Did your dog eat another shoe — or maybe that favorite new decorative pillow? Idle paws often lead to unwanted behavior.
Most of our dogs, surprisingly, were bred to complete a job. But, as we move away from farming and livestock lifestyles, our dogs become more and more of a companion instead of a worker. This leads to a lot more dog time for Fido, which he doesn’t quite appreciate the way you or I might.
Providing stimulation not only prevents this boredom, but it also helps to ward off your dog’s stress.
What do we recommend, and also use, here at Nevada Humane Society?
- Pupsicles: Create fun frozen treats for your dog by mixing their kibble, some treats, half water and half stock — beef or chicken.
- Stuffed Kongs: Stuff a Kong toy full of delicious, dog-friendly snacks, like peanut butter, pumpkin puree, eggs, shredded (boneless!) chicken, yogurt, carrots, green beans, banana slices and more! Just be sure the food is safe for your pup to eat before putting it into the Kong. These work well frozen too!
- MUSIC! Or maybe the Animal Channel, we don’t discriminate.
- Licking Pads: We attach these pads to the kennels and slather them in peanut butter so the dogs can keep their minds active while also getting a fun treat.
- Take your dog on a “sniff walk”: Often when we walk our dogs, we are doing it for our exercise benefit, as well. But, sniffing activates the parts of a dog’s brain tied to soothing and lowering anxiety. When you allow your dog to sniff, you’re activating a large part of its brain and allowing it to ease anxiety, reduce discomfort and feel good!