Home-body Dog Training

Diana Jordan's girl "Sophie" 

     I met a very nice woman the other day.  I was walking a student's therapy dog to practice for her upcoming re-certification.  The lady I spoke with had two Golden Retrievers at home.  She was quite surprised to learn how young Sophie was, and very impressed at how calm and gentle the greetings were.  I was proud to tell her that Diana worked with Sophie consistently since she first took her in to her home, and brought her with her everywhere she could.

     The nice lady looked sad as she explained that she simply did not have the time to work with her dogs.  She felt guilty that she saw they had so much energy, and she felt incapable of doing much to fix it.  My reply was to explain that high energy can mean a healthy dog,  and there is no need to travel every day with your dog if your schedule (or your energy level) will not allow.  You can challenge your dog mentally at home to help burn off some of the energy.  I told her I have a young German Shepherd who has oodles of energy, and am mostly a "Home-body" myself.  I have written in detail about one game I like to play with my dogs in a previous post, click HERE to read it.  But there are tons of things you can do with your dog to help wear them out.

     Here are a few things that you can do with your dog at home, for those rainy days, or when you just don't feel like getting in the car.

     1. Get a puzzle-type game.  There are tons of great interactive toys available that can be shipped to your front door!  Some are fairly simple- the dog must roll around an irregularly shaped object to dispense treats (I use regular dog food from their meal though).  Others are complex- boards that must be manipulated or shifted to earn a reward.  Heck, I even found 2 neat dog puzzles at a drug store once!  Some are plastic, some are rubber, some are wood.  The ones I found were in the $10-$20 range, and have lasted literally for years!  Just remember: these are INTERACTIVE toys! You need to be there to ensure they don't become expensive chew items!
   

Brain teaser toy by Nina Ottosson

Here are some links:
     Nina Ottosson treat maze (this brilliant designer has lots to choose from!)
     "Babble Ball" (does not use food/treats, just funny noises)
     "Everlasting Fun Ball" (holds treats/food)
   
     I listed a few of the more affordable options here, just search "Interactive dog toys" and you will find dozens of sites with hundreds of toys!

     2. Hide Something: Do you have a dog that you swear can find a speck of cheese you dropped two days ago in the kitchen?  Prove it!(- although not necessarily with the old cheese please)  Let them use that sniffer, in a way that you get to choose.  Pick an object that your dog is allowed to put in their mouth.  (It can be one of their toys, or a completely new object.  Just be sure it is dog-safe!)  To teach your dog the game, have a reward ready!  When you put the object down, your dog will most likely sniff it. As soon as the dog touches it (nose or paw, doesn't matter)- praise and give them a treat!  Next, move the object a bit farther away (6-10 feet).  You can toss it, or have your dog sit and wait, but stay with in sight!  As your dog races forward to find the object, tell them "Find it!"  When your dog touches it, praise and treat again!  After a few repetitions, if your dog is moving confidently to the object and looking expectantly for the reward start hiding the object out of sight.  Eventually, you can expand the distance to make them have to sniff and search the entire house!

     3. Stair Master: One of my personal favorites!  I think this trick helped me survive my first dog's puppyhood energy.  Take a favorite toy that your dog likes to chase and chuck it down the stairs.  When your dog brings it back, do it again. Yup, it's fetch for those of us without a fenced in yard, with extra cardio to boot!  I sat in a comfy chair sipping hot cocoa and surfing the web, and my boy Brutus ran his fanny off.  Bliss.

     These are just the first three things that popped in my head! Please feel free to give me some feedback, and share the ideas that you use at home!

     Happy Training!

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