Unveiling the surprising secret to ensuring a content and gratified canine, as shared by a renowned trainer.
Dogs, much like humans, require a balanced lifestyle to stay happy and healthy. Lisa Burton, a renowned dog trainer from Listen Dog Training, shared insights on fulfilling a dog's needs without exhausting them on Instagram.
According to Burton, low-intensity mental stimulation for dogs can include scatter feeding and giving them stuffed enrichment toys. High-intensity physical activities like trick training, obedience training, and heelwork are also beneficial. However, consistently working a dog hard will turn them into an endurance athlete, making it increasingly difficult to exhaust them each day.
Burton advises varying the activities given to or done with a dog to provide both physical and mental stimulation. By doing so, you can balance physical and mental stimulation for your dog. Aim for daily mental engagement through activities like puzzle toys, scent games, or obedience routines lasting about 15–30 minutes, combined with moderate physical activity such as walks or play sessions.
The key approaches include rotating enrichment activities, combining mental and physical exercise, observing your dog's signals, and providing rest. Rotating games and toys regularly keeps your dog’s mind engaged and prevents boredom. Engaging their brain and body alternately or together, for example, by exploring new walking routes or adding problem-solving tasks to physical play, can be beneficial. Signs like restlessness or lethargy can indicate under- or overstimulation and help you adjust accordingly. Ensuring your dog has calm downtime after activity, as mental and physical exertion both require recovery, is essential to reduce arousal and prevent exhaustion.
Burton did not specify which dog toys are considered the best, but interactive brain game toys can provide high-intensity mental stimulation for dogs. One recommended boredom-busting toy is the Nina Ottosson Dog Worker Interactive Brain Game Toy.
It's important to note that a fulfilled dog is happy, contrary to the belief that a tired dog is happy. Excessive sleeping in dogs could be a sign of health issues, but more sleep than humans is not usually a cause for concern. Dogs need a lot of sleep, more than humans, and providing them with adequate rest is crucial in their balanced lifestyle.
By maintaining this balanced routine—mental stimulation, physical exercise, social interaction, and rest—you meet your dog’s overall needs without overtiring them, leading to a happy, well-rounded companion.
- Dogs, like humans, thrive with a balanced lifestyle that includes mental stimulation and physical exercise.
- Lisa Burton from Listen Dog Training recommends scatter feeding and enrichment toys for low-intensity mental stimulation for dogs.
- High-intensity activities like trick training, obedience training, and heelwork are also essential for a dog's overall well-being.
- To avoid overexerting dogs, Burton suggests varying activities, providing rest, and observing a dog's signs of under- or overstimulation.
- Interactive brain game toys can offer high-intensity mental stimulation, such as the Nina Ottosson Dog Worker Interactive Brain Game Toy.
- A balanced lifestyle for a dog includes mental stimulation, physical exercise, social interaction, and rest, ensuring a happy, well-rounded companion.
