Channelling your dog’s natural behaviours : Activity programme 1. Scenting.

The following activities are great fun for all the gun dog breeds,
but are suitable for all dogs and can be a real challenge for those dogs
who tend to use their eyes more than their noses.
If your dog is a determined hunter and chaser and you feel you are always
stopping him from doing what he loves best, these activities will give him a
safe outlet for some of his hunting behaviours. Have a go with your dog,
whatever his breed…….. work through the activities and you will be
encouraging him to use his brain and one of his natural canine behaviours
in a controlled and acceptable way and, best of all, you will be doing it together.

SCENTING GAMES TO PLAY WITH YOUR DOG

Game 1.
The simplest game of all ! Take a handful of your dog’s dried food and throw it up the garden.
Enjoy watching your dog use his nose to find every piece.

Game 2. Which hand?
With your hands behind your back, hide a treat in one closed hand. Offer your
dog both of your closed hands to sniff. If your dog sniffs (or pats with his paw)
the hand with the treat in it tell him what a good boy he is and give him the treat.
Repeat with the treat in the other hand. Sometimes make it tricky for your dog
by putting the empty hand closer to him than the one with the treat in it.

Game 3. “Find it”
Step 1: Either get someone to hold your dog, put him in his crate or ask him to
stay while he watches you hide a biscuit under a rug or cushion or
behind a door. Tell him to “find it” and release him to go and get and eat
the biscuit.

Step 2: Repeat this, hiding the biscuit in lots of different places, but still letting
your dog see where you are hiding the biscuit.

Step 3: Hide the biscuit in one of the usual places while your dog is not looking.
Release your dog into the room and tell him to “find it”.

Step 4: Repeat this, hiding the biscuit in lots of the usual places, but without
your dog seeing where you are hiding it. Your dog should now be
beginning to use his nose to find the biscuit.

Step 5: Repeat steps 1 to 4 in a different room or in the garden.

If you repeat these steps in a variety of situations your dog should soon be confident
that if you say “find it” and he keeps searching he will find a reward.

Step 6: Now try this with one of his favourite toys. When he finds it have a game
with him with the toy or swap the toy for a treat and hide the toy again.

Make this game useful; on a walk drop a glove or a handkerchief, walk on a few paces
and then send your dog back to “find it”. When your dog finds the article swap it for a tasty treat.
Repeat this gradually increasing the number of steps you take before sending your dog back to “find it”.

Sue Kinchin MAPDT 00922
Contact : suekinchin@btinternet.com