AB Dog Coaching

30/11/2025

Day 30 of fulfilling activities to do with your dog...

Roughhousing

Many dogs have been bred to have a scrap, and from my experience, even the ones who haven't love a little play fight, including these two!

No toys, just play. You set the rules, and that might be determined a bit by your dogs likes and their behaviour.

For me and Mabel, there aren't really any rules. She can bite my hands, arms, jump all over me 😂 The only rules are that neither of us are using excessive force. After all we are playing! And when I say enough the game ends there. The game is back and forth, meaning I might be winning in one moment and then she's winning in the next. This keeps the game competitive but also allows your dog to be successful at times throughout.

I find this type of play really gets you bonding and it requires absolutely no equipment which is a bonus. When first starting this, keep the playtime short and sweet as this type of play will raise the arousal levels quickly.

How this looks which each dog does differ depending on their likes. For example, with Mabel who I've done this with since a puppy, she loves jumping, biting and chasing, whereas Ellie is more into jumping on me and a little mouthing, but after a short while isn't interested. Mabel would play like this forever if allowed 😂

Don't take this game too seriously, keep it safe and similar to the freestyle play, see what your dogs into in the moment and lean into it!

29/11/2025

Day 29 of fulfilling activities to do with your dog...

Rest Day!

Stay with me on this one! Yes, you've been told you must walk your dog everyday or your dog will go crazy... This is absolutely wrong if you've got a fulfilled dog. In fact, your dog won't go mad and in will in fact take the opportunity to recover physically and mentally.

See, fulfillment is not just about what we do with our dogs, it's about basic needs and welfare. Resting is definitely an important part of those basic needs.

This is going to be particularly valuable if you have a young puppy, an elderly dog or a dog who is particularly worried about the world, such as the reactive dogs of the world. Ultimately though all of our dogs are experiencing elements of stress, illness and physical tiredness throughout their lives and that's why it's so important.

Please don't use this as permission to wake up and not do something with your dog because you don't feel like it. A rest day is about spending time together to re-energise and is a pre-planned event as part of a fulfilling lifestyle.

And remember a rest day looks different for every dog. For my working line spaniel, it tends to be a shorter walk in the morning where she can sniff to her hearts content before heading home and having the rest of the day to chill. This might be once a week or every other week for her. Our foster dog on the other hand who is very nervous is probably having 3-4 rest days per week, which might include a secure field visit or just a few home activities such as scentwork.

28/11/2025

Day 28 of fulfilling activities to do with your dog...

Sniffing

Now you'll have some trainers out there saying your dog should be walking with you at all times because the walk is also yours. I couldn't disagree more. If you have a 9-5, your dog might be getting 1-2 hours of time to fulfill their needs, and if you start throwing in more time where obedience is required, you're reducing the amount of time your dog can do things for their fulfilment.

Sniffing is a huge part of fulfillment. It's how our dogs take in information. A walk without sniffing time would be like you going for a walk, and being made to wear a blindfold. You would feel lost, anxious and you wouldn't be able to take in the scenery.

On top of that, our dogs are limited in how much time they have to do dog things, if we start restricting that time further then we're setting our dogs up for failure and that's when behavioural issues occur.

Are you giving your dog plenty of opportunities to sniff and take in the world?

27/11/2025

Day 27 of fulfilling activities to do with your dog...

Blind retrieve

Your traditional search and retrieve, but with no information other than the help you give them and the cue. Teach your dog to do this right and you'll have your dog using their nose and working with you yo retrieve their toy or dummy.

Use heavier cover so your dog can't easily see the item so that they're primarily learning they need to use their nose. The dog also has the added bonus of not knowing exactly what they're going to find. Think of it like dog lottery, they don't know if they'll win or what they'll win, but they love going because they know they might hit the jackpot! 🤑

26/11/2025

Day 26 of fulfilling activities to do with your dog...

Fetch

Yes, you can play this, but we do need to be careful with it. Many dogs get injured playing this game, caused by repetitive, high intensity chasing or falling.

This game can also become an obsession, leading to dogs who cannot settle because they end up relying on the high adrenaline that happens when playing fetch or similar games.

And worst of all, dogs have been known to collapse from exhaustion or in warmer weather, heat stroke is a severe risk associated with this game.

So how do we play this, why do I think it can be good and how do we ensure our dog is safe doing so?

Firstly, this is a great retrieving game if your dog hasn't learnt impulse control for search and retrieves. Use natural cover so that they still have to search for the toy, rather than just chasing it. This ensures they're using their nose and brain as part of the game.

Secondly, in short bursts this game can be perfectly safe. I still prefer flirt poles for chase games, but not every dog is interested in that. Just ensure your dog is getting plenty of rest and is doing other low impact activities as part of their walk. Please don't take your dog to a field, run them ragged and then take them home.

So, yes, fetch has it's place. I use it very occasionally but I do have some rules. I'm not playing it with a dog who won't bring it back. There's minimal stimulation in chasing a ball and doing nothing with it. I'm also using this sparingly, such as a reward for doing a search and retrieve or as a small part of freestyle play. I may also use this to build some toy drive in a dog, but I will always use other options first or in combination with fetch.

25/11/2025

25/11/2025

Day 25 of fulfilling activities to do with your dog...

Just play together...

No specific play style or necessarily any rules. You don't even need a toy if your dog's not feeling, just mess around together and enjoy it!

If you're using a toy, pick something that is good different types of play. Something your dog can chase, tug on, retrieve, shred if possible. See what your dog's enjoying in the moment and go with it.

Our dogs are great and showing us what they need. Sometimes Mabel will retrieve something but she doesn't quite want to give it up. This is my indication that she wants to fight me for a toy.

No rules needed, but as always adding in some rules will add to the mental stimulation your dog gets out of the play, since they'll need to focus on your cues.

24/11/2025

Day 24 of fulfilling activities to do with your dog...

Explore a new place or environment together

This differs from a hike because this is specifically about the exploring aspect. It's about finding somewhere new and enjoying it with your dog.

For example, this summer we explored loads of Cornish beaches with Mabel and had an absolute blast playing, running and checking out some cool places together.

The different environment from your usual walks is going to provide different sights, scents and overall experience for your dog and yourself, and incorporating some fun into this new experience too will level up this activity. For Mabel at the beach, that's taking a floating dummy for her to retrieve out of the sea 🌊

24/11/2025

Day 23 of fulfilling activities to do with your dog...

Splashing

This is mainly going to be tiring for your younger dogs who have not really been introduced to water yet. The different textures, sounds and the feeling of water are all new experiences for a young dog, which should be a part of the socialisation process when you bring home your puppy.

So why have I included this one? It's maybe not going to fulfill your dog in the same way some of these other activities do. Well, firstly, it's fun! Secondly, in the hotter months in the UK we're all trying to desperately to keep our dogs call whilst also fulfilling their needs. Having fun together in a paddling pool could be a part if your summer routine.

23/11/2025

Day 22 of fulfilling activities to do with your dog...

Play with a flirt pole

But what do we do with a flirt pole? We'll it's a great tool used to have our dog chasing (unless you're Tiggy here and never let go of it).

Now lots of you are already playing fetch with your dog, but this is better. When you get play fetch, the good bit (the chase) doesn't come from you. With a flirt pole you are directly involved in the chase, and that makes it not only a much better training aid, but more fulfilling with your dog as they get to have fun with you!

Introduce some rules so that they have to leave it on cue so that you can reset the game aftet they've caught it and had a bit of a tug, and for a more mentally stimulating game.

22/11/2025

Day 21 of fulfilling activities to do with your dog...

Killing toys

Yes, killing toys enriches your dogs life. This includes when they destroy that brand new stuffed toy you just bought!

Dogs are predators, and that means they have an instinct to kill things. We know that many dogs have been selectively bred to be better hunters and killers, including lots of hounds, terriers and bull breeds, and giving these dogs outlets is essential.

Using toys as a safe outlet for them to shake, rip or throw about provides that outlet, and bonus if you give them a chase, search or a tug before they get to "kill" it. Bonus if you can combine multiple of these different parts of the hunt.

My recommendation is buy good quality toys that aren't easily destroyed and teach a good leave/drop/out. Having the ability to safely remove the toy when they're starting to chew it, and maybe swapping it for a long lasting chew is a great way to fulfill that need whilst saving you a few pounds.

21/11/2025

Day 20 of fulfilling activities to do with your dog...

Box searches

Creating a little game where your dog has the opportunity to search, shred and feed allows your dog to perform many natural behaviours.

Problem solving also engages the brain, providing mental stimulation for your dog. Of course, this all depends on the complexity of what they're doing, so you're going to have to make these games hard enough so that your dog will actually need to think about what they're doing.

The beauty of this is that you can use whatever you have in your house to build something for your dog, and there regular food. Absolutely perfect for this cold weather and dark nights as part of their routine.