Silly title, I know. I could go on and on about all the ‘rules’ of dog training blah, blah, blah… but, this website is about having fun with your dog and one of the best ways to have fun with your dog is to allow yourself to be silly! Try something new! Be creative. Go out on a limb. No don’t. Your dog needs you to be able to take her for long walks in the ‘hood! No time for casts and crutches or stitches and bandaids…
Take a look at what you do with your dog throughout the day. Think about the routines you have and how your dog might perceive them. Zero in on one thing at a time. How could you do things differently? Is there a way to make something you always-do-exactly-the-same-way-with-your-dog-day-in-and-day-out at least a little more exciting or more challenging? Having a hard time imagining what I could possibly be talking about?
Here’s one or rather, three ideas, on the same theme, to get you started. What is your feeding arrangement? Do you just put your dog’s food into a bowl and let him chow down? Well here’s a way to ease into mixing things up a bit and making it more interesting, more work and perhaps something more for your dog to look forward to. Instead of just serving up the chow for a measly sit, work on a sit stay while you do one of the following scatter strategies so your dog has the opportunity to use his sensational sense of smell (because he probably won’t be able to rely completely on his eyesight to help him) at home more.
(1) For dogs who would do back flips for their kibble ~ If your yard is not treated with chemicals and you feel it is safe, walk around and scatter the pieces of your dog’s meal in the grass or on the patio. Once the bowl is empty, walk back to your dog (who has been sitting in nearby watching you throw his dinner away for the birds and earthworms) and free him saying, “Go Hunt!” You may have to wave your arm in the direction you scattered it if your dog is unsure about new trying new things.
[Dog Training Tip: The first time you do this, don’t spread it too far and wide. Your goal, as in all dog training endeavors, is to help your dog to be successful by limiting the amount of frustration he experiences early in the training process. As he gets better at finding it (and gets more excited about the prospect of ‘hunting’), you can make it more challenging.]
(2) If you do not have a yard or prefer not to do so outdoors, scatter your dog’s food on the kitchen floor. Repeat the directive to, “Go Hunt!”
(3) If your dog is highly food-motivated, do not scatter the dog food but place a few pieces together in many places around the main living area that does not have rugs or carpeting (for ease of cleaning). For example, next to the leg of a chair, the coffee table, near a door, behind a door, in the corner, and so on but not on furniture or near where it may be pushed under a sofa or other piece of furniture. Repeat the directive to, “Go Hunt!”
Most dogs would thank you for the extra work involved if they could! What you’re trying to accomplish is to give him something to do that requires the use of his nose. Dogs do not see color as we see it. They see grays and blues more in hues than in fully spectacular color. Dark colored dog food will be easier to locate if it is placed on a light color surface and vice versa for a light colored dog food. Most dogs will still use their noses rather than rely on their eyesight. Your goal is not to make it easy for him but to give him a chance to be a dog (foraging for his keep). The end result is to have expended energy that was otherwise not an option because the old way of feeding– from a ‘dog bowl’ — was too easy for them!
There’s no rule that says your dog has to eat out of a dog bowl ever again. You can let him if you want to. Heck. He’s your dog! Do with him whatever you know will make him happy! Maybe he prefers things to stay as they are, to be predictable. But, maybe not! You’ll know it if he gets that spark in his eyes when it’s ‘Go Hunt!’ time. If that’s what happened, let your imagination go with the flow… Think Dog. Come up with other ways to let him use his nose… … … …
If you get stuck, consider signing up for my email newsletter for more ideas! Videos too! I promise I won’t send you more than one per month! But you can always check back in to see what I’ve added here!
Make it a great day for your dog!