacifiers for "alone times":
Kongs - rubber
toys that look like rattlesnake tails and bounce which way and that. Add
a bit of peanut butter, a square of cheese, a big biscuit too large to
fall out and a few that will. Fill several and hide them in the house or
yard and they will keep your dog busy for hours.
Nylabones - they
come in a variety of shapes and sizes and hardness’s, from the "edible"
varieties which are intended to be eaten, to the dental bones designed
to massage gums and clean teeth, to the Galileo version for the most powerful
chewers. If your dog isn't interested, roughen the edges so it looks like
another dog enjoyed it first, and then rub peanut butter or squeeze cheese
into the crevasses. Mmm mmm good!!
Chew toys - Hooves,
rawhide, pig ears, knuckle bones etc. - Chosen carefully (the right size
and hardness for your dog's particular chewing style) can provide hours
of chewing satisfaction. If your dog bites off chunks or consumes them
quickly they could cause digestive upset or intestinal blockage. Real bones
can be safe for some dogs and not for others, depending on how powerfully
they chew - heavy chewers can suffer from tooth fractures. There is much
debate over raw vs. cooked.
Knotted ropes - Chewing
a knotted rope can massage gums and keep your dog's teeth clean, plus the
added play value of shaking, tossing, pouncing and "killing". Some come
with rubber toys or tennis balls added for even more fun. You can hide
biscuits in the knots to encourage your dog and add interest.
Dental devices - various
shapes and sizes of flexible, nubby edges massage gums and clean teeth.
Some are designed so you can put doggy toothpaste in the grooves and let
your dog brush his own teeth!
Fleece toys - Many
retrievers and "mothering types" seem to find comfort in carrying a soft
toy with them, and frequently present them to their owners upon their arrival
home from a long day at work. Squeakers may encourage "disemboweling" and
your chew man might soon be without his insides, but most dogs continue
to enjoy them even without their stuffing.
Brain Toys
/ Self-amusement
Buster Cubes -This
durable plastic cube gives dogs mental stimulation, exercise and relief
from boredom. It is designed to be filled with bite sized dry pet food
or treats. The food is released as the dog rolls the cube with its nose
or its paws.
Huge balls -
herding breeds especially love playing soccer alone or with you.
A suspended ball -
remember playing tether ball as a kid? Many dogs also enjoy this game,
especially boxers and bull dog breeds. The ball should be suspended from
a horizontal pole, not a vertical one for safety.
A kid's wading pool - water
loving breeds will love spending hot summer days splashing in a shallow
kid's wading pool.
A sandbox of his own - If
your dog loves to dig, make him an appropriate place to do it. Bury his
favorite toys, bones and a biscuit or two before you turn the dog out to
play.
Brain Games
Tricks and more tricks - You
are only limited by your imagination! Sit up, shake hands, roll over, chase
your tail, take a bow, balance a biscuit on his nose.
Hide his breakfast -
using his nose can be the most tiring activity for your dog. Leave widely
spaced trail of kibble to the hidden bowl ... gradually, day by day, decrease
the number of "clues" til your dog is finding it all on his own.
Hide and seek - Have
a family member hide, have them call "come!" and send the dog to find them
- start out easy and make it more and more difficult day by day. Play this
game in the dark to encourage your dog to use his sense of smell.
Find your toys - Take
him out of the room and hide his favourite toy and send him in to find
it ... if your dog doesn't like toys, play "hide the biscuit" instead.
Variation: Name his toys - and send him to retrieve them by name. Can you
put out a pile of his favourites and have him retrieve them one by one,
by name?
Message delivery -
Teach your dog to deliver notes or other items to other family members.
"Take it to daddy" could save you a trip downstairs and give your dog a
job he can be proud of!
Obstacle courses - Over,
under, around and through. Large cardboard boxes can become tunnels, a
wide board and a couple of cinder blocks can become a bridge.
Clicker Training! 101
things to do with a cardboard box, Free shape a behaviour with your clicker!
Active Games
& Other Activities
Retrieving -
"sit" "stay" "get it" "out" - dumbells, Foxtails, Tennis balls
Jumping - Start
slowly. Keep the jumps low and the landing surface soft, especially for
young dogs. Avoid repetitive jumping or height until your dog is completely
through growing.
Bike riding, jogging - start
slow and build distance gradually, soft surfaces and short distances for
young dogs, check pads before and after every run, avoid the heat of the
day.
Cart or sled pulling -
The Iditorod! A Northern breed favorite. Cart pulling is enjoyed by Newfoundlands,
Bernese Mt. Dogs, Pyrenees and others.
Swimming -
is good exercise and a great way to cool off. Not all dogs naturally know
how to swim! Doggy life jackets are a good idea when boating. Important:
Swimming pools are strictly off-limits to unsupervised dogs.
Dog Sports
Obedience Trials -
Novice (C.D.), Open (C.D.X.), & Utility (U.D.). Dogs are judged on
precision and response to commands.
Conformation -
dogs are judged on appearance and movement. Dogs receiving a certain number
of points can earn the title of Champion.
Tracking - Following
an aged scent trail with his nose over different terrain.
Agility - jumps,
hurdles, tunnels, weave poles, an A- frame and even a teeter- totter -
a timed event.
Herding - For
those breeds bred to herd sheep or cattle. A favorite of Border Collies,
Australian shepherds and cattle dogs and many others.
Fly ball -
the dog jumps a series of low hurdles and triggers a tennis ball from a
spring loaded box, then returns with the ball over the jumps to the handler.
A timed relay race for teams.
Scent Hurdle -
like fly ball only the dogs retrieve a dumbbell carrying their handler's
scent.
Lure coursing - the
sport of sighthounds like Whippets, Greyhounds, Afghans, Salukis, Pharaoh
Hounds and Basenjis. A lure (often a white plastic bag) travels along a
pully- system along a varied course. Dogs are judged on speed, agility
and style.
Weight pull - a
contest of strength. Harnessed dogs compete to see who can pull the most
weight for an allotted distance.
Schutzhund - A
German police sport, encompassing obedience, tracking and attack work.
Service to
the Community
Pet-Assisted Therapy -
Dog/handler teams visit patients and work with therapists in hospital &
nursing home settings.
Search and Rescue - working
with police & sheriff's departments to find lost or missing persons.
Service Dogs - aiding
the handicapped as eyes for the blind, ears for the deaf, hands for the
disabled and even confidence for mentally disadvantaged.