Training Adventure Dogs

Every year, this holiday brings an onslaught of lost dogs who escape from their owners, their homes or yards out of fear from fireworks and other loud noises from the holiday’s festivities. Whether you have a puppy, an adult dog, a recent rescue or family dogs visiting, setting your dog up for success over the holiday weekend is essential for keeping your dog SAFE.

Prevent your dog from being stressed, anxious or running away from loud noises this Fourth of July…Be proactive and plan ahead to set your dog up for success this week and weekend! Here are my top 3 tips & ideas:

1. Meet your dog’s physical & mental exercise needs! Utilizing exercises that work their brain and body is the first step in helping your dog be more calm and comfortable during the festivities. Here are some ideas:

• Structured walk; practicing leash manners, obedience and FUNgility on a walk that is a minimum of 30 minutes
• Treadmill Session
• Hiking or Swimming
• Fun game of Tug or Play session with a Flirt Pole
• Structured Fetch; incorporating obedience into your game of fetch. Sit, Down, Place or Heel to get you to throw the toy/ball again.

2. Safe Confinement. Don’t assume your dog will be “fine” free in your yard, car, house or campsite. Prevent possible injuries, unnecessary stress and anxiety or even potentially losing your dog by using a safe and secure crate. A secure crate means one that is not a wire or wood crate.

• If your dog is not crate trained, utilize a slip style leash that your dog cannot escape out of (most dogs can slip out of the basic pet collar and harness) and keep your dog WITH YOU.
• If your dog is scared of loud noises like fireworks, make sure your dog is in a safe and secure crate.
  • THEN, put the crate in a room with little to no windows to minimize the noise.
  • FINALLY, Utilize a loud fan and/or turn on music to help lesson the sound of outside noises

3. Use your dog’s meals for enrichment. The best way to do this is to utilize chew safe dog toys that you can stuff with your dogs food and freeze for max fun and duration. Slow feeder bowls and interactive food toys are also great options!

• Food Scatter Fun! Put your dog away and then find a safe (no harmful carpet cleaning chemicals, hard floor cleaner or fertilizer) space on the ground [inside or outside] to scatter your dog’s meal around on. Then, get your dog and let them sniff and seek the food for a great enrichment activity
  • Ideas: Rug, stairs, patio, grass, open area in the home
• Slow Feeder Bowl or Snuffle Mat. Head to your local pet store, Target, TJ Maxx or Homegoods to find these in the dog section!
  • Added Challenge: Section your dog’s meal out into 2 or more for a greater duration in working for their meal
• Dry Food Toy. These are toys designed to be filled with kibble or treats that your dog will then work to get out. Get the size that will appropriately hold one of your dog’s meals.
  • Added Challenge: Section your dog’s meal out into 2 or more for a greater duration in working for their meal
• Frozen Food Toy! These are toys where you stuff them and Freeze them for maximum duration in your dog working their meal out of it. Westpaw Brand & My Woof are my favorite brands!
  • Recipe Idea: If you feed kibble, measure out one meal + add 1/2 that amount of bone broth or water + add a big scoop of canned pumpkin and/or wet food and mix together. WAIT 15+ minutes for the kibble to soak up the liquid – THEN stuff the toy or toys with the bowl’s contents and FREEZE until you’re ready to serve!
    • This is also a great option to use for when you put your dog in the crate to give them something to do while crated
  • Added Challenge! Put a treat or chew down the middle of the stuffed toy before you freeze it
  • PRO TIP: Always use a toy and chews that are at least TWICE the size of your dog’s mouth for safety and to prevent choking hazards

I hope everyone has a fun-filled and SAFE week with their dogs! Happy Fourth of July!