Want to get the most out of your dogās physically stimulating activities? Try the following:
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Unless your dog is already uber excited and engaged towards you, feel free to egg them on just a little and in a fun way. This will not only increase their interest but also how much effort theyāll put in, which increases the enrichment benefits of the activity youāre doing, such as the strength of your bond and motivation to give you as much of their focus as possible.
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Keep it short. Do your best to not reach the point of exhaustion in order to end the game. Rather end it a little earlier than you would and then switch to perhaps a more mentally or socially stimulating activity. This will prevent over arousal and help your dog wind down before going home and relaxing. Not to mention itāll leave them looking forward to next time!
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Assess the environment. The right type of distractions can sometimes take our dogs away from the game in different ways. To maximize your dogās focus towards you and the activity, go somewhere where you know your dog can easily focus. Donāt be afraid to start indoors, in your garage or an empty park.
Try these and let us know how it went! #dogenrichment #dogplay #doglove
The way we think about ourselves and our dogs, including the things we say matters so much more than we may think.
And itās interesting that when we think of approaching unfamiliar dogs, we donāt think so much about whether or not they will like us. At least not as much as when it comes to approaching other people.
But yet we do tend to think and say that certain dogs just donāt like each other, or that theyāre not being nice towards one another, if they donāt share the most positive interactions. In reality however, how dogs interact and see the world around then really isnāt based on whether they like or dislike someone, but more so how they feel about themselves and their environment, and in association to their interactions.
Think of the last time you were a little impatient with a loved one, or the time where you were extra friendly with a stranger. Do you remember looking back and attributing your behaviours to something else perhaps? Like outside stress, distractions, pressure, good/bad news or something else entirely?
And if so, youāll perhaps come to realize that your actions really came about not from a point of liking or not disliking someone, but rather external circumstances and how you felt about yourself, within.
Luckily for us, dogs operate that way as well. They can have amazing relationships with us and others because we can connect on that level and share very similar feelings, but they can also be affected by their environment, which can then have an impact on their behaviour.
And so itās important that weāre aware of how we think of our dogs and how they interact with us and one another. As thatāll make it easier for us to try to understand the motives behind their actions, reactions and feelings, allowing us to then become even better friends and pet parents that guide them towards positive feelings. #dogtraining #dogunderstanding #doglove
Although I find Mya and the way she communicates incredibly cute, in her mind itās likely not, and also likely not the reason sheās doing it in the first place.
Dogs communicate for different reasons and in different ways, some more than others. Some do it very little, some do it often, and sometimes it may even seem like itās for no reason at all. But unless you feel like thereās something you should be doing at that very moment to help alleviate and guide them (when they feel the need to bark, growl, jump, or communicate directly to you in their own way), you probably just need to pause and listen.
Donāt tell your dog to stop or sit, donāt tell them to be quiet. You donāt want to discourage them from communicating with you, as this can cause further issues that will then only become tougher to address later on, if the bond and means of communication have been severed.
Our dogs deserve to feel heard just as much as we do.. if not more.
And if theyāre communicating in a way thatās difficult for you to tolerate, or maybe even understand, then perhaps thereās something that they themselves were feeling like theyāre having a challenging time tolerating and thus feel like they need to let you know, as to hopefully have something about it change.
If youāre not sure how to go about that, feel free to reach out.
But otherwise, if you know that youāve already met your dogās enrichment needs that day, that theyāve had mental breaks, outings, bathroom breaks and their food & water, then the main thing you have to do is listen.
Thereās nothing better for a dog than to feel like their whole world (a.k.a. you) takes the time to listen to them and guide them accordingly. Iāve found time and time again that doing this only going makes it easier for them to do the same for us. š¾ #dogtraining #doglove #doglife
In your dogās world there is truly a right time and a place for everything! Yes, thereās even a right time for pets.
And I donāt mean a specific time of day or night, but rather when your dog is feeling a certain way vs another. Think about it!
You pat your friend on the back when they need it and because itās going to convey something to them, coming from you. And you share your hugs as a means to congratulate, or show support.
When it comes to dogs however, PARTICULARLY shy and timid dogs, the best thing you can do to create similar and positive associations to your affection is to first encourage and create scenarios where your dog gets to feel good as a result of having done an activity that is natural and fun to them, with you.
Such as scavenging, fetching, digging or really anything that fulfills a need of theirs and makes them feel 110% good! This is when I recommend sharing your affection with your dog as place to start.
Just like how Vinnie showed us tonight, that at the end of his training session, he is feeling good, accomplished, motivated and happy! šš¶ā¤ļø Thereās no better time than that to associate with your attention, your touch, your pets and affection towards your pooch.
