Mind-body workouts are hot for us bipeds, and should be a priority for his-pawed pal, too. To keep your dog healthy and happy, and Zen, Fanna Easter national specialist dog training at Petco Education recommends the following tricks of the mind and the body of your dog.
Unlike people who can become your computer, go to the gym, or call a friend when they are bored, dogs find other ways to cope with the absence of stimulation, including destructive behavior. These behaviors can become chronic if behavior pet owner ignores or punishes the dog when he acts. Dogs naturally want to hunt, feed, clean and work for their food, and when they are forced into a sedentary lifestyle are often hyperactive, or chew the bark too much, and in some cases, self-mutilate constantly licking.
"Dogs must have a daily enrichment, a combination of physical and mental activities to keep them busy, tired and satisfied."
"Most pet owners consider allowing your dog to spend the day in the back yard offers plenty of physical and mental enrichment, it is as if you never left the inside of your home" Easter said. "Dogs must have a daily enrichment, a combination of physical and mental activities to keep them busy, tired and satisfied. Stimulation requires the mind of your dog to think and solve problems, which keeps your brain active and tires actually. "She suggests the following 10 tips for happy dogs healthy.
Hold your palm about two inches away from her nose, then when she looks or touches your hand, click with a clicker in your other hand and give her a yummy treat.
Place yummy treats in a box and hide the food-filled box among empty boxes, then let your dog “sniff out” the food.
The trick to safe tugging games with your dog is to teach him to let go. "After tugging with your dog, stop tugging and hold still until your dog lets go," Easter explains. "Once he lets go, reward him with another game of tug."
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Exercise in self-control
Teach your pet patience and obedience with this trick: Hold a treat in your closed fist then put your closed fist by your dog’s nose and wait until she stops smelling and pushing on your hand. The moment she stops, offer her a treat.
Taking your dog on a jog is great exercise for you both, but allow ample time for you and your furry friend to just meander and sniff. "Sniffing for a dog is like us updating our Facebook page - we want to read through all the comments before replying or not replying back," says Easter. "Daily sniffing sessions around your neighborhood are such fun for your dog!"
Add excitement to your dog's daily routine with puzzle toys that make them "solve" a puzzle, such as moving levers or compartments, to reach a treat. Easter suggests starting with easier puzzles to help keep them motivated and ready to advance to more difficult challenges.
According to Easter, all dogs should have daily opportunities to empty out a food-stuffed toy. This lets them meet their hunting and foraging desires.
Building your dog's confidence is as easy as giving her an opportunity to learn and succeed at something new. Consider enrolling your pawed-pal in an intro to agility class.
Some breeds of dogs just love to dig (think: terriers) and often tear into the couch or try to get under the fence when they get the urge to get their paws in the dirt. Provide your dog a digging pit that has chew toys, bully sticks, and treats.
"Dogs must chew; it’s a predatory instinct. And for puppies, it feels good on their swollen gums as they lose their baby teeth," Easter explains. Chewing provides mental and physical stimulation. She warns, however, that dogs should not be left alone when chewing and to always choose chewies that are larger than your dog's mouth to avoid choking.
