Have you noticed that your dog seems to be more unruly than ever? It is common to see him pacing the hallway, counter surfing and dropping toys at your feet. This is a common time of year that has people picking up the phone, to make that inevitable call to their trainer. It starts with the same lament, "my dog used to be so good, and recently all his training has gone out the window".
A common problem, but still one that will frustrate most dog owners. It is a simple answer. It is very likely not enough stimulation, physical or mental exercise, for your particular dog. That might be easier to hear if it is June and the sun was shining, but we are at the dawn of winter, and getting your pooch out for any type of walk, let alone one long enough to tucker him out, is difficult. One thing that I found helped was a whole new wardrobe. While I would have preferred my new wardrobe consist of stylish pumps and a cute little New Years outfit, the reality is my new wardrobe consisted of an entire suit of polar fleece. Yes, polar fleece leggings with fleece socks, covered with snow pants and topped off by an Eddie Bauer down filled jacket lined with, you guessed it…a polar fleece vest. Add to that a scarf, cap, mittens, a facemask and you get the picture.
That is fine for some people, but dressing for the winter and getting outside still has its drawbacks and it is still time to take a look at your dog’s activity levels. While it can be a dreaded task to get yourself and your dog ready for an outdoor walk, it can be great fun for the whole family to put your thinking caps on and devise a plan to wear Sparky out while enjoying the luxury of indoor heating.
First, let’s discuss quality vs. quantity when it comes to activity. Most people are still under the assumption that in order to tire out their family pet they have to race him around a park for hours, or toss the ball in a seemingly endless manner. This is far from the truth. Trying to tire out a dog physically can be a bottomless pit. There might be no end depending on the breed you share your home with. Border Collies are bred to work all day long. Yes, an 8-hour day is normal for the breed. In fact, often the more you race them around, the more energized they seem to become. They thrive on motion and will outlast even the most active families. It is with this in mind that we will need to look at alternate ways to mentally exercise your dog.
Teaching, and then practicing, a trick is one of the first activities that come to mind. It is great fun and can have multiple benefits. It doesn’t matter the actual trick you teach. Try paw, wave, spin and take a bow. You can get more advanced by chaining a number of behaviors together and soon your dog will understand how to pick up the kids toys or laundry and place them in the proper receptacle. A visit to the library should provide you a few books on the subject or better yet, find a dog training school that offers a trick training course.
If you think that tricks are not for you, you can practice all your obedience words around the house. You can put the leash on and go for a heeling lesson around the living room. Sound crazy? Not really. In fact, you will soon find out that having to maneuver around the coffee table will focus both you and your dog on the task at hand. One of my own dogs has his CDX, and a lot of his heeling was practiced this way. How about some sit/stays or recalls during every television commercial? This will give your dog something to think about, and while doing so should keep him out of mischief.
If you have a long hallway, perhaps a game of fetch will keep his interest. Try rolling the ball rather than tossing it. Keeping his mind active will help reduce the stress of not getting out to the park.
Other games include Hide and Seek. This is especially fun if you have children to share this game with. Hold your dog in one room and have your child hide in a designated hiding spot elsewhere in the house. Have the child call his dog and as you release him, tell him to “go and find Billy”. You can increase the fun by using different rooms. As your dog catches on to the game, have your child stop calling his name and just give the find command to your dog.
If you live by yourself, or as an alternative, you can teach your dog to “find it”. First, take a piece of cardboard and fold it in half, like a tent. Hold your dogs’ collar while you place a tasty treat under the tent. Guide your dog a few feet away and encourage him to find the treat. This should only take a few seconds. Start to increase the distance and then start to hide the tent in different areas of the house. The tent will draw his attention to the area of the treat. Your dog will have tons of fun hunting for his biscuit and it will certainly help to tire him out.
Using his favorite toy rather than a treat under the cardboard tent is a modification of this game. Soon you could be asking Sparky to go and find his bone or his ball by name. By teaching him to think while he plays, you will be mentally challenging him at the same time as giving him some fun playtime.
Agility is a great sport, and while many dog owners gaze in awe at the dogs on the TV who are racing around a course, it is something that you can also practice at home. Always putting safety first, you can do many agility exercises during the winter so you are ready to attempt the larger equipment when the warmer weather comes. Even if you take an agility course indoors for the winter, you can keep your dog in shape by doing some indoor practice.
Your staircase can be used instead of the A-frame. Teach your dog to come down the stairs and stop with his hind legs on the last step and his front legs on the floor. This will help to show him the motion needed to descend a frame or a dog-walk, and that it is important for him to stop at the bottom. Weave poles can be fashioned from some PVC tubes if you are handy or purchased by those of us who are not. Old coffee tables can be covered in non-slip rubber, legs cut to the correct height for your dog, and used as a pause box. There are many patterns for making low jumps to complete your course.
By keeping your dog active over these long months, you will decrease his stress and add to his mental well being. The benefits of that are many, including living with a dog that is not out to chew your rug or continue to pester you for attention. The bonus might be that you would become interested in a new sport, or a new trick, which could open up a whole new world for both of you. Have a fun winter!
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