USE YOUR IMAGINATION You don’t have to spend a ton of money on toys for your dog. Remember when you were a kid and you built fortresses in the family room out of sheets and chairs and sofa cushions? You can do the same with your dog and create an agility course at home. Use an old hula hoop and teach your dog to jump through it or to walk on a twelve inch wide board suspended between to cement blocks. Use treats to lure the dog by scent into the area and activity you want them to perform. Be patient. They might not get it right away, but as with any sport, practice makes perfect! Remember that all kinds of toys sold in stores can be made at home too. Treat balls are a lot of fun, but hiding kibble in an empty plastic water bottle can be just as exciting. The dog doesn’t know the difference. Just be sure not to leave the dog alone with the plastic bottle and take it away if he tears it apart. This can be a challenging way to feed them too because it forces them to problem solve and earn their food. I know some dogs that learn how this works so quickly that they realize if they put the bottle in their mouth and turn their head, all the food comes out at once! Use found items like old tennis balls or handmade items like a fetch stick that also floats and may be used in a pool. OR, teach your puppy to play hide-and-seek, literally, not just with a treat. Once a dog has learned the “stay” command, this becomes a really fun exercise. It’s also a way to teach “come” with the word “come” or whatever sound you choose, a whistle for example. It works like this: you say “stay” and then go hide in another room or behind a tree in your yard or wherever. Keep the proximity close at first and then gradually increase the distance. When you are in your hiding place, make the come sound or say the word. Then patiently wait for the dog to find you. Don’t say his name or the command again. Give their mind a chance to work it out. When he finds you, reward him with a treat. It’s that simple. They’ll get better and better at it and once they do, you can move to larger areas. Use your creativity to provide your dog with fun and learning. Below: 1. Playing with a found tennis ball, 2. playing with a piece of PVC pipe with two end caps that is a great pool toy, 3. Some well-loved store-bought toys.
Posted on: Tue, 27 May 2014 21:36:00 +0000