JBB Dog Training
James B Barnes
2.7.19 4:19p
2.7.19 4:19p
Picture this: you and your furry baby start your day with a quiet breakfast, you some coffee on the back porch while the dog does his business and runs around a bit, and then you two go for a nice, long walk after. It’s a pretty relaxing morning and your heart swells with love for your companion. Aren’t they just so good? Perfect babies. Once you go about the rest of your day your pup is left to their own devices. This is the turning point. This is the moment where most dog owners head for work, or to run errands for a few hours.
On the flip side of the scenario, this is the moment where dogs either decide to sleep the day away until you return, or to start ripping into your new sofa. Well, not quite as dramatic as that but close enough. You know the deal, you come home after a long day at work and the dog has destroyed a pillow, scattering the stuffing all throughout the house. They probably got into the trashcan too, leaving the remains on your freshly made bed. I’m all too familiar with that feeling of anger and defeat; many dogs I’ve had and worked with over the years have done this.
The good thing is- it’s not personal. We as people have a tendency to anthropomorphize our canine companions. Yes, our dogs love us like we love them but they don’t think about us like we think about them. Dogs view us as their caretakers, close enough to parent figures, and “repay” us for taking care of them by doing their doggy jobs as best they can. Quick sidebar- the canine definition of “job” here is along the lines of “a behavior that will make my parents happy”. Such as not wrecking the house.
In order to succeed in not wrecking the house, they need to get rid of their energy. From the scenario I talked about in the beginning you would think your dog was ready to go, right? They ran around the backyard for twenty minutes and then you went for a long walk. You’re good, right? Well…. Not so much. While that’s a good start, we haven’t accounted for mental stimulation yet. Sure you may have physically tired them out but if they’re bored? Oh goodness, say goodbye to your Louis, ladies.
Adding some easy and inexpensive boredom busters to their routine is sure fire way to save your household items from an unfortunate end. You can start with something simple like hiding your dogs favorite toys around the house for them to find and play with when you’re gone. This can evolve into more complicated scent training and other forms of scent work. Dogs experience the world mostly through their nose so giving them nose based jobs is ideal, especially for the extra sniffy breeds.
If you have previously done obedience training with your dog try getting back into it! Even if you just go over sit and down for the first day that will help to tire them out mentally. If there is more than one dog in the house you can train them one on one or you can up the difficulty and train both at the same time. When I train with both of my Goldens I start both out in a sit, then move one into a down. Before I leave the downed dog I give them the stay cue to remind them that while I’m working with the other dog they still need to maintain their position.
Tell us about your dogs’ boredom busters! What do you do to help them get ready for work?
Great information! I'll have to give hiding his toys a try, I think he'd have a blast hunting them all down! I like to incorporate some training during playtime just to make sure he has to put it some brain work too. Even if it's as simple as doing a sit and a touch before getting to catch the ball.
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