You’ve worked your dog’s body but have you thought about his mind?
If not you need only too look at your dog’s behavior to see if mental stimulation will be the answer to your prayers.
- Is your dog anxious?
- Does he dig holes all over your yard?
- How about your furniture? Is that safe from him?
If not, chances are your dog is bored. There are ways to keep him as mentally fit as you are keeping him physically
- Know Your Breeds.
If you have a terrier that is barking and digging at everything well, that’s because that’s exactly what terrier’s do! Don’t be confused by the fact that your Lab is fetching every stick, ball or even small animals that pass through your yard. After all, they are retrievers.
Know your dog’s breed and their original intent and work with it, not against it. You might not have a herd for your herder, but you can run agility courses with him. And you don’t need to purchase anything.
- For a tunnel, you can place two chairs directly next to one another and cover it with a blanket.
- For a jump, secure a large stick or broom handle across two boxes or two chairs.
- Is your breed a hunter? If so, hide treats around the house or yard to activate his keen sense of smell.
Just keep in mind that you need to modify the heights and intensity of the challenge as your dog progresses
- Put Some Cash into It.
While it is not necessary, if you are willing to spend a little money there are things you can purchase to help your dog exercise his mind.
- Food cubes are great for motivated dogs. If you have a treat beggar, like I do, hide the treat in a food cube and watch your dog work to try and get it out. Remember this might take a while for him to figure out but once he does, he’ll love the cube!
- If you have a tug of war crazy, then you can buy what’s called a tug puzzle. Most come with a variety of options.
Remember to always supervise your dog when he performs these tasks to make sure he understands the concept and isn’t harmed in any way. Once you are sure he grasps the intent of the toy, you can relax a little bit but it’s important to be sure that he comprehends the concept before leaving him alone with it
- Class in session.
If you’d rather put your cash into a class, Flyball, Agility or Tracking are great ways to get your dog’s mind going
Remember that your dog needs the same mental stimulation that you do. The key to keeping your dog mentally fit is consistency. Keep a mentally stimulating toy ready for those times when you might be working on a project at home and don’t have the time to run an agility course with him. Make an appointment with your dog each week to mentally stimulate him outside of the house. It will do wonders for both of you. And while it might not solve all of your dog’s behavior issues, it will certainly reduce the number of bark-o-thon’s that occur!
