Courtney
12-27-2005, 04:25 PM
One of our volunteers who is a vet student wrote this article for the GDRNT newsletter this year. It has some good advice in it. I was thinking those of you with perpetually hungry dogs might want to try some of these ideas for feeding...
ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES: WORK YOUR DOG'S BRAIN
By Cassie Epstein
Enrichment activities are any games or activities that you do with your dog to encourage him to engage his mind. It can be as simple as taking a walk, or something more interesting, such as hiding a scented toy. Enrichment activities are important to our dogs because more and more, our dogs are kept mainly indoors, with no chance to hunt or interact with a community of other dogs. A wild dog would spend most of its time looking for food or creating safe nesting places. A dog that is kept as a pet often does not have an outlet for its natural breed tendencies or a way to get out his energy. This can lead to or exacerbate problem behaviors, like hyperactivity, destructive chewing, compulsive disorders, or attention-seeking behavior.
While enrichment of the dogs' environment cannot completely substitute for exercise and outings, it can help your dog be more comfortable and well adjusted. It can help give the dog something to do during the hours that you are out, and encourage a more normal range of behaviors.
Remember that not all of these exercises are good for every dog. Some dogs cannot be trusted at all with certain toys or treats; some dogs must be supervised with some items. Rotate these activities so that they do not become boring. I like to measure out my dogs' food every day and give it all throughout the day as treats or part of an enrichment activity. This is not always possible with our big Danes because they eat so much. But you can measure out a portion of the meal to be used as enrichment, and feed the rest as usual. This way they are not getting a lot of extra calories from treats that may not be so nutritious. Remember to still only feed small meals throughout the day to your Danes, so as to minimize the risks of bloat.
1. Scatter some dog food in the yard or on the floor and have the dog search for each piece.
2. Stuff a Kong type toy full of your dog’s meal with a little peanut butter to seal it in and freeze it overnight, then let your dog work to get it all out.
3. Divide portions of your dog's food into small containers and let them search the house to find it. (Not a good idea if you have multiple pets or small children. Remember to take into account your personal situation.)
4. Hang rope or other toys from a branch in the yard for your dog to tug on.
5. Old jugs can be fun toys. Old 2-liter or Powerade-type bottles can be great. Always make sure to take off the plastic ring around the neck first as well as the cap. You can also put a portion of your dog's meal in the bottle and let him figure out how to get the pieces out.
6. Make a popsicle out of sugar-free Kool-Aid, broth, or Gatorade powder mixed with veggies, meat, dog food, or other items.
7. Get a baby pool and fill it with water if your dog likes to splash around, or sand if your dog likes to dig. You can also hide treats or toys in the sand.
8. Put new and interesting scents around the yard or house. You can buy animal scents in the sporting section of many stores and either place them around your yard or put the scent on a toy and hide the toy.
9. Hide fruits, veggies, meats or just plain dog food around the yard. You can hide it anywhere, especially since our Danes are so tall. It's like an Easter egg hunt for the pups.
10. Many companies make toys that dispense dog food or treats. Products such as the Buster Cube or the Twist 'n Treat are both made to release dog food a little at a time to keep dogs busy and their minds engaged.
11. Don't forget training!! Training is an excellent way to engage your dog's brain and to form a strong bond. Remember to keep it upbeat and positive. As little as two minutes a day will help your dog have better manners and make you better friends.
I hope you put these ideas to use. Above all, remember that every dog is different and not all dogs can do all of these activities.
Think carefully before doing any activity, whether or not if it will work in your household with your dog. Supervise your dog any time that it is playing with a new toy or trying a new treat to make sure that it is safe. Happy enriching!
ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES: WORK YOUR DOG'S BRAIN
By Cassie Epstein
Enrichment activities are any games or activities that you do with your dog to encourage him to engage his mind. It can be as simple as taking a walk, or something more interesting, such as hiding a scented toy. Enrichment activities are important to our dogs because more and more, our dogs are kept mainly indoors, with no chance to hunt or interact with a community of other dogs. A wild dog would spend most of its time looking for food or creating safe nesting places. A dog that is kept as a pet often does not have an outlet for its natural breed tendencies or a way to get out his energy. This can lead to or exacerbate problem behaviors, like hyperactivity, destructive chewing, compulsive disorders, or attention-seeking behavior.
While enrichment of the dogs' environment cannot completely substitute for exercise and outings, it can help your dog be more comfortable and well adjusted. It can help give the dog something to do during the hours that you are out, and encourage a more normal range of behaviors.
Remember that not all of these exercises are good for every dog. Some dogs cannot be trusted at all with certain toys or treats; some dogs must be supervised with some items. Rotate these activities so that they do not become boring. I like to measure out my dogs' food every day and give it all throughout the day as treats or part of an enrichment activity. This is not always possible with our big Danes because they eat so much. But you can measure out a portion of the meal to be used as enrichment, and feed the rest as usual. This way they are not getting a lot of extra calories from treats that may not be so nutritious. Remember to still only feed small meals throughout the day to your Danes, so as to minimize the risks of bloat.
1. Scatter some dog food in the yard or on the floor and have the dog search for each piece.
2. Stuff a Kong type toy full of your dog’s meal with a little peanut butter to seal it in and freeze it overnight, then let your dog work to get it all out.
3. Divide portions of your dog's food into small containers and let them search the house to find it. (Not a good idea if you have multiple pets or small children. Remember to take into account your personal situation.)
4. Hang rope or other toys from a branch in the yard for your dog to tug on.
5. Old jugs can be fun toys. Old 2-liter or Powerade-type bottles can be great. Always make sure to take off the plastic ring around the neck first as well as the cap. You can also put a portion of your dog's meal in the bottle and let him figure out how to get the pieces out.
6. Make a popsicle out of sugar-free Kool-Aid, broth, or Gatorade powder mixed with veggies, meat, dog food, or other items.
7. Get a baby pool and fill it with water if your dog likes to splash around, or sand if your dog likes to dig. You can also hide treats or toys in the sand.
8. Put new and interesting scents around the yard or house. You can buy animal scents in the sporting section of many stores and either place them around your yard or put the scent on a toy and hide the toy.
9. Hide fruits, veggies, meats or just plain dog food around the yard. You can hide it anywhere, especially since our Danes are so tall. It's like an Easter egg hunt for the pups.
10. Many companies make toys that dispense dog food or treats. Products such as the Buster Cube or the Twist 'n Treat are both made to release dog food a little at a time to keep dogs busy and their minds engaged.
11. Don't forget training!! Training is an excellent way to engage your dog's brain and to form a strong bond. Remember to keep it upbeat and positive. As little as two minutes a day will help your dog have better manners and make you better friends.
I hope you put these ideas to use. Above all, remember that every dog is different and not all dogs can do all of these activities.
Think carefully before doing any activity, whether or not if it will work in your household with your dog. Supervise your dog any time that it is playing with a new toy or trying a new treat to make sure that it is safe. Happy enriching!