How to Keep Dogs Busy and Avoid Destructive Behaviour at Home

 

To keep your dog positively occupied while indoors and outdoors, you can set up enrichment activities such as puzzles and treat dispensers, or simply alternate their toys on a rotating basis. Follow our 6 - step approach that will focus on activities such as hide-and-seek, food dispensers, and enhancing your dog's natural behaviours! Of course, nothing beats the one-on-one interaction that you can provide with your dog through fun games such as tug-of-war, fetch (an oldie but a goody!), and regular walks.  Regular walks expose your dog to those enriching fresh smells, sounds, and textures that will satisfy their natural urge to behave like a dog!

 

1. Hide-and-seek environment
Creating a hide-and-seek environment with food rewards is a fun way for your dog to practice their search skills. Simply hide small pieces of treats around the house or backyard, tell them “find it” then watch them search high and low until they find the hidden snack! It’s great mental stimulation and your pup will love exploring the house in search of their reward.

2. Teach basic commands

Teaching basic commands such as “sit”, “come” and “stay” gives your pet mental stimulation and helps to prevent behavioural problems in the future. In addition to teaching these basic commands, there are many more creative ones you can teach depending on your pet's level of intelligence. If they pick up tricks quickly, teach the advanced ones like wave or shake a paw! Make sure that your training sessions are positive, short, and regular. Not only will your dog master the important basics of obedience training, you will also strengthen your  bond.

3. Interactive games
Games like tug of war and fetch offer plenty of entertainment for both you and your pooch inside or outside! These interactive games let you bond together while also giving them physical exercise (even indoors!) You can also try playing some easy agility courses or obstacle courses around the house – just make sure all furniture is moved away from any potential hazards during playtime!

4. Interesting environment

Keeping their environment interesting throughout the day is key for keeping boredom away. Start your day together with a brisk walk, this is especially beneficial for dogs that may spend more time indoors. exposure to the outdoors will turn on your dog's natural instincts through smell, sight & movement. It will also use up some of their energy and should result in a calmer (and tired) dog as a result! We have some great tips & solutions for dogs that can be difficult to walk in our Blog - 3 tips that will stop walking the dog being a drag!

5. Puzzle feeders & toys
Puzzle feeders & toys are designed especially for dogs that need more mental stimulation than just eating regular kibble from a bowl every day. The most common type of puzzle feeder game involves having sections where each piece has its own compartment filled with treats; after pressing down each lever/piece correctly your dog is rewarded with a treat – providing mental stimulation along with tasty rewards! Look for puzzle toys that have scent holes such as the Dog Tornado Puzzle, this is perfect for beginners. Most puzzle toys will be graded with a level of difficulty so your dog can progress to a harder puzzle when they master their first level. The Nina Ottosson range caters to these dogs well with a degree of difficulty from level 1 (beginners) - level 4 (expert). 

The KONG-shaped Wobbler is dual action treat and food dispensing toy. It sits

upright until pushed by a dog’s paw or nose and then periodically dispenses tasty rewards as it wobbles, spins and rolls.
The unpredictable movement keeps the toy challenging, even for seasoned Wobbler users due to the heavy base. The Wobbler can also be used as an alternative to a dog bowl to help slow and extend mealtime while providing exercise for your dog. 

Other challenging environments involve snuffle mats packed full of treats which require problem solving skills before they can enjoy their reward – perfect for those intelligent dogs who need an extra level of challenge in life!

 

A snuffle mat is a large mat that features pockets, folds and nooks for you to hide dog kibble or treats through. Nina Ottosson's Garden Mat has 3 main area's for hiding food and is easy to clean. It can be rolled up when not in use or to take away with you. Snuffle mats engage your dog's seeking behaviour as they forage and search for the food. As the dog finds the food oxytocin, (a happy hormone or neuropeptide synthesized by the hypothalamus in mammals) signals are released in their brain. Oxytocin is the hormone  responsible for promoting positive social behaviors in dogs toward us!

 

6. Reward based training

Reward based training approaches should always be implemented in order keep their brain active while reinforcing positive behaviour at home around other people including children and visiting family members who come across our four-legged friends. For best results with rewards based training we recommend using your dog's favourite treat! Always look for healthy, low fat rewards such as Fit 'n' Flash air-dried chicken breast or beef fillets.

Most pet owners think that reward based training will involve treats, but for some dogs, treats are not always their favourite thing! If your dog is not food driven, you may find their reward could be chasing the ball or playing with their favourite squeaky toy.