Cold snowy days may mean that you and dog may not get outside to get the physical exercise you both need. Did you know that just 10-15 minutes of mental stimulation will tire out your dog more than a 30-minute walk? There are countless ways to mentally tire your dog by getting them to use critical thinking skills.
Recently I had a chance to sit down with Kirsten, Last Chance Ranch’s (LCR) Canine Behavioral Manager, who gave us fabulous ideas to keep your dog mentally stimulated this winter! She uses all these ideas to keep our canine rescues stimulated and entertained!
Frozen Treats
Want to keep your dog busy for hours?! Stuff a Kong toy or something like it, with a mixture of peanut butter and yogurt or canned pumpkin (be careful of staining carpets!) and freeze it. You could also just freeze the peanut butter jar once you get to the end of it (I know no one in my family wants to eat the bottom or sides of the jar!).
Find It Game
To keep you dog stimulated, ditch the food bowl, and figure out ways to slow feed them. We tend to forget that dogs have a powerful sense of smell. Start out easy. Maybe just toss a handful of kibbles in the air and let them watch it fall. On your command, tell them to find the kibble. Praise them every time they find it! Progressively hide the food/treats in more difficult locations like: Inside cardboard boxes, plastic containers or paper towel rolls (bend the ends closed); on top of benches or tables they have to climb; under rugs; rolled into towels (for a challenge, tie a couple of knots in the towel!)
Snuffle Mats
These entertaining puzzle feeder toys encourage your furry best friend to use their most natural training tool — their nose! You can certainly order one on Amazon but here is how to make one!
https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/news/how-make-snuffle-mat
Please note: Dogs should be always supervised while using this toy and never left alone with it
Cardboard Chaos
Why not play Cardboard Chaos at mealtime? Take empty cardboard boxes and pile them on the floor. Hide the food within the boxes so your dog needs to search and move around the cardboard. This game is a great confidence builder for nervous dogs! Add plastic bottles, recyclables, or any toys/objects they cannot hurt themselves on, for extra noise stimulation training!
Loose Leash Walking and Training Inside
Winter is the perfect time to walk and train your dog inside. Practice the skills you want to hone with your dog inside where it is less stimulating. Especially for a puppy or new dog, you cannot just take your dog outside and expect them to focus on you, especially when there is so much excitement happening all around them. Once you have progressed with your training, you can move to your driveway or backyard and then a street outside your home.
The Worldwide “Sexier Than a Squirrel” Challenge
Kirsten is offering the “Sexier than a Squirrel Challenge” training. Please contact her if you are interested in signing up or to learn more!
The cost is $32, and she will donate 50% to LCR from anyone who contacts her and signs up from reading our blog! The training is a 25 day, play from anywhere, homeschool dog training that is a 100% online. It will teach owners how to be “sexier than a squirrel! Learn how to train your dog to choose YOU over distractions through simple 3- minutes games.
Kirsten is a Pro Dog Trainer with a certification from Absolute Dogs. The philosophy of her training is to get remarkable results through inspiration rather than force and intimidation. She is willing to help you with any of your training needs!
How to contact Kirsten:
Website: https://kglindsay.wixsite.com/kcanineconcepts
Facebook: @KirstensCanineConcepts
Email: [email protected]
Posted: February 1, 2022 by Jill Roggio