1 Tip, 1 Idea, 1 Quote.
On not being able to walk
Dog Trainer Auckland
February 25, 2025
1 Tip - on life with your dog
What happens when you can't walk your dog due to an injury?
You add more cognitive enrichment by substituting physical exercise with mental and emotional engagement when walking is impossible.
Play 'Find it'.
Do treat searches.
Split and hide your dog's meals, get them to hunt them out.
Lay out toys and let them choose which they'd like to play with.
Learn some simple massage techniques for your dog.
Remember to stay in tune with them; let them be part of your recovery.
1 Idea - on the leading edge
How to play Find it.
'Find the Toy' Game: Show your dog a toy then hide it in a predictable location (under a couch cushion, behind a door) and encourage your dog to sniff it out. Praise them enthusiastically when they find it. This creates a positive association with searching and rewards them for trusting their nose.
' Find it Food' Game: Toss a treat and say 'Find it'. Repeat in lots of different locations. Praising when they find it develops a sense of achievement and builds excitement for the game.
Progress to asking for a 'Wait', then place food out of sight, and say 'Find it'; this is excellent for their confidence as they are searching and succeeding by themselves.
Progress slowly and build up the difficulty.
1 Quote - on dogs
Behaviour that is rewarded is repeated. B.F.Skinner
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