1. Praise your pet for good behaviour Maintaining a positive relationship with your dog is key to their happiness. Praise – both verbal and physical – is one of the best ways to show how much you appreciate them, and is crucial in positive reinforcement training. Dogs are sociable by nature and enjoy interaction. A good bond with their owner, backed up with praise and rewards, always leads to better obedience than fear of shouting or punishment. Sometimes, people fall out of the habit of praising their dog after they’ve passed the puppy-training stage but it's important to keep it up so that your bond with your pet stays super-strong..
2. Change up your daily exercise routine Walks are good for both your dog’s physical health and emotional wellbeing. Not only will it help them meet their natural exercise needs, but it’s also the perfect time for bonding. Visiting new parks, woods or beaches, or going on country walks, will help mix up your routine and provide lots of mental stimulation, as well as giving their paws a rest from concrete pavements. Remember that as far as your dog is concerned, walks are all about sniffing out new scents – so be patient if they linger. And try to give them some lead-free time to explore (just be sure their recall i.
3. Rotate dog toys to keep them exciting Like humans, dogs respond well to variety. To help stop your pet getting bored with their toys, divide them into sets and put these on a weekly rotation. When you unpack the next set after a week, it will be as if they have a whole new collection of playthings – which won’t hang around long enough to get neglected!.
4. Play games together Games are important to keep your dog physically and mentally stimulated, and stop them getting bored and destructive. Rough and tumble games can overexcite some dogs, but you don’t have to avoid all physical activity. A flirt pole (a length of pole attached to a rope with a toy at the end) makes a fun chasing activity – and a great way to exercise in a small outside space. It can also help with their training, as your dog must practise the commands: sit, look, wait, take it and drop it. Don’t miss our behaviourist-approved ideas for great dog games..
5. Give your dog a job to do Originally, dogs were often bred to do specific jobs, such as herding, hunting, guarding or finding. Giving them household jobs or chores can help channel their energy. Try asking your dog to fetch the newspaper or your slippers, close doors, put an item in a bin, clear their toys into a basket, wake up a family member, pick up something you’ve dropped or lost, or take a written message upstairs to your kids. They’ll love feeling like a helpful member of the household!.
