Environmental Enrichment with Hound Dog Day Care Brisbane

 

Heres a look at some BORDOM BUSTERS & BACKYARD FUNFor Your Dog!
Toys
Only allow a couple of toys at a time (put the rest away). Also, rotate them daily or you may risk desensitization.
Car trips
Short car trips are great and offer a change of scenery for your dog. And if you want to add icing to the cake, stop at a park on the way home J
**Remember the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars.
**Remember to always put their car harness on or put them in your travel crate.

Short trips like :  dropping the kids to school
going to the post box
dropping a video back

Iceblocks  (DOGSICLES)
Take a small plastic jelly cup and put a small treat in it.
Fill with water and a dash of chicken stock and freeze overnight.
Once frozen, pop it out of the container and give to your dog frozen to lick until his hearts content.
Kids Wading Pool   (moulded plastic shells or clams)

Ensure your dog can easily get out of the pond and its not too deep.

The Kong   or   Treat Ball

Can be stuffed with food, treats, beef jerky, vegemite or peanut butter.
Great enrichment as it’s a self-rewarding activity for your dog.
Great if your dog tends to scoff his food
Recycle Plastic Bottles

Be sure to remove the top & plastic ring first.
Punch some holes in the sides for food to fall through.
Great enrichment as it’s a self-rewarding activity for your dog.

Basket or Box (Use only as a special treat if you need them to self entertain).
Place treats on the bottom, cover with favourite toys and then add more treats on top.
Basket must be shoulder height of your pup so they can jump up to it, tip it over and/or jump out. Keep it fresh & exciting by rotating different toys, kongs etc
Swinging tyre

An old tyre from a tree can be a great way to entertain.
Try Placing toys or treats in the tyre too

Make sure anchor point can take his weight.

Recycled Rubbish

milk cartons,    egg cartons    cereal boxes,     pizza boxes  =  GREAT entertainment value.

The bonus to this one is you’ll get some extra exercise cleaning up 🙂

Treasure Hunt

Before work:  hide treats or part of his dinner around your yard, including:
behind seats, on the BBQ, on the clothes line, etc etc. (Or spread it like chicken feed and scatter everywhere).

Hide n Seek
This is really FUN! If you have someone at home, after you’ve hidden (inside or out), call your dog and get them to let him out to find you J

Tennis Ball Machine
A machine that works by shooting tennis balls out into your yard at random times throughout the day (ie its on a timer).
Doggy Treadmills

YES, it’s possible to train your dog on a treadmill for extra exercise or for when it’s raining & you dont fancy going outdoor.
Cesar Milan (The Dog Whisperer) uses this great tool and we have sucessfully trained a number of dogs, including our own to do this. There are
tutorial video’s on line etc…

Marrow Bone / Knuckle Bones

Buy from your local butcher and give to your dog once or twice a week (great for their teeth & gums).

Dog Walker

If you’re just too busy,  consider the services of a dog walker or Pet Visitor.

Dog Daycare with Hound Dog

For some fantastic enrichment for your dog, while you’re at work you could give your dog the Best Dog Day Care Experience Brisbane has to offer with Houndog Day Care.
It’s Outdoor Fun, exercise & socialisiation with the same regular group of very friendly social dogs. There are so many advantages to this & your dog will be exhausted by the time
you get home from work!

Doggy Mates

Maybe your dog has some friends he could visit once a week, or who could come visit him. Spending a day with a compatible friend is a great way to enrich his life and provide some valuable socialisation.

Doggy Door

Dogs that have access to inside the house are often far more relaxed & happy. It’s a great way for them to feel safe & secure and out of the elements if they need to be.

MORE IDEAS:

1 Regular Obedience and/or Trick/Agility Classes

2 OrganisedDog Sports Days

3 Doggy Day Care  /  Doggy Daytrips (www.houndogdaycare.com.au)

4 Frisbee

5 Pigs ear / trotters
6 TV or Radio on timer

7 Treats in icecubes floated in large water container

8 Parcel – multy wrapped

NB. Some of these ideas may not suit your situation and may cause more problems – be sensible when choosing the best options for you & your dog.

 See you next time,

Leah & Angela OMeara

Hound Dog Day Care Brisbane (Dog Daycare & Pet Sitting Specialists in Brisbane)