Enjoy another scent based game for your dog. Play helps learning and there’s good evidence from research studies that dogs who get a play session as a reward learn better – find out how.
Did you make a scent box from last week’s email? Is your dog loving it?
Gus adores both his cardboard and paper scent box and his snuffle mat. So much so, that if I did put any kibble in a bowl for him and scatter some in the mat, he would ignore the bowl completely!
Dogs love sniffing
Dogs just love doing what comes naturally – using their noses.
Today’s game is to help them do that in lots of different places.
Searching should be a 100% positive experience for your dog. It’s our job to make sure the reward for finding something is what the dog really, really wants. That could be food, toy, or fuss. But the best reward is a game with you.
Did you know that play helps learning? There’s good evidence from research studies that dogs who get a play session as a reward learn better.
Today’s game:
Stage 1: Do our Reward audit if you haven’t done it already – and even if you have it’s worth re-doing! You need to know your dog’s favourite foods, toys and other types of reward in order to be able to use rewards effectively across all your training.
Stage 2: Choose your dog’s favourite toy and play hide and seek. Hide it around the house, drop it into long grass when out on walks, anywhere and everywhere. Start off by making sure a part of the toy is visible and hide it at ground level.
Beware the temptation to show your dog where it is – just guide them to the general area and ask them to “find it”. Then shut up and let their marvellous noses do the work.
When they succeed, have a party playing with the toy! The best toys for this are something you can hold on to and play tug with, but if your dog’s favouritist toy is a ball, then play with it close to you by rolling it round or dropping it for your dog to catch – I show you how in today’s video in the Canine Challenge Facebook group.
Make it more challenging for them
Once your dog becomes proficient at finding their part-hidden toy, start to hide it in more difficult places, such as hiding it higher up, such as behind cushions, on a low shelf or in a hedge or bush, or hiding it completely. Make sure the area is safe for your dog to explore, of course, and take your dog’s size, health and physical ability into consideration when choosing your hiding places.
Keep training and stay safe,
Carol
PS My new book is going live! Please join me at the FREE online launch event for Doggy Doctor Surgery Secrets at 7pm on Thursday 28thJanuary. You’ll get the chance to win a free copy as well as be entertained! The book is also available for pre-order here and in paperback at a very special 60% off launch price…
