3 Things You Can do Right Now to Make Your Dog Happier
Living with fear is hard
Separation Anxiety takes a heavy emotional toll on the dog and pet parent. Remember: Your dog is not being disobedient, they are petrified of being alone. Living with fear is hard on the mind and body. If your dog is suffering from separation related behaviors, there are a few things you can do right now to make them happier.
Take them on a sniffing adventure
A dog's sense of smell is 10,000 - 100,000 times better than humans
Dogs experience the world differently than we do, primarily through their noses…so take your dog on a sniffing adventure walk. If you live in an area where it is safe and legal, allow them off leash to explore. If you are in a more urban environment with leash restrictions, try using a long line. The idea is to let your dog sniff and explore to their heart’s content. It can be anywhere from a wooded area, to an empty business park - your dog won’t care. The only rule is that you allow the dog to lead where its nose takes them - no heeling, no check ins, no interference. If the weather is poor, you can bring items inside from the outdoors: leaves, pinecones, branches, grass cuttings for an indoor sniff adventure. Even some worn socks, herbs, oils and other scents are fun things to sniff. Get creative!
Build a Dig Pit
Digging releases stress and reduces arousal
Some dogs love to dig. The act of digging can relief stress and reduce arousal. Rather than trying to suppress this natural behavior, consider creating a special area for them to dig. This can be anything from a small kiddie pool filled with dirt or sand, or a sectioned off area of your garden. Bury your dog’s favorite toys/bones/chews in the pit and watch them dig them up. If you don’t have the space for an outdoor dig pit, you can create one indoors. Start with a shallow bin. Alternate a layer of kibble/treats with towels and random loose items (toys, paper towel rolls, paper cups). The layers encourage your dog to dig out the food. There are even commercially made products like iDig to satisfy the most tenacious of diggers.
Use a Snufflemat
Snufflemats are one of the best things that’s ever happened to pet dogs. They resemble a bathmat, with longer strands. The mat is filled with your dog’s regular kibble, or special treats, and your dog uses their nose to “snuffle” out the food. Dogs are scavengers. By feeding out of a snufflemat, their need to sniff and seek out food is satiated. My dogs dogs eat regular meals out of snufflemats. My favorite is the Paw5 Snufflemat.
There are so many other things you can do to enrich your dog’s life, but these are my top three recommendations to clients. Sometimes, the best dog “training” advice is simply to LET THEM DOG.
