In this blog post, the author shares their love for canine enrichment and emphasizes that there are many free ideas to keep our furry friends entertained. They encourage readers to get creative and explore DIY options using household items. The author also provides recommendations for toys like flirt poles and herding balls, which can help burn energy and satisfy a dog's chase drive. In addition, they share a list of enrichment ideas their dogs love, including interactive games and toys like the Push Button-Eat Your Meal and Snuffle Mat/Licki Mat. The post concludes with suggestions for fun activities such as Treibball, scent work, and a treat-finding game.
Read more...The holiday season is fast approaching, and we all know what that means—friends and family coming over, delicious meals, and joyous celebrations. While it's a time of great excitement for us, it can sometimes be overwhelming for our dogs. That's why it's crucial to start preparing your dog for the holiday season well in advance. In this blog post, we'll discuss the importance of getting your dog ready for holiday guests and festivities, and we'll give you a sneak peek of the exciting content we have in store for you in our upcoming series.
Why Prepare Your Dog for the Holidays?
The holidays bring a flurry of activities and changes to your home environment, which can be both exciting and stressful for your canine companion. Here's why it's essential to prepare your dog for the upcoming holiday season:
- Reduced Stress: Dogs can become anxious when faced with unfamiliar guests, loud noises, and disruptions to their routine. Preparing them in advance can help reduce stress and anxiety.
- Safety: With more people coming and going, doors opening and closing frequently, and tempting holiday foods around, there's a higher risk of your dog slipping out or getting into something they shouldn't. Providing our pups with safe areas to go when they get overwhelmed is so important. Training can help keep your dog safe.
- Guest Interaction: Well-behaved dogs are a joy to have around during holiday gatherings. Training your dog ensures that they can interact with guests in a polite and friendly manner.
- Enjoyment: By preparing your dog for the holidays, you'll create a more enjoyable experience for both you and your dog. You can include them in the festivities with confidence, knowing they'll behave appropriately.
What's Coming Up in Our Holiday Series?
Over the next couple of weeks, we will be sharing a series of informative and practical articles to help you and your dog have the best holiday season yet. Here's a sneak peek at what you can expect:
- Doorbell Desensitization: Learn how to prevent your dog from going into a frenzy every time the doorbell rings, ensuring a calm and composed entrance for guests.
- Controlling Barking and Jumping: Discover techniques to curb excessive barking and jumping, making your dog a more pleasant presence when guests arrive.
- Overcoming Over-Excitement: We'll show you how to manage your dog's over-excitement, so they can enjoy the festivities without becoming overly hyper.
- Utilizing the "Sit on the Dog" Exercise: Explore the power of the "Sit on the Dog" exercise as a tool to maintain calmness during the holidays and beyond.
- Engaging Your Dog's Brain: Keep your dog mentally stimulated with brain-stimulating activities that help prevent boredom and anxiety.
These 5 steps above can help give you a more peaceful holiday season with your dog...but if you want some added help you can apply all of the above with the help of obedience training, you can take your holiday's to the next level!!
We do offer an Online 8-week online obedience program designed to provide you with the skills and knowledge to have a well-trained and calm dog just in time for Thanksgiving. We Start our next LIVE session Monday Nights on October 2nd and it runs every Monday night 7:30-8:30pm until November 20th. We meet once a week via zoom to go over the weeks homework, answer questions and help you get your pup ready for the life you want to live!
Are you ready to make this holiday season a peaceful and enjoyable one for both you and your dog? Stay tuned for our upcoming articles, and don't miss the opportunity to enroll in our online obedience course. Together, we'll ensure that your dog is ready to embrace the holidays with calmness and joy.
Stay tuned for our next article on doorbell desensitization, where we'll dive deep into this essential skill for a stress-free entrance into the holiday season!