Meet your dog's natural needs by giving him the opportunity to engage in behaviors that provide sensory stimulation (using his sense of smell), foraging and scavenging food. Watch Rocky enjoy sniffing this toy, forage the kibble by rolling the toy over, and then find and eat the scattered kibble. Offer your dog an enrichment activity at least once a day, and you might just notice calmer and more relaxed behavior.
Winter sniffaris are the best! During the winter months, and especially after a snowfall, try taking your dog to trails, parks, or open fields and let her sniff and meander. Using her nose to process the smells, along with the extra effort of running through the snow, will contribute to a tired and content pup when you return home. A 15 foot long line gives your dog some freedom to run and roam safely while being easy for you to gather up the slack. Sturdy hiking shoes or boots for you, provide stable (and warm) footing. Snow shoes work well too. Enjoy!
Sedona Foraging
Foraging and Your Dog
The act of foraging is defined as “searching widely for food or provisions”. Wild dogs need to forage, spending most of their day searching for food to stay alive. It’s much different for domesticated dogs in that they are provided food and water in bowls at specific times of the day, eliminating the need to hunt for their next meal. By doing so, we have taken away much of our dog’s environmental enrichment which can help prevent unwanted and destructive behaviors due to boredom, stress, and excess energy. There are many ways to provide your dog with enrichment. Check out some great ideas here provided by the ASPCA, mailto:https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/canine-diy-enrichment
One enrichment idea they suggest is a “snuffle mat” which is felt strips knotted through a rubber mat. Place pieces of your dog’s kibble throughout the mat (bury some kibble to make it more difficult to find) and let your dog enjoy foraging for his meal! Watch this short video of my dog Sedona using her nose to locate buried kibble.
Let your dog release his “inner wild dog” by providing him opportunities to forage.
Enjoy!
Harnesses And Their Function – Safety, Management or Style?
As a positive reinforcement dog trainer, I am working with an increasing number of clients choosing to have their dogs wear a harness when walking on the leash. Perhaps you are considering a harness for your dog too?
With an amazing selection of styles to choose from, it might be worthwhile to consider what functions you expect the harness to fulfill.
If your sole purpose in choosing a harness is for style alone, then the sky’s the limit with many colors, patterns, and styles to choose from. Always make sure to choose a harness that can be fitted properly to prevent your dog from slipping out of it while also preventing pressure points (i.e. behind the elbows) where the harness may rub and chafe your dog’s skin.
From a safety perspective, harnesses offer the advantage of reducing possible injuries to your dog’s neck area and trachea compared to wearing a collar, especially if your dog is prone to constant pulling and lunging on the leash.
Many harnesses are designed to have the leash attached to an area on the dog’s back near their shoulders. That leash attachment location can increase a dog’s pulling due to the dog experiencing pressure from the leash and reflexively applying pressure in the opposite direction, resulting in more pulling. If your dog is a serious puller, you may want to consider a harness that has the option of attaching the leash to a ring located on the front of the harness, near the dog’s breastbone. These front-clip harnesses can function as a management tool by redirecting the dog’s forward pulling movement to a more side-angled movement. While these types of harnesses can manage a dog’s pulling to a degree, loose leash walking skills will require teaching the dog additional behaviors as well. A qualified, positive reinforcement trainer can help teach you and your dog the necessary skills for enjoying your walks together.
No matter what harness you choose, always
Harnesses And Their Function – Safety, Management or Style?
As a positive reinforcement dog trainer, I am working with an increasing number of clients choosing to have their dogs wear a harness when walking on the leash. Perhaps you are considering a harness for your dog too?
With an amazing selection of styles to choose from, it might be worthwhile to consider what functions you expect the harness to fulfill.
If your sole purpose in choosing a harness is for style alone, then the sky’s the limit with many colors, patterns, and styles to choose from. Always make sure to choose a harness that can be fitted properly to prevent your dog from slipping out of it while also preventing pressure points (i.e. behind the elbows) where the harness may rub and chafe your dog’s skin.
From a safety perspective, harnesses offer the advantage of reducing possible injuries to your dog’s neck area and trachea compared to wearing a collar, especially if your dog is prone to constant pulling and lunging on the leash.
Many harnesses are designed to have the leash attached to an area on the dog’s back near their shoulders. That leash attachment location can increase a dog’s pulling due to the dog experiencing pressure from the leash and reflexively applying pressure in the opposite direction, resulting in more pulling. If your dog is a serious puller, you may want to consider a harness that has the option of attaching the leash to a ring located on the front of the harness, near the dog’s breastbone. These front-clip harnesses can function as a management tool by redirecting the dog’s forward pulling movement to a more side-angled movement. While these types of harnesses can manage a dog’s pulling to a degree, loose leash walking skills will require teaching the dog additional behaviors as well. A qualified, positive reinforcement trainer can help teach you and your dog the necessary skills for enjoying your walks together.
No matter what harness you choose, always
