Sharon Empson wrote 11/02/2010 03:31 PM enrichment for dogs #301519 - 11/02/2010 03:31 PM
Sharon Empson Webboard User Reg: 08-27-2007 Posts: 1197 Loc: Offline	I have been trying to find ways of enriching my dogs life.( dogs, three terriers, largest one weighs 22 lbs, smallest 18 lbs. One a Jack russel mix who is very, very active! We have a big yard for them, I train them and play with them, they go camping with us, and I take them for walks. I am looking for things to enrich their lives as dogs, not as my pets. My yard where they play is not landscaped, so they can dig there. Looking for ideas. Would love to bless them they are such great dogs. Thanks for ideas. Sharon Sharon Empson
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Kadi_Thingvall wrote 11/02/2010 03:46 PM Re: enrichment for dogs [Re: Sharon Empson ] #301524 - 11/02/2010 03:46 PM
Kadi_Thingvall Webboard User Reg: 01-14-2008 Posts: 213 Loc: Offline	Since they are Terrier's, hunting/searching is going to be one way to enrich their lives. Lock them up, but if possible let them watch (just the first few times) then go out in the yard and hide things that they love. Toys, food, etc. NOTE: only do this if they won't fight over these things. Then turn them loose to have some fun. You can make it easy at first, and harder later, even burying some of the items or putting them in difficult to reach areas so they really have to work for them. If you really want to let them have some fun, find a local club that does "going to ground" and get them involved in that. When I had my JRT I'd take her out with a local JRT club to the Avacado groves and we'd turn all the dogs loose to hunt rats and squirrels. They LOVED it, and the grove owners appreciated any they could find and eradicate. Just routine hunts, even if they weren't that successful, helped encourage the rodents to find new places to live. Kadi Thingvall http://www.dantero.com
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Michael_Wise wrote 11/02/2010 03:49 PM Re: enrichment for dogs [Re: Sharon Empson ] #301527 - 11/02/2010 03:49 PM
Michael_Wise Webboard User Reg: 07-10-2006 Posts: 4454 Loc: Arkansas Offline	Perhaps they would like a suggestion box. "Eat more, sleep more, play more, smell more stuff, pee on more things, eat more poop, procreate more(family friendly:wink....." I think that they probably love doing all the things that you listed doing with them.:smile: Dogs love being with their people.:smile: But I'm always partial to a little tracking.:smile:
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Connie Sutherland wrote 11/02/2010 04:16 PM Re: enrichment for dogs [Re: Sharon Empson ] #301529 - 11/02/2010 04:16 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	My dogs love marker training. When there can be action included, outside, then they all practically faint from happiness. Probably a silly goes-without-saying question, but do they know the retrieve, for big games of fetch in turn? The ones whose turn it is not get just as excited as the one going after the toy. This game (like everything in my house and also working with other dogs) requires that every command be preceded by a name. Kadi's suggestions are of course spot on for your breed!
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Tracy Collins wrote 11/02/2010 05:37 PM Re: enrichment for dogs [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #301535 - 11/02/2010 05:37 PM
Tracy Collins Webboard User Reg: 10-09-2008 Posts: 1917 Loc: St. Louis, Missouri Offline	Mine love agility! Even if you don't go to an organized class, you can buy (or make) basic agility obstacles and teach them. It's fun, requires good teamwork between you and the dog--and it wears them out physically and mentally. And our favorite at-home game is our own invented "nosework" game of Find it! I select a toy, show it to them, then hide it...they spend many minutes racing around the house looking for it. The better they get at it, you can start hiding it in harder places to find. I think my crew's favorite "enrichment" activity, however, is going to Sonic. Cinco | Jack | Fanny | Ellie | Chip | Deacon
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Simon Tai wrote 11/02/2010 05:41 PM Re: enrichment for dogs [Re: Tracy Collins ] #301536 - 11/02/2010 05:41 PM
Simon Tai Webboard User Reg: 06-02-2010 Posts: 222 Loc: NJ Offline	Quote: tracy collins I think my crew's favorite "enrichment" activity, however, is going to Sonic. For burgers, fries, and peach lemonade? Louie!
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Sharon Empson wrote 11/02/2010 06:35 PM Re: enrichment for dogs [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #301540 - 11/02/2010 06:35 PM
Sharon Empson Webboard User Reg: 08-27-2007 Posts: 1197 Loc: Offline	Yes, love those suggestions. My dogs do know the retrieve. We do it by taking turns. Terra is still to afraid to retrieve when other dogs are running about, and has just gotten used to the arm movement of throwing a toy so we will be moving on to the retrieve when she is alone. cody and bindi take turns. First cody then bindi. Its funny-- now that I take turns with the retrieve at night when I throw the ball for cody, and bindi, if cody gets it, he takes turns with Jerry and I as to who gets the ball! I do marker training and it does melt my heart when we are working on something how much joy is in their little dog hearts. The idea of hiding things is great, I will try it. great suggestions. I was thinking of getting them a little tent with a tunnel attached to it. It is a kids size one, they may enjoy running through it. Thanks. sharon Sharon Empson
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Sharon Empson wrote 11/02/2010 06:37 PM Re: enrichment for dogs [Re: Tracy Collins ] #301542 - 11/02/2010 06:37 PM
Sharon Empson Webboard User Reg: 08-27-2007 Posts: 1197 Loc: Offline	We also play search. Cody just loves it! I hide things over the house and then tell him search and he looks high and low until he finds it, then he runs around the house jumping with joy. Good suggestion. I noticed today on your photo at the bottom of your message that it looks like a little cat down in front of the dogs. Is that what it is? Sharon Empson
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Tracy Collins wrote 11/02/2010 06:56 PM Re: enrichment for dogs [Re: Sharon Empson ] #301546 - 11/02/2010 06:56 PM
Tracy Collins Webboard User Reg: 10-09-2008 Posts: 1917 Loc: St. Louis, Missouri Offline	No, not a cat--a midget dog. That's Fanny, our Cardigan Corgi. She's small but feisty! Cinco | Jack | Fanny | Ellie | Chip | Deacon
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