A tired dog is a happy dog. A tired dog is a good dog. A tired dog is not as hard to come by as people may think! Below are a few activities to help you keep your pup mentally stimulated and physically satisfied by enriching their lives with outlets for the natural habits that make your pup, well... a pup!
Dig Box
Build your pup a Dig Box to give them a clean, safe, non-destructive outlet for their desire to dig! Select a large, shallow box. Cardboard works well but won’t last forever. Plastic underbed shoe storage boxes seem to be a good, more durable option, with the added benefit of a lid to snap on when you don’t want your pup to dig. Fill the box with old t-shirts, retired kitchen rags, pieces of blankets, scrap fabric, the carcases of stuffed toys and anything else soft you can recycle. In and amongst the “dirt,” hide smelly training treats, bully sticks, tennis balls, a few handfuls of kibble or even a stuffed kong. Your pup will love their new Dig Box, and your yard will look better too!
Barkour!
Do some “urban agility” with your dog by making your daily walk an obstacle course! With a handful of yummy treats, encourage your dog to crawl “under!” a park bench, jump “on!” a boulder, or “over!” a fallen branch. Not only will this burn more energy than a regular walk, but you will be encouraging good listening skills and strengthening your bond with your pup! Additionally, challenging your pup to tackle obstacles that may seem scary (like metal grating on the sidewalk or a small creek on a hike) will help your pup trust your judgment and build bravery in skittish dogs!
Give your dog a bedtime story
We all enjoy curling up in our bed with something to read at the end of the day. Help your pup settle into bed peacefully by giving him a “book to read” at night. Select a snuggly toy or blanket for your pup and over the course of a day (or more!) change its location. Ideas include your dirty laundry hamper, the kitchen while you cook dinner, your desk at work, the backseat of your car, the patio, on a breezy day. The toy will collect scents throughout the day that your pup will enjoy sniffing and snuffling at bedtime. With over 22,000,000 olfactory receptors, a dog’s sense of smell a huge part of your dog’s life experience, and we often do very little to stimulate it. Getting a chance to decipher and contemplate all of the scents the toy has collected will leave your dog feeling more satisfied, and the routine can become a bedtime ritual that will keep your pup engaged on safe, non-destructive activities.
Enroll your pup in a training class
Not all dog training courses are alike! A dog training class can provide your dog mental stimulation, improve your communication, and benefits young and old dogs alike. Consider enrolling your dog in an obedience course, a leash etiquette class, or a bond-building class or job discovery class--such as agility or nose work. Positive reinforcement training cultivates a relationship of love, respect, trust, clear communication, and an eagerness to please. Your pup will be grateful for the time you set aside during class to spend with them, strengthen your bond and making their tail wag. Furthermore, dog training classes give your dog an excellent social outlet in a controlled environment.
