It is important to make sure your pets are getting adequate exercise, but did you know that it does not all have to be physical? There are many ways to mentally exercise your dogs that are just as tiring as physical activity can be. It is said that 15 minutes of mental exercise is the equivalent of a two mile walk. Finding ways to incorporate both physical and mental exercise into your dog's daily schedule will create the best quality of life for your best friend!
Steps
Method 1
Method 1 of 5:
Frozen Treats
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Fill ice trays halfway with water. Begin making the frozen treats by filling the ice trays halfway with water and freezing it. Doing so will provide a solid base, making it easier to add a treat to the middle of the ice cube.
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Once frozen, add small treat (such as liver, peanut butter, shredded chicken, pork, etc. ), fill the rest of the tray with water, and freeze again. Doing the process in this way allows for the treat to be frozen in the middle of the ice cube.Advertisement
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Take treats out of the ice tray, offer them to your dog, and enjoy!Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 5:
Stimulating Food Bowls
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Go to a pet store or, preferably, an online shopping site such as Amazon and search for "Food puzzle bowls". Look at your options and begin to decide which food bowl or dispenser would fit what you are looking for.
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Select an option that suits your needs. Consider factors like price, size, complexity, etc. It is important to consider your dog's capabilities as well, if they are smart and need lots of stimulation, purchase a more complex food bowl/dispenser.
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Pour one or both of your pet's daily meals into the bowl. Again, consider your dog's capabilities; you do not want them to lose motivation to eat their food so make sure to find a balance and only offer their food to them in this bowl when it is prudent.Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 5:
Treats With Obstacles
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Sit in a hallway with your back against one wall and feet slightly raised against the other. Positioning yourself in this way creates a set up where your dog will be forced to jump over your legs.
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Offer a treat to your dog on one side of your body. Then, once your dog jumps over your legs, offer a treat on the OTHER side of your body. Reward your dog with a treat as much as necessary to keep them invested in the exercise.
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Continue alternating sides until your dog is thoroughly exercised. This can be a timed exercise, 5 minutes for example, or you can base it off of your dogs reactions.Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 5:
Training: Heel on Walks
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Give sit command. Reward your dog with a treat when they perform the command successfully. This is the position your dog will stay in until you begin walking, at which point they should learn how to walk right next to you at the same pace as you.
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Give heel command and guide your dog forward with a treat. Reward them with the treat when they perform the command successfully. Reinforcing this behavior will train them to move next to you when you move.
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Slowly wean off of the treats. The end goal is that they will perform the commands without incentive. Once you are able to perform the "heel" command without treats you can begin implementing it on walks. The combination of physical and mental exercise for your dog will tire them out quicker.Advertisement
Method 5
Method 5 of 5:
Training: Push ups
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Give sit command. Having a previous foundation of this command will make this exercise a lot easier. It is the starting position for this exercise, every progression will move from here.
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Give down command and guide your dog to the floor with a treat. Reward them with the treat when they lay down successfully. Having previous foundation for this command is also useful, but not necessary. In order to train it, continue guiding them down to the floor with a treat and rewarding them when they do it correctly.
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Give sit command and guide your dog back up with a treat. Reward them with the treat when they successfully assume the sitting position. This is the most difficult part of this exercise, getting your dog to release back into a sitting position rather than standing up. Consistency is key, continually rewarding them with treats and praise when they do it right and correcting them when they do it wrong.
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Repeat until you believe your dog has been thoroughly exercised. Slowly wean off of the treats as well so that they are performing the commands because of obedience rather than treat incentive. Then you can have them perform this exercise any time - the focus it takes to do the progression of commands (sit, down, sit, down, etc.) will work their brain as well as exercise them physically. [1]Advertisement
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Tips
- Grab the dog's attention with a treat, but do not reward them with the treat until they successfully perform the exercise.Thanks
- Try not to use the dog's name when training a new skill. It helps to keep it as impersonal as possible.Thanks
- Train these skills regularly, at least every other day, until the dog has mastered the exercise.Thanks
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References
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