Can you imagine life without your dog? They keep us fit, get us outdoors and during difficult times provide comfort – they enrich our lives. But what do we do in return?
Dogs have inquisitive minds and benefit from a varied life. Not all dogs are the same and we must adjust our activities to suit our dog, think about what they really enjoy and you’ll be enriching their lives in return.
Here’s some ideas to get you thinking….
Vary where you walk. The same route day in day out is boring for you and your dog. Take your time and enjoy the scenery while your dog enjoys that sniff.
Food doesn’t have to come from a bowl – stuffed kongs, treat balls and snuffle mats will keep your dog entertained whilst being fed. You can scatter food in the garden or hide under upturned plant pots, it doesn’t have to be an expensive exercise to be rewarding.
Training is a lifelong activity which is why we offer a variety of classes for all abilities. It increases the bond between dog and handler and your dog is never too old to learn something new. Our club manager Bronwen has recently taught Pagan to retrieve a specific toy from amongst others in the toy box by name alone. Pretty impressive when Pagan is blind and he’s using his nose to hunt out a specific item.
There’s a wide variety of enrichment toys on the market if you want to treat your dog to something new but for some dogs there’s nothing more enriching than spending quality time with the owner they love.
