Very few dogs in urban and suburban environments get to perform the jobs for which they were bred and selected. Even in rural settings, there are only so many flocks of sheep and pheasants to go around. Also, sadly, most normal working dog activities are considered problematic or “abnormal” in the domestic environment.
For example, owners tend to frown when hounds bay and wander away on a spoor, when retrievers retrieve used paper tissues, when terriers dig, when Shepherds and Dobies bark at passersby, and when Jack Russells nip ankles. And poor Border Collies just can’t seem to do anything right. Chasing anything means remedial training, and at virtually any burst of perfectly normal Border Collie activity, owners scream for psychotropic drugs to numb the BC brain.
It’s a fact of life that all dogs require regular mental stimulation and physical exercise. Domestic dogs need domestic dog hobbies. We must encourage dogs to “work” on a regular basis by teaching them how to channel their doggy energy into appropriate and acceptable outlets. If not, in their endless quest for occupational therapy to pass the time of day, dogs will improvise and develop doggy hobbies, such as excessive barking, chewing, and chasing.
Frequent walks are essential. Nothing soothes a dog’s mind more than the opportunity to investigate the environment’s smorgasbord of smells, plus the opportunity to meet and greet other dogs and people. Visits to dog parks, training classes, and dog socials at home allow our canine companions to burn off excess energy and enjoy being alive.
Simply feeding all meals in hollow chew toys can improve a dog’s quality of life immensely. Eating now becomes a leisurely and goal-oriented activity rather than a fleeting experience that robs him of his raison d’etre. Give your dog a daily job by stuffing some Kongs and Squirrel Dudes with moistened and frozen kibble and then hiding them — perhaps one in the upstairs shower and one in the yard. Then let your dog hunt for his supper.
Interactive training games offer some of the best “jobs” for dogs in the home. Find & Fetch is a lot of fun, educational, and extremely useful for the human involved. “If you would like to go for a walk, find and fetch your leash. If you would like my undying gratitude, find and fetch my car keys, or the remote control.” Teaching discriminated retrieves is the easiest way to build a dog’s vocabulary.
Tug and Tag are two more of my favorite games. Tug o’ War provides a good physical workout for owner and dog. On occasion, let the dog win and then chase him. Dogs just loved being chased. Other times, ask the dog to sit and give you back the toy, then run away and let him chase you. This is one of the biggest rewards you can give any dog. Do insist on the rules, however, to make sure you’re not training in unwanted behaviors. Frequently ask the dog to sit to check that you are in control, and never allow him to make physical contact. Just one touch by the dog and “Game’s Over!”
Just yesterday, Dune and I were running all through the house — around the furniture, from room to room, upstairs and downstairs — first me chasing him, then vice versa. It was a blast for both of us. Come to think of it, though, I’m pretty sure I worked harder than he did.
Ian Dunbar is a veterinarian, canine behaviorist, and puppy training pioneer. He is the founder of SIRIUS® Puppy Training; Scientific Director forwww.dogstardaily.com; and author of several best-selling books and videos. For more information, visit www.siriuspup.com.
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