7 Indoor Activities for Cold Days

During the winter sometimes it is harder to spend as much time outdoors as we would like. Whether it is pouring rain and freezing, or just too cold to be out, there are alternatives to spending time with our dogs that do not have to be in the cold elements.

1. Read what your dog is saying. If you wake up and see that your dog is also snuggled in tight, chances are that he is just as comfortable and content as you are in your warm bed. We all have a habit of worrying too much if our dogs are receiving enough attention or getting enough exercise, but sometimes we can learn to relax from them.

2. Kongs, bully sticks, knuckle bones, and other long-lasting chewies are always your friend. You can keep your dog busy and happy while you get work done around the house.

3. Interactive toy games are a great activity for one-on-one time. Watching and helping your dog find a treat through a challenging maze not only gives him something fulfilling to do, but also shines a light on his talents and quirks.

4. Work on obedience commands. Even if your pooch has already mastered sit, stay, down, come, etc., you can still make a fun game out of drill work. Practice back-to-back commands to see how fast he can do them or how long he can hold them before being released. Lots of praise and fun!

5. If you have always wanted a dog who could twirl, roll over, or pick up his toys, bad weather can be your friend. If you would rather not bundle up and go out, but your dog is bored to death, add lots of mental stimulation by teaching your dog tricks.

6. Play Hide and Seek. You can play it to practice recall, get the kids involved, and teach them the foundation to search and rescue. Have one person hide, ask your dog to go find them, and then give lots of praise when he finds them. You can also hide their favorite toy somewhere in the house and have him search. This really gets them using their noses and makes a nice tired dog!

7. If you get cabin fever and want to take your dog somewhere, car rides can be an adventure, even if you do not plan on taking your dog out. Visit your favorite pet store and walk down all the aisles, practicing sit, stay, down, leave it, and come. Tire your dog out and then as a reward he can pick out a treat or toy.

Kersti Nieto
Certified Dog Trainer
K9 Solutions LLC
nck9solutions.com

7 Ways to Build a Reliable Recall

Have fun with your dog and make coming to you a great thing!

If you want your dog to come when called, it is not something that just happens. Recall takes practice and it will be something you work on throughout your dog’s whole life. A dog who does not come when called can lead to all sorts of frustrations. Not only is your dog blowing you off (especially if you know he knows his name), but it can become a safety issue if you are near a road or somewhere unfamiliar. The good news is that it is very simple to practice and only takes a few minutes of your day.

1. Always make coming to you the most wonderful thing in the world! You want to give your dog over-the-top praise, especially if you have a young puppy, to set the bar for how meaningful it is to you. When your dog sees how happy you are for that behavior, he will always want to please you.

2. Use your dog’s name to get his attention, then only say “come” when he is moving towards you. Saying, “Scruffy, come!” while he is sniffing leaves across the yard gives him a chance to ignore you. Make sure he is on his way before adding the word “come.”

3. Build small, and work with a leash to practice. If your dog does not come to you when called from two feet away, he definitely will not from 10 feet. You can practice come from close by, reeling him in on leash and eliminating the chance for ignoring you. This reinforces recall all the time and builds on small successes. Gradually build the distance to working on a long line, and follow through with lots of praising. For an example of working on a long leash, watch this short video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOBF-3N08nw.

4. You can also use high value, extra tasty treats here and there, but you do not want to rely on treats all the time. Nobody wants to carry salmon treats around forever! Use treats sparingly, not always. Some dogs figure out that “come” is only when you have treats, so keep him on his toes. Maybe you have something, maybe not, but the reward is your happiness and praise!

5. Make “come” a game outside! As a family, or with friends, stand in a big circle, and take turns calling the dog over. This will get him used to coming to everyone in the house. If you are comfortable in the yard, you can move to playing at a park with bigger distractions. Keep your dog on a long leash so you can step on it and reel him to you if he gets distracted.

6. Throughout the day when you are home, call your dog over to you when he is not paying attention. This is great practice and makes it become a regular habit to check in with you.

7. Keeping recall positive means never calling your dog when you are mad, frustrated or for something he will not like. Instead of calling “Scruffy!” for a bath, nail trimming, or something he hates, go to him and lead him. Always keep “come” a good thing!

Kersti Nieto
Certified Dog Trainer
K9 Solutions LLC
http://www.nck9solutions.com