Enriching Your Dog's Life

Make your dog’s life more interesting & fulfilling and yours less frustrating

• Exercise

  • Walking

  • Hiking

  • Running

  • Biking

  • Urban Mushing

  • Swimming

• Freedom To Explore

• Toys, Toys, Toys & Play

• Scent Games

• Digging

Enriching your dog’s life is simply meeting your dog's needs and making their life interesting and fulfilling with things they enjoy. A dog needs; attention, social interaction, exercise, mental stimulation, food, water, and an owner that cares for the needs of his animal. Having a good relationship with your dog is the first step to enriching your dog’s life. Variety for many dogs is the second key to an enriching life. Dogs need to have the opportunity to exhibit natural behaviors such as running, digging, following scents and playing. Engage all of your dogs' senses, to make their days more interesting. Dogs that have a fulfilling life full of experiences to maintain their mental, physical, and emotional health are less likely to develop inappropriate behaviors that are the result of boredom, stress, and frustration. Dogs commonly display behaviors out of stress, anxiety, and frustration such as, barking, jumping, spinning, chewing, among others. Boredom and loneliness are sources of excessive stress for both dogs and cats. Long-term stress reduces the immune system's ability to fight disease so it is important that stressors are reduced for our animals. [1]

Exercise

Before starting any endurance or repetitive exercise with your dog take the following into consideration.

• Dog(s) Age

• Dog(s) Health & Fitness

• Surface Dog Will Walk/Run On

• Temperature

• Humidity

• Water (Hydration)

Puppies and young dogs need exercise but there is a big difference between natural running and play jumping and repetitive endurance exercises. Puppies and young dogs should not do any repetitive high impact endurance exercises like sustained running until their growth plates have closed. For puppy and young dog age related exercise guidance start here.

Exercise Programs for Obese Dogs

Many dogs are unprepared for intense endurance exercise for even short duration's making them susceptible to injuries. Injuries can go unrecognized for long periods of time. Very important you consider your dog’s fitness and weight prior to exercise. Always start with a vet check to make sure your dog is healthy AND physically capable to participate in the exercise. A vet check should include an evaluation your dog’s structure and gait for any weaknesses. Many dogs are willing to do anything we ask and often have a strong desire to participate, but we should be careful we are not asking them to do more then their body can comfortably do. Be careful that you are not breaking your dog's body down which can result in crippling arthritis as they age. "Your Athletic Dog" is an excellent book/DVD to understand how to condition your dog. A dog’s structure will affect their endurance and susceptibilities to injury. There are more than 25 structural issues that will affect endurance or performance. For guidance on identifying structural issues, Pat Hastings book is a great resource. Structure in Action: The Makings of a Durable Dog To reduce chance of injuries your dog will need recovery time after endurance exercises. Unless there is a medical reason that prohibits it, exercise is important for dogs.

Walking

Take your dog out daily for exercise and give them a chance to enjoy the outside world. Walks are great, but don’t turn them into a march or just a structured activity like heeling where the dog must be watching you. Stop sometimes and give your dog permission to use his nose to sniff those areas that are of interest to him as long as it is appropriate and safe.

Your dog should walk with you and not be pulling on the leash. Walking your dog should be something you are doing together and enjoying, and it should be relaxed. Its important to understand that humans and dogs move at differing gaits. Humans normally move at a walk, and dogs naturally move at a trot. A dog has several gaits when walking with us: walk, amble, pace, and trot. Dogs move most efficiently at a trot so this is their preferred gait. Dogs often times can learn to walk slower and still maintain a trot but this is something that likely will need to be trained. We can easily adjust our speed while walking by adjusting our stride or tempo but dogs basically change gears to adjust their speed. “Worse for our dogs, humans are not consistent movers unless they learn to be as a part of a team. It’s like driving behind someone in a automatic who slows just enough to make you downshift but you’re winding out at that lower gear but going too slow to upshift—and doing it every few steps!” [4]

“Most dogs are not able to change speed or turn very effectively when pacing, which is why it is considered an abnormal gait in dogs, particularly in performance/ working dogs. Dogs that routinely pace have either been inadvertently trained to gait this way by consistently walking on leash at speeds that are between their ideal walk and trot speeds, or they have a physical problem that prevents them from feeling comfortable at a trot.” [5]

”The trot “is considered the most natural gait for most breeds and is the gait that wild canids such as wolves and foxes use for traveling long distances in an energy‐efficient manner. Dogs that consistently amble or pace in preference to trotting should first be thoroughly examined to rule out injuries that may make it difficult for the dog to trot.” [5]

Be considerate to your dog and walk at a speed you both will enjoy.

Loose leash walking is different from “heeling”. Loose leash walking is just that; a dog that walks with, and next to you while not pulling, or putting tension in the leash. Basically enjoying a walk on a leash with you. To learn how to teach your dog to walk nicely on a leash go here: Teaching Loose Leash Walking

Loose Leash Walking: Easier with Horses Than Dogs?

Vary the route you take on your walk and go someplace new for a walk or find a dog friendly place to hike with your dog.

Hiking

Many dogs love getting out and taking a hike with you. They enjoying running the hills and taking in all the smells and exploring. Don’t have your dog off-leash if you do not have verbal control and its safe to do so. Be aware of potential hazards like snakes and foxtails certain times a year and avoid outings during those seasons.

Running (Canicross)

Some dogs enjoy running with their owners. Canicross is a hybrid sport combining elements of cross-country running and dog sled racing. Running with dogs like anything else we do has risks. Canicross dogs wear a proper harness and are attached to the runner’s waist via a bungee (shock line) type leash. There are several versions of waist belts. Skijor (w/ skis) type belts can have leg loops to keep the belt in place and wider padded straps for back support. Running belts come in several configurations. Some have quick releases for emergencies. One word of caution when attaching a dog to your waist you are now transferring that shock to your mid-section which could create issues for your back and neck. Another important thing to consider is releasing a dog from your waist if there is tension in the line will be exceptionally difficult in an urgent or potential emergency situation without a quick release on the belt. Many people have been hurt when pulled off their feet by dogs that are attached to their body or having the leash wrapped around their wrist for that matter. I generally consider waist leash products to be used for trained dogs where absorbing pulling and shocks are not so much an issue.

I am no runner, but I often attach a dog to my waist. When I’m working with dogs I use a Blackhawk CQB/Rigger's Belt and I keep a carabiner on the V ring so I have the option of securing the dog to my body. The carabiner permits me to attach any leash with a handle. For a secure quick release belt I would consider the Blackhawk CQB/Riggers’s belt with the “Cobra Buckle”.  When using a carabiner I only use a quality non-locking climbing carabiner. I usually use aluminum Asymmetric D shape carabiners. I would not trust an inexpensive utility carabiner when working with any dog.

Alpine Outfitters and Howling Dog Alaska makes quality gear. Alpine Outfitters makes a Skijor Belt and a Mushers belt. Howling Dog Alaska makes a Trekking and Caniski belts. They also make a strong nylon waist line/leash with a bungee shock line and brass snaps. I use one for urban mushing sometimes. It is a 6’ leash with a quality 18” bungee incorporated into the tube webbing.  

Want to Run a Fast 5K? Let Your Dog Pull You to Greatness

Harnesses 

A harness should permit the dog’s legs to have full range of motion. Do not use any type of “no-pull” harnesses. (They are not recommended even for walking) Select a properly designed “Y” harness. The “Y” harness has “straps that fit tightly around each side of the dog’s neck, almost like a collar, and meet a third strap that runs under the dog's chest. The girth strap should be fitted about 2” behind the front legs so it’s not pushing into the elbows.  For guidance on selecting and fitting a harness start here. Alpine Outfitters Urban Trail Harness is padded and its my favorite harness for all activities. Howling Dog’s Distance Harness is another good choice.

Biking

Biking can be a fun activity for dogs. I don’t recommend trying to hold a leash or attaching a leash to the handle bars. That is a recipe for disaster. Of all the products available I like the Springer and the Bike Tow Leash for stability. The Springer is designed to separate in an emergency (dog runs the other side of a pole) with the patented safety release. The Bike Tow Leash is designed to stay attached to your dog without an emergency release. I would only attach a dog to a bike with a harness and never a collar.

“Ideally, you would ride on dirt roads, forest pathways, and other soft surfaces. Or, if you have paved bike paths with grassy shoulders available, you can ride on the hard surface, with your dog running beside you on the grassy area.” Springer FAQ

Urban Mushing

Urban Mushing is a fun dog-powered activity many dogs enjoy. Urban Mushing gives dogs a controlled exercise through various “mushing” type of of activities like scootering, carting, bikejoring, on dry land. But understand its not as easy as it looks. Many people will use a two-wheel scooter for urban mushing, but for stability I use a 4-wheel scooter. Only use a proper harness when urban mushing. Here are a few links for more information.

Dryland Dogs, LLC

Urban Mushing facebook group

Urban Mushing

Swimming

Some dogs love to swim but be sure to supervise the activity like you would with children. Sometimes just a small plastic pool with a few inches of water can be a fun and enjoyable way to cool off for some dogs. While most dogs will instinctively make a paddling motion in water only some dogs are natural swimmers, others can be taught to swim, and still others are not built for swimming. “Dogs that aren’t designed for swimming include “top heavy” breeds – those with large chests and small hindquarters. Short muzzled dogs, including the brachycephalic breeds, and dogs with very short legs also don’t do well in water.” Some dogs belonging to breed groups known to be good swimmers and natural water dogs can have structural deficiencies that make swimming difficult so the may avoid anything to do with water. Go here for guidance on swimming and water safety.

Freedom to Explore

For many dogs just the chance to freely explore a new area off leash is a great reward as long as it is safe to do so.

Scents

Dogs enjoy exploring the world with their noses and understanding on average a dog has about 220 million scent receptors and we humans have about 5 million it is easy to understand why. We go through life primarily using our eyes but they primarily use their nose to explore the world. When dogs are out and about they don’t need to be told to slow down and smell the roses. 

There are nose work classes for dogs and their owners to develop your dog’s natural scenting abilities while at the same time being fun. These structured scent work classes are a great way to bond with your dog, while at the same time providing mental stimulation, burning physical energy, and building confidence in dogs.    

At home you can engage your dog’s nose by turning this activity into a game of hide and seek with treats or toys both inside and outside the house in the yard. You just need to figure out what your dog will be determined to find, since that is what determines whether it is a treat. If you use food treats they don’t have to be large. One piece of small kibble at each hiding place can be sufficient for many dogs. Treats can be hidden anywhere safe for the dog to explore; on a chair rail, on the ground under a chair, under, in or on a box, under a bush, tree, toy, etc… if you don’t want to place the treat directly on a surface, place it on a natural unbleached coffee filter paper when you hide it. While your dog is watching, pretend to place a treat in several places. After placing the treat continue to pretend to hide treats. Your dog will likely search the last place that it appeared you hid a treat. Then they will usually start to search the other areas looking for it. You can also place the treat in the center of a piece of paper that you crumble up and toss it for the dog to fetch or just hide it. Many dogs enjoy the act of tearing up the paper to get to the treat.

Social opportunities

Some dogs are home-bodies, and others enjoy taking field trips with you. If your dog is well-mannered take them with you when you run errands to dog friendly places where they are permitted to enter but always check ahead of time. Some places that are often friendly to well-behaved dogs are; hardware store, pet store, and some outdoor shopping centers, and restaurant and coffee houses with outside patios often gladly welcome dogs.  

Toys, Toys, Toys & Play

• Chew Toys

• Toys for Play

• Toys to Entertain

Play with your dog! Every dog should learn how to fetch and enjoy doing it with you if only for a couple of minutes. Some will naturally love to do this for hours, while others it will hold their interest for maybe 5-minutes. The key is that they enjoy the game with you.

Young puppies should have toys to investigate and play with and have other novel items to explore. Toys can be as important to a dog’s development as they are for children. Toys can do more than keep pets entertained and occupied. They can assist dogs with their social and emotional development. Puppies gain more confidence exploring and interacting with new toys and novel items.  Anything the dog considers fun can be a toy as long as it is safe and large enough that it cannot be swallowed, destroyed, or ingested. Toys should be rotated every other day so that the puppies have something new to explore and interact with. This also assists in keeping them from getting bored with the items.

Variety is important to many dogs so leave a number of safe toys out for your dog each day to play with and chew on, but rotate the toys daily so they do not become bored with them. If they have a favorite by all means leave it out for them every day if they are not getting bored with it.

Games with toys helps strengthen social bonds, and exercise both minds and bodies. So don’t just give your dog toys, but also take time to play with your puppy and your adult dog. The toys themselves have no magic. You need to be fun and make games with a toy fun for your puppy or adult dog.

Your dog should have a set of toys that have access to all the time to entertain themselves with and to put their teeth on, and another set of special toys that they only get when you are playing with them.  A third set of toys should be treat dispensing interactive toys to provide your dog a treat, and / or a challenge and mental stimulation. Dog Toys

Treat dispensing Interactive Toys

Interactive treat dispensing toys are a great way to stimulate and engage all your dog’s senses. There are all types of treat dispensing toys available for dog owners but choose those items that are sturdy, well made, and relatively easy to clean. There are two types; dry kibble treat dispensing, and products that can be used to stuff and/or freeze treats inside. The rubber Kong was probably the first popular dog toy people stuffed with differing foods treats to keep dogs entertained. Kong’s can be used with just dry kibble, or a small amount of peanut butter (be sure there is no Xylitol. best if only peanuts and maybe salt), yogurt, can pumpkin, or similar paste or spread type of moist food. The Kong is a longtime favorite for many dogs but some dogs’ loose interest quickly because the treats inside can be difficult to get at. When using treat dispensing toys remember to adjust your dog’s regular meal time food allotment so they don’t become overweight. Dog Treats We Like to use with our favorites dog toys below.

Ice Treats

Freeze a piece of American sourced and made dog jerky or other treats in a large plastic cup with water and a 1/4 cup of chicken/beef broth. (Take the ice block out of the cup first! Rinse the cup with water to loosen)

Paper Towel Roll Treat

Use a paper towel roll and place treats, a special kibble, and/or a piece of dog jerky inside and hide for your dog. Place about a tablespoon of kibble, and a piece of jerky or other treat your dog loves.

SCENT GAMES – Educating Your Dog’s Nose

Digging

Give your dog an authorized place to dig, a digging pit. Build a sand box or get a plastic pool and fill with a safe children’s sand and teach your dog to dig in this designated spot to find special treats. Teasingly show your dog a favorite or new toy and bury it in the sand box and encourage them to find it. Rotate the toys hid each day so it is always a new adventure. Cover the digging pit each evening when it is not in use to keep it clean.

Dogs Left Unattended

Since most people can’t spend all their time with their dogs’, it is important to leave behind a tired dog that is ready to rest while we are away. Unless there is a medical reason that prohibits it, exercise your dog before leaving them behind. It’s important we start with lots of exercise so when we leave a dog alone/separated they are ready to rest and are thankful for the quite time. A dog that is well-exercised and has had all its needs met can learn to appreciate the solitude of being left alone which is vastly different from forced isolation. Take your dog out daily for exercise and give them a chance to enjoy the outside world. Walks are great, but don’t turn them into a march or just a structured activity like heeling. Make walks enjoyable by giving your dog opportunities (and permission) to explore and use his/her nose to sniff those areas that are of interest to him/her as long as it is appropriate and safe. Vary the route you take on your walk and go someplace new for a walk.

A large yard is no substitute for walking or exercising your dog. Even if your dog has 40-acres to run, most will spend the vast majority of the time waiting near the back door for someone to come out or to be let in. Play with your dog! Every dog should learn how to fetch and enjoy doing it with you if only for a couple of minutes. Some will naturally love to do this for hours, while others it will hold their interest for just a couple minutes. The key is that they enjoy the game with you.

More Activities To Do With Your Dog

Click on any link below from the DogPlay.com website for additional activities to do with your dog.

• Agility - in, out, over and through this sport is all about working as a team

• Animal Assisted Activities and Animal Assisted Therapy - the warm head of a friendly pet can soothe a lonely heart

• Bikejoring - some dogs love to run. Adding the responsibility of teamwork adds to the fun.

• Canicross - dog powered running for those who want to share their running goals with their best friend

• Carting - channel the desire to pull into harness work that lets the dog feel useful and skilled

• Coursing and racing - root instinct drives the joy of running with purpose in coursing and racing

• Day trips and vacations - the dogs need not be left behind, bring them along for even more fun

• Disc Dog or Flying Disc - if there was ever meaning to jump for joy this is it, jumping with achievement

• Dock Jumping or Dock Diving - dogs who excel in this sport are love to show they can do it further and better

• Dog Camps - Activity Sampler - too many choices? take a vacation with your dog and sample a variety

• Dog Scootering - some dogs love to run. Adding the responsibility of teamwork adds to the fun.

• Earthdog Trials - instinct, drive, and flying dirt - what more could an earthdog want

• Flyball - excitement, speed, and focus, a sport for dogs driven to do it faster

• Flygility - racing and teamwork to build confidence and a sense of belonging

• Herding - it's all about the dog's instinct and desire to control and direct movement for the pack leader

• Hiking, Backpacking and Dog Walks - sharing our quiet moments, our contemplations is the essence of being a pack

• Hunt and Field Trials - working as a team is what drives these dogs

• Mushing - for dogs who love to pull and people who want to let them

• Musical Freestyle - the ultimate in teamwork is working with rhythm and coordination

• Performance Art (Tricks) - curiosity and a willingness to try new things makes this fun

• Pet Facilitated Therapy - for the dog who loves attention what better way to get it than visiting people in need

• Precision Drill Teams - the excitement of success, of meeting a challenge and being a part of the team

• Pulling - great for dogs who love to pull, and people who want to let them

• Racing - for the dogs who love not just running but being faster than the next one

• Rally Obedience - more focus on teamwork, less focus on precision, fun and relaxed for human and dog

• Ring Sport - a sport that says "I can be a contributing member of the family" Some dogs thrive on responsibility

• Rollerblade - a fun way for dogs and humans to share exercise and fresh air

• Schutzhund - tracking, obedience, protection, schutzhund is all about what a well rounded dog is all about

• Search and Rescue - for some making a difference is important, that includes dogs, they know it matters

• Skijoring

• Sledding

• Sniffer Dog

• Stock Dog Trials

• Tracking

• Water Work

• Weight Pulling

Conclusion

Learn what your dog places on his best things in life list. Dogs that have their mental, physical, and emotional health needs meet are less likely to develop the inappropriate behaviors. Excessive stress can leave dogs susceptible to depression, frustration, dietary disturbances, and even compromise their immune system. Long-term stress reduces the immune system's ability to fight disease so it is important that stressors are reduced for the dogs. (It is the same for humans)

Variety is the key to an enriching life for your dog. Engage all five of your dogs' senses, to make their days more interesting. Anything that is unchanging is no longer unique and loses it value quickly. Download the Buyer's Guide.

Play with your dog, walk your dog and change your walk each time even if it’s only going the opposite direction. If you have trained your dog well you should be able to let your dog be a dog while still maintaining control. A fulfilled dog, is a happy dog. Make your dogs life more interesting and stimulating.

Digging

Chewing & Destructive Behavior

Barking

OUTSIDE DOGS

Barking at Noises/Sounds

Barking at People - Reactive Barking

Bark Collars

Canine and Feline Nutrition Third Edition Linda P. Case, MS

[1] The New Holistic Way for Dogs and CatsPaul McCutcheon, DVM and Susan Weinstein

[4] Loose Leash Walking: Easier with Horses Than Dogs?

[5] Chris Zink; Janet B. Van Dyke. Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Wiley. 2

Find information on any (almost) topic or for specific products.

start your search here: “Search”

e.g. ants, behavior problems, collars, dog food, fleas, harnesses, health, housetraining, marking, medical, separation anxiety, socialization, ticks, toys, vaccinations, whistles, yellow spots on lawn, etc.. (You get the idea) 

Answers To Questions You Never Thought of Asking

Search the INDEX