I wanted to take a minute and check in and reach out. How are you doing?
Just about every single person out there is touched by what's happening. I too, sat in my anxiety and stress for a little while. You know what brought me out of it? YOU.
I carved out this little corner of the internet to help dog parents and new puppy parents have an amazing life with their dog. That's exactly what I'm going to continue to do even through this incredibly rough time.
I 100% believe that stress management is just as important as washing your hands right now. Conveniently enough, we all have little stress relievers running around our house.
Over the past few days I've been posting an activity a day to do with your dog. I encourage you to turn off your phone, turn off the news and just take an hour and play with your dog. Keep yourself entertained, keep the kids entertained, and have a little extra playtime guilt free!!
In this episode, I talk about a few of the activities that I've already posted (on Facebook and Instagram). Below are the videos and all links to the resources I talk about. I'll be keeping this page updated so check back!
I hope this finds you safe and healthy. Give your pups a belly rub from me as we all get through this together!
Links and resources:
YNP #042: 10 Ways to Play With Your Dog
YNP #018: Ditch the Bowl and Make Mealtime an Event
YNP #004: 3 Things You Can Do Now to Teach Your Dog to Come Every Time You Call
Activity 01: Puppy Soccer
What you’ll need:
✔1 or more humans (you'll take turns)
✔Your dog
✔Your dog’s dinner (or dry treats, or peas, or anything that will roll across the floor)
✔A tiled or wood floor (no carpet)
To Play:
Step 01. Show your puppy the food or treat. Let them sniff it and get them excited about it.
Step 02: Roll across the floor.
Step 03: Once they catch it, call them back to you.
Step 04: Repeat!
Tips:
✔Start with short distances while your dog is learning.
✔Make sure the dog sees you roll the food.
✔Great for young kids and adults!
✔Feed your dog dinner and get some exercise and bonding time as well!!
Activity 02: Scavenger Hunt
What you’ll need:
✔1 or more humans
✔Your dog
✔Your dog’s dinner and smelly treats
To Play:
1. Keep your dog in a separate room as you hide portions of their dinner mixed with the treats.
2. Put a few pieces in plain sight to get them started.
3. Bring your dog in and let them sniff and hunt!
Tips:
✔Start with super smelly treats (liver treats work) while they are learning the game then you can switch to their food only once they get the hang of it.
✔Start with super easy places (where he can see it as well as smell it) until your dog gets the hang of it then up the challenge.
✔Puppies are still developing their ability to sniff out food so make it super easy for them.
✔Don’t hide it where your dog has to break a house rule to find it (in the couch or on a shelf). This is great nose work, tires out their brain and fills the tummy!
Activity 03: Rover Round Robin
What you need:
✔2 or more humans
✔Your dog
✔Treats, toys, and a silly attitude
To Play:
1. Stand a few feet apart.
2. Take turns and call you dog to you.
3. When your dog reaches you, shower him with praise, give him treats, and/or play a game of tug.
Tips:
✔Start close together while you and your pup are learning. Add distance once your dog learns the game.
✔When it’s your turn to call your dog, throw a party! Get excited, tap on the floor, whatever you need to do to get your dog to come (hint dogs LOVE playfulness!).
✔If it is not your turn, stay boring and ignore your dog.
Activity 04 and 05: Take a Walk and Teach Something New
No video but I do have a two options.
Option 01: Go for a walk!!
Getting out with some fresh air with your dog and the people you are living with is still social distancing. Just don’t go up and hug your neighbors (if you have only seen the same 3 faces for the past week this might be tempting).
Maybe that’s not possible for you. If you live in an urban area where a even a walk is hard. So..
Option 02: Teach your dog something new.
Something completely useless and purely for fun.
If your dog already knows sit, teach him paw or high five. If you dog already knows down, teach him roll over. If he knows all of these (or none of these), teach him to spin in a circle, or weave between your legs. The possibilities are endless and only limited by your imagination.
Tricks are not my specialty so I don’t have great videos for you but I guarantee you can find one on Google or YouTube. Heck, make one yourself!!
Activity 06: You Make It, Your Dog Plays With It.
Today’s activity is all about you getting creative!
Make a new dog toy!!
I’m not talking about the one that is shoved in the back of the closet or the one you are about to order online (sorry @chewy).
Today, we are going to DIY-it. You make it. Your dog gets to play with it!
Here are just a few examples:
⚒Make a braided rope toy from old t-shirts or denim.
⚒Use a Tupperware container, fill with water and freeze to make a huge ice cube to play with outside. Freeze a toy or treats inside to add more fun.
⚒Put a water bottle in an old sock.
⚒Wrap a water bottle or tennis ball with a t-shirt or towel.
⚒Tie a towel in knots for a new tug toy.
⚒Drill holes in a foot long PVC pipe put treats in and cap the ends for a treat dispenser.
Activity 07: Fetch
An oldie but a goodie!
If your dog already knows how to play fetch, skip to the bottom where I give you ideas to change it up. For those of you that haven’t taught your dog yet, here are the first steps!
What you’ll need:
✔1 human
✔Your dog
✔A toy (traditionally a ball)
To Play:
1. Get your dog excited about the ball.
2. Roll the ball for a very short distance (I’m talking inches).
3. If they bring it back throw a party and reward!!
4. Roll/throw for longer distances.
Tips:
✔Start in a small room or area so your dog and the ball don’t have far to go and there are minimal distractions.
✔If your dog doesn’t bring the ball back, don’t worry just try again and roll for a shorter distance.
✔Stay super excited and playful. This will encourage your dog to stay engaged with you and the game.
✔Different dogs respond differently to rewards (tug, praise, throwing the ball, etc) find the ones that both encourages him to get the ball AND bring it back to you.
Does your dog already know Fetch?
✔Use a Chuck it or a tennis racket to send the ball further.
✔Use an odd-shaped ball or toy so its bounce is unpredictable.
✔Switch to a Frisbee.
✔Add a game of tug between throws to up the exercise.
Activity 08 and 09: Go for a Car Ride and/or Play Hide and Seek!
Option 01: Car ride
A simple ride in the car can be a great adventure for your dog. You don’t even have to have a destination. Just take a drive, open the window, and enjoy the view.
It’s a way to get out of the house while still social distancing (and avoiding the paper product aisle at the food store). If you feel silly not going anywhere, drive to a new neighborhood and take a walk. The new sights and smells will be great for both you and your dog!
I know that not everyone has access to a car. Maybe you live in a big city. Or maybe your dog gets car sick and hates the car. Well, then that would defeat the whole purpose of a fun activity with your dog.
So…
Option 02: Hide and Seek
Activity 03 was Rover Round Robin. Hide and Seek is an advanced version of that game. If you haven’t tried Rover Round Robin I recommend you scroll up and check that one out first.
If your dog is an old pro then it’s time to up the challenge. Each member of the family can hide in different rooms or the closet or behind the couch… you get the idea (make it easy for your dog at first). Then take turns calling the dog (it helps to decide the order first) and let him search and find you. When they do give him treats, reward, play, then the next person goes.
Activity 10: Water Fun!!
You may have wait for warmer weather for today’s activity but I couldn’t skip it because it’s one of my favorites!!
Some dogs have an innate LOVE of water. If your dog has ever tried to take a swim in their water bowl you know what I’m talking about (yeah I’m talking to you spaniel and lab owners). This can also be part of your puppy’s socialization.
Note: Their bath is different than water time. I know a lot of dogs that LOVE water but hate baths. Kinda like you have to fight a child into a bath but can't get them out of a pool.
My favorite way to introduce a dog to water is to get a baby pool, fill with a couple inches of water and then throw their favorite ball or toy in there. See what they do.
Some dogs will love to splash around in a baby pool, some with chase the hose, yet others will just stand there and look at you like “you’re crazy human, I just washed my hair.”
Just like with anything, introduce them slowly and let them investigate. This is something that if they aren’t interested in then don’t force them. Some just don’t like it. Some need just a little encouragement and then they love it.
Activity 11: Puppy Boomerang
If you haven’t played Puppy Soccer yet I recommend you Scroll up to Activity 01 and watch that one first.
Puppy Soccer doesn't have many rules and is just a fun game to get your dog running around after his dinner. Now we are going to make sure that our puppy comes all the way back to us every time a single piece of kibble is thrown. That’s why it's called Puppy Boomerang!
What you’ll need:
✔1 or more humans (you'll take turns)
✔Your dog
✔Your dog’s dinner (or dry treats, or peas, or anything that will roll across the floor)
✔A higher-valued treat (optional)
✔A tiled or wood floor (no carpet)
To Play:
1. Show your puppy the food or treat. Let them sniff it and get them excited about it.
2. Only roll a single kibble or treat across the floor at a time.
3. Once they get it, right before they turn to come back to you say in a happy playful voice “{name}, Come” just once.
4. When they get all the way back to you give them another treat (no need to ask for a sit, coming back to you is what we’re rewarding).
5. Repeat!
Tips:
✔Play Puppy Soccer first so your dog already knows the game and you’re confident they will come running back to you (this is setting them up for success!)
✔For extra reinforcement give them a higher valued treat or several pieces of their food when they come back to you. This will make coming to you the best thing ever!!
✔For the young kids in the house, let them continue to play Puppy Soccer. It’s still a great game that is fun for both the pup and them.
That’s it, with a few small changes we are teaching our puppy recall!!
Stay playful my friends.
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