Dogs are intelligent creatures. They like to use their mind just as people do. They also can become bored and despondent if they don’t get the chance to use this thinking ability regularly. This applies to all breeds of dog. However dogs that have strong working breed heritage may become more frustrated than less active dogs.
It’s very important that, as responsible dog carers, we tend to every need of our animals. This will ensure their well being and also make our lives easier, as a dog with exercised body and mind will settle easily when you need and want it to.
Working together with your dog will build relationship between you. It will teach your dog control and strengthen your bond.
There are many games to play with your canine to use his mind. For instance a dog that likes to use his nose and is constantly sniffing around and interested in scents will appreciate search games. This type of game can be played outdoors or in the house and garden and with either a toy or treats dependent on your dog’s preference.
Teach your dog to search
The stages of teaching your dog to search are described here.I refer to your dog as “he” for ease throughout these stages. However a female dog will enjoy this as much as a male.
Firstly decide on the dogs reward. Save it for this particular game. It can be treats or a specific toy. Produce the reward when you do search play and put it away at the end.
- Initially find an area where you are unlikely to be disturbed. A maximum of five meters squared approximately will suffice at this early stage. This will help you and your dog to concentrate on the task in hand.
- Show the dog the reward and either have someone hold him (or tie him up if safe to do so) whilst you take the desired reward away and pretend to hide it in four or five different places.
- Touch the areas you stop at to create a scent. Hide the reward in one of the places but make sure the dog does not see. Then return to the dog. Show him your empty hands and release him to find his prize.
- It’s good to create a key word or phrase at this point. Just something simple like “find it” will do. This key word should be used from this point every time the dog is searching.
- He will sniff around the disturbance you have created whilst searching for the reward and should find it quickly. Once it is found call him back to you and either play with the toy or give him a treat and lots of praise.
Vary the search areas. It is possible to do this in the house using shelves and cushions to hide his prize. incorporate touching a lot of places around the room to spread the scent.
Moving on and proofing
When the dog is doing this well every time, you can progress by taking away the visual stimulation.
- Place the dog just out of site of the search area.
- Show him the reward where he waits.
- Go into the search area and create disturbance.
- Hide the reward within the area of search.
- Return to the dog to show your empty hands. If you do this well the dog should, when released, run straight into the area and search until he finds it.
The areas that you can use this are endless. You can shut him in the house and hide his prize in the garden. Hide a reward in a room then send him in. Put the reward in a bush at the park and eventually make the search a really long one.
You can then do what is called proofing. This is honing his searching skill. Make the games longer. Put the reward in more complicated places. This will encourage the dog to think and work hard on each search.
Happy and confident
It’s Important that you work through these stages at the dogs learning pace.
Watch out for signals that your dog may be losing confidence. He may show displacement behaviours such as stopping and scratching himself or constantly looking at the ground around him. If this happens it will be because your dog is confused or uncertain so there is no point going on from this point. It would do more harm than good. First bring his confidence back up by taking the pressure off. Give him praise and something different to think about.before going back to start again at a previous stage that he has already mastered.
Remember this is fun for your dog so try to keep it interesting and pressure free. It will also be fascinating for you. It’s great to see your dog learn and build confidence in his ability. You will soon start to recognise when he has found his reward by the slightest change in his body language.
The ultimate test will be asking someone else to hide the reward within a search area and keep the location to themselves. This will ensure that you and your dog both rely on his nose and your trust to win the game. A true team and a great trick for barbeques.
Sally Gutteridge - Sally is a writer and holistic therapist that lives in Scotland with her boyfriend and four rescue dogs
