How to Make a Freeloader Dog Work From Home
While many dogs today enjoy a fairly carefree life of belly scratching, daytime naps and treats galore, this was not necessarily the case in previous generations of their family who may have been forced to work on a hunt, on a farm, or on a farm. household.
But even if you do not need your dogs in these qualities, it can be useful to give her a few simple tasks . Here’s what you need to know.
Why give a dog a job?
Some dogs are quite happy with lounging all day long. Others need a certain amount of mental stimulation to get through the day happily.
According to the American Kennel Club , specially bred dogs such as sheepdogs, retrievers, hunting dogs, search and rescue dogs, etc., were once jobs that required concentration, problem solving, and decision making.
So when dogs programmed to do mental work have nothing to do with their minds, they can get bored, and if left to their own devices, they can take matters into their own hands.
While they probably won’t have trouble finding projects to keep themselves busy, you might not be as happy with the end result as they are (e.g. “tidying up” your kitchen by counter surfing, removing blankets and sheets from freshly prepared table). bed or unwinding and then shredding a roll of toilet paper).
“Work” to mentally stimulate your dog
To clarify: we are not talking about the official use of your dog as a working dog (this is something completely different, requiring a lot of training). These are more like strategies to keep your dog busy so he doesn’t destroy your home and/or get your attention relentlessly.
Here are some examples:
- Finding Lost Items . Start by placing an object, such as keys, in an open area, explain to your dog that they are called “keys”, and ask him to find your keys (rewarding him with a treat when he does). Then start hiding your keys in less obvious places until they can find and extract them on their own.
- Cleaning up: Depending on how quickly your dog learns new commands, it may be possible to teach him to clean up after his toys .
- Fly hunting : If your dog naturally preys on flying or crawling insects that have entered your home, you can encourage him to spend more time on pest control by rewarding him with a treat after he catches something.
- Smell Play : Dogs who love to sniff may enjoy nose work . While there are official kits, you can train your dog to recognize and identify the smell of birch, anise, and clove, you can start by hiding treats with scents that your dog will recognize in various parts of your home (within their reach). ). ). This will keep them busy while they sniff and hunt for their treats.