Does Your Dog Need More Than a Walk?
Why sniffing, playing, exploring andproblem-solving are just as important as stretching those four legs.
Ask most dog owners what their dog needs every day and “a good walk” will probably be near the top of the list. Andthey’re right. Regular exercise is important for maintaining a healthy body,providing an opportunity to explore and, of course, getting out of the house.
But what if we told you that simplyclocking up kilometres isn’t the whole story
Dogs need to exercise their brains as wellas their bodies. In fact, giving your dog opportunities to sniff, search, chew,investigate, play and problem-solve can be an important part of helping themlead a rich and interesting life.
The good news? You don’t need to addanother hour to your daily routine. Sometimes a few simple changes to theactivities you’re already doing can make all the difference.
Let Them Stop and Sniff
You might be trying to get around the blockbefore dinner while your dog seems determined to investigate every tree,letterbox and blade of grass.
It can be tempting to hurry them along, butfor your dog, sniffing is part of the point of going for a walk.
A dog’s sense of smell is extraordinarily important to the way they experience their surroundings. Where we predominantly look at the world, dogs gather an enormous amount of information through theirnoses.
That interesting patch of grass can tell your dog which animals have passed through, while a tree frequented byneighbourhood dogs is something of a canine community noticeboard.
So occasionally forget about how far youwalk and let your dog choose the pace.
Try a dedicated “sniff walk” where your dogis given more time to investigate safe and appropriate areas. You might coverless distance, but they’ve potentially had a much richer experience along theway.
Paws Tip
Measure some walks in sniffs, not steps. You don't always need to travel a long distance to give your dog aninteresting outing.
Make Dinner More Interesting
For many dogs, dinner is over remarkablyquickly: bowl down, food gone, job done.
But eating can also become an opportunityfor enrichment.
Depending on the food you feed, you might use a slow feeder, puzzle feeder, treat-dispensing toy or snuffle mat. Suitablefood can also be hidden around an appropriate area of the home or garden soyour dog has to search for it.
Start easy. If your dog has never used a puzzle feeder before, they may need to learn how it works. The objective isn'tto make getting dinner frustratingly difficult; it is to make the processinteresting.
As they become more confident, you cangradually make appropriate activities more challenging.
Remember to account for food used during enrichment as part of your dog's normal daily intake rather than continually adding extra treats.
Use That Nose at Home
Scent games are wonderfully simple.
Ask your dog to wait in another room whileyou hide a few pieces of suitable food around the house, then release them to“find it”.
Begin with obvious hiding places. Once yourdog understands the game, gradually make the search more challenging.
You can also hide a favourite toy, create a supervised search through cardboard boxes, or simply scatter some of their mealacross a safe grassy area.
Rainy day? Hide-and-seek works indoors too.
You can even hide yourself. Have someone keep your dog occupied while you disappear into another room and call them.Finding you can become the reward.
Play With Purpose
Play isn't something dogs should grow out of.
Tugging, retrieving, chasing an appropriatetoy and interactive games can provide physical exercise while also giving dogsan opportunity to engage with their owners.
The important word is interactive.
A basket containing 20 toys isn't necessarily enriching if those toys sit untouched for weeks.
Try keeping some toys away and rotatingthem. An old favourite can suddenly become interesting again when it hasn'tbeen available for a while.
Different dogs also have different preferences. One might adore retrieving while another couldn't care less abouta thrown ball but will enthusiastically search for a hidden toy.
Pay attention to what your dog actuallyenjoys rather than what you think dogs are supposed to enjoy.
Chewing Has a Place Too
Chewing is a normal behaviour for dogs,although humans don't always appreciate their choice of object!
Providing appropriate chewing opportunitiescan give dogs an outlet for that natural behaviour while keeping them occupied.
Choose chew toys and products appropriatefor your dog's size, age and chewing style, supervise where necessary, andregularly inspect them for damage.
If your dog is an enthusiastic chewer,something that suits a gentle senior may not be appropriate for them.
And if the table leg has already fallenvictim to those teeth? Rather than simply thinking about what you don't wantyour dog to chew, consider what appropriate alternative you can offer.
Five Minutes of Training Counts
Training doesn't have to mean an hour-longobedience session.
Five minutes can be plenty.
Sit, stay and recall are useful skills, buttraining can also be purely for fun.
Teach your dog to touch your hand withtheir nose, put their toys into a basket, spin, find a particular toy, walkaround an object or learn the names of family members.
Short sessions that allow your dog to thinkand earn rewards can be an easy way to add mental activity to the day.
Keep sessions positive and finish whileeveryone is still having fun.
Give Them Choices
Enrichment doesn't always involve buyingsomething or organising an activity.
Sometimes it's simply about providingappropriate choices.
Would your dog like to lie in the sun orretreat somewhere cooler? Sleep in a quiet bed or be near the family? Play witha soft toy or chew something?
Even on a walk, you might occasionally reach a safe intersection and let your dog choose which direction you take.
Small opportunities to make choices can addvariety to an otherwise predictable day.
But Can You Have Too Much of a GoodThing?
Absolutely.
Enrichment shouldn't mean keeping your dog entertained every waking minute.
Dogs need downtime and quality sleep too. Constant stimulation can be just as unhelpful as having nothing to do.
The goal isn't to create an endlessen etrtainment schedule. It's to find a healthy balance between physicalexercise, mental activity, social interaction and rest.
Age matters too.
A young, energetic dog may enjoy different activities from a senior. Puppies need age-appropriate experiences and plentyof sleep, while older dogs may appreciate gentler activities that allow them touse their senses without placing unnecessary strain on their bodies.
Dogs with health or mobility issues mayneed activities adapted for them, so speak with your veterinarian if you're unsure what is appropriate.
Rethink The Daily Walk
Tomorrow, when you reach for the lead, try looking at your walk through your dog's eyes.
There are smells to investigate, surfacesto explore and an ever-changing world to take in.
Maybe you won't make it quite as far aroundthe neighbourhood.
That's okay.
Sometimes the best walk isn't the longestone.
It's the one where your dog gets home, hasa drink, curls up in their favourite spot and looks completely satisfied withtheir morning's work.
7 Easy Ways to Add Enrichment Today
1. Take a sniff walk
Let your dog spend extra time investigating.
2. Change the dinner routine
Try an appropriate puzzle or slow feeder.
3. Play “find it”
Hide food or a favourite toy somewhere safe.
4. Rotate the toy basket
Put some toys away and swap them regularly.
5. Teach something new
Spend five minutes working on a fun skill.
6. Take a different route
A new street can provide a completely different collection of smells.
7. Do nothing!
Make sure your dog has a comfortable, quiet place where they can switch off andsleep.
Your local Just For Pets independent petstore can help you with tips and tricks as well as ideas for your pets, ask them in store on your next visit.
