The next few days here in the UK are going to be hotter than we have ever had to cope with.
But what about the needs of our canine friends?
We all know that in the coming heat wave it is simply not safe to take our dogs out for their usual physical exercise but we also know that they will need something.
Mental exercise and problem solving are the answer. They are an excellent activity substitute for our dogs providing great physical and mental benefits.
From a pup to a senior dog using their brains, and especially their scenting ability, is incredibly fun, challenging and rewarding for them…and to top it all it burns up energy and really strengthens the bond we have with them.
As a dog behaviorist I always use mental exercise and problem solving challenges to help dogs and their guardians solve many types of behavioural problems.
The key is to build up challenge complexity at a pace where your dog is always succeeding in their efforts and to make sure that you are part of the work to really enhance trust and belief in you.
You can use treats, kibble, their fav toys and even you to be the reward for their success.
Anyway, some ideas to start off with;
- Hide rewards around the house, remember to use elevation as they improve
- Hide some treats in a scrunched up towel, for them to learn to unravel
- Put a treat in a small cloth, stuff the cloth into a plastic bottle with some cloth hanging out. He will learn to pull it out then open the cloth for his reward!
Be creative, our homes are full of opportunities to provide brain teasers and scent work for our dogs while keeping them out of the heatwave.
Remember the fun and bonding you achieve are an amazing by-product of using their brains and noses to their full extent.
My advice would be to keep this going long after the heatwave has passed as there are so many positive upsides.
Stay safe and have fun working with your doggy mate. Ian
