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Winter Blues: Indoor Activities for Dogs By Angela Meglio
When it comes to Winter in the Berkshires, we often face temperatures in the single digits, snowstorms and our evenings getting dark around 4pm. This proves to be a challenge for Dog owners who typically utilize the ample outdoors surrounding us to entertain their canine companions. In this article I will highlight two of my favorite indoor activities that you can do with your dog to keep the winter blues away. Puzzle Toys Every dog has a biological need for food, which makes using food during training and enrichment even more rewarding for them. Packing a puzzle toy full of their favorite treats or one of their meals will provide a lasting activity guaranteed to capture your dogs’ interest. Puzzle toys are also excellent for visually impaired dogs, as they rely heavily on your dog's sense of smell. If you plan to use treats, I recommend purchasing small, smelly treats that are about the size of a pencil eraser. These treats should be limited ingredient and consist of the same protein that your dog typically eats in their everyday meals (this will reduce stomach upset). Peanut Butter and cheese can also be used, but in moderation as they are very high calorie and high fat. There are a wide variety of puzzle toys available for purchase and I recommend looking at multiple types to find what will best suit your dog. Simple puzzles such as “Snuffle Mats”, Kongs and Slow Feeders are an excellent choice for visually impaired dogs or dogs that have never used a puzzle toy before. For more advanced dogs, puzzle toys by Nina Ottoson, Outward Hound, Trixie, Ethical Pet, Petsafe and IDig are all options available. Most of these puzzles are made of either plastic or wood and contain shifting pieces and compartments that your dog must move in order to find hidden treats. Please keep in mind your dogs’ size, as you want to make sure that the puzzle pieces aren’t a choking hazard or that your dog will be able to destroy the puzzle. Once you load up the puzzle toy of your choice with food or treats, place the puzzle on the floor and directly supervise your dog while they are using it. If your dog is having a tough time with the puzzle, move a few of the pieces so that way the treats are readily available and encourage your dog to engage with the toy. Be sure to wash the toy with soap and water after each use to prevent buildup of bacteria. Trick Training “Trick Training” is a form of training that teaches dogs behaviors that can be used in performance roles for film and television. While it is often thought that this sort of training is unnecessary, many of the behaviors taught during trick training classes can have real world applications. Trick training is also mentally and physically enriching for your dog and helps build the relationship and level of communication between dog and handler. There are a few options for those who are interested in Trick Training: 1) Check out the AKC Trick Dog Website, www.akc.org/sports/trick-dog/ 2) Purchase the book Do More with Your Dog by Kyra Sundance 3) Sign up for classes with a Certified Dog Trainer in your area At a glance, some of the behaviors your dog could learn include: Going to their “Place/Mark”, Touching their nose or paw to a target stick, Ringing a Bell, Fetching, Carrying objects, Jumping through a Hoop, Roll Over, High Five, Going through a Tunnel, Army Crawl. The possibilities are endless! I personally enjoy Trick Training and use it with my Dog Training clients for the very reasons I stated above. I have found that dogs genuinely enjoy the creative and fun aspect of this form of training, with the proof being they are always engaged with me during the process. If you are interested in Trick Training, I would be more than happy to help and get you and your dog started! About Angela Meglio CPDT-KA Angela is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer- Knowledge Assessed, with over 13 years of experience working professionally with animals. She is also a Fear Free® Certified Animal Trainer, Low Stress Handling Silver Certified Trainer, AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and Trainer, IBPSA Basic Canine Specialist and Pet CPR and First Aid Certified through Pet Emergency Education. Angela is currently studying towards her BS in Animal Health and Behavior through Unity College. www.angelameglio.com and her instagram @angelamegliodogtraining