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KEEPING KITTIES AND CANINES ENTERTAINED
DURING CONFINEMENT WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS
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tudies show that walking with your dog every day brings fantastic health benefits, yet this pleasure, enjoyed by so many on Marbella’s most magnificent esplanades is, for now, the stuff dreams are made of. While we are still allowed to venture outside the front door with Fifi, our walks are supposed to be short and purposedriven. In a way, confinement is easier for human beings because we have many resources at hand – sound systems, streaming services, and the like. If your pet is a bit down in the dumps because they miss their daily exercise, bring back the spark with these top actvities.
GAMES FOR DOGS
Train your dog to ‘find the treat’ hidden beneath one of three cups. Stick a small treat under one cup, shuffle them around, and see if they ‘paw’ at the right cup. Other games include ‘hide and seek’ (they love this one). Ask a family member
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to hold your pet, find a good hiding place and say their name once. Watch them go crazy trying to find you! If you have a garden, fill ice cubes with doggy treats or small pieces of food. Watch Fido lick away until the ice melts and he can finally gobble the treat.
TRAINING TIPS FOR DOGS
Fido, too, can do his share to keep your house clean. Train him to collect his toys and keep them in a special box at the end of the day and also how to identify different toys by asking him to “pick up Mr. Octopus,” giving him a treat if he chooses the right toy.
