| It's raining, it's pouring - and Fido definitely isn't snoring. | | | | This suggestion comes certified dog trainer, Mark |
| Preschool teachers and dog owners absolutely dread | | | | Goldberg. Begin with a hungry dog. Show her a tasty |
| rainy days (and I speak from experience on both | | | | treat, something high value like a small bit of chicken, |
| counts). I used to teach preschool in Massachusetts | | | | and toss it on the floor in front of her. Tell her "find it." |
| and on the days my class could not go outside, the | | | | Toss the next treat around a corner so it lands out of |
| kids would quite literally try to the climb the walls. | | | | sight. Tell her "find it" again and help get her started by |
| As a dog owner, my experience has been that | | | | pointing in the right direction. Slowly work your way up |
| boredom and pent-up energy causes dogs to eat the | | | | to hiding the treats behind curtains, under furniture, and |
| walls instead of climbing them (and I mean this literally - | | | | eventually in other rooms. Increase the challenge by |
| my parents had a Hungarian Sheepdog who literally | | | | hiding the treat inside a toy. |
| chewed a big chunk out of their wall one day when he | | | | Although this activity might seem less exhausting that |
| was a puppy and bored). Since much of the United | | | | a run in the park, the fact is that your dog will be |
| States is still in the grip of winter weather, and many | | | | actively using her strongest sense, the sense of smell. |
| dogs find themselves stuck indoors for days at a time, | | | | The olfactory center of your dog's brain occupies a |
| I would like to present a great game to keep your dog | | | | tremendous amount of resources. This means that |
| active and mentally stimulated - no wall eating required! | | | | working scent busily for 15 or 20 minutes can be quite |
| How To Play Treat Hide-And-Seek | | | | tiring! |