PETS & WILDLIFE
Entertain Your Dog Indoors Our new series of training tips from 2019 Portugal's best obedience school, the certified dog training centre Iron Dog Algarve.
Toys to hide food and intelligence games
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Want to keep your dog mentally and physically stimulated during the isolation period? There are plenty of fun activities to play with your dog. Here are some of them. It is impressive how quickly lifestyles can change. Since the arrival of COVID-19 in March 2020 we had to change our routines, the way we relate with others, how we work, dress and shop and create a whole new world inside our homes. Unexpectedly, even our dogs routines have changed. All of a sudden, they have their owners' attention and company 24/7, and everyone wanting to walk them more than ever, in order to get a little bit of fresh air, sunlight and check on how spring is spreading on the outside after weeks of confinement. This is also a great opportunity to spend some quality time with our four-legged friends and provide them new stimulating activities that will reinforce your bond. We thought about seven fun activities that will keep your dog entertained, channelling all of his energy, focus, and excitement to work with you. + INFO: www.irondog.pt www.facebook.com/irondogalgarve
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HIDE TOYS / FOOD AND MAKE HIM SEARCH You will need two people to perform this exercise. Use his normal kibble food or a different smelly reward. First, put it in a place where the dog can see it and say the command ‘search’. Let him go for the food. Then, progressively, move it farther away until finally, you hide it out of its sight. Alternatively, you can use a pile of empty carton boxes and make them search inbetween them to find his food or toy. This is a fun game and will make your dog work naturally with his nose.
CATCHING THE BALL AND BRINGING IT BACK If you were never successful teaching this to your dog then try this trick. Throw the ball to a short distance, call your dog back and immediately open your hand rewarding him with a piece of sausage on it (or another extremely delightful appetizer). In summary, exchange fetching the ball and bringing it back for the reward. Only reward when he picks the ball and brings it back. Food only comes as a consequence of picking the ball up and bringing it back to you.
THUGS If you have problems with a young dog biting you or household items, a thug might help you redirecting his energy. Preferably, you should have two identical thugs and they should have two handles on both ends. Make your dog bite in one of them, play with it and let him win (take the thug away). Then tell him the command 'out' at the same time you wave the second thug. This is how you start to teach him to ‘drop’ anything he’s holding in his mouth. When exchanging one thug for the other you are teaching the dog the important command ‘out’.
