Keep Your Pooch Entertained In Lockdown And New Ways To Train As You Have The Time

In the past couple of weeks, everyone has had a very hard time. Changing our routines, trying to find new ways to keep our dogs and kids entertained in lockdown, moving our offices at home- none of it has exactly been easy.

Making sure everyone- including the family dog- is happy and entertained can be exhausting, and you need to find more and more ways to do so.

In general, you are allowed to take your dog out, even to the park if you follow social distancing guidelines. However, not everyone lives near a park, beach or other feasible outdoor area, so it’s a good idea to know how to entertain your dog at home regardless.

Some dogs have more energy than others, and if you are in this situation, you will need to provide him with physical and mental stimulation during the lockdown.

Here are some games you can play with your pup while you’re in lockdown.

1. Create an obstacle course

You can create an obstacle course with what you have around the house or, if you prefer the fast and easy route, buy a dog obstacle course kit online. Either way, both you and your dog will have a blast navigating it. Who knows, you may even train the next agility dog show rock star!

2. Tug of War

Tug of war is a great game you can play with your pup, as long as he is somewhat trained. He needs to know when to release and also how to play. If he doesn’t know these things, he may accidentally hurt you or himself.

3. Use interactive treat toys

The days can get very boring for everyone, and using food toys can add another activity to your pup’s schedule. There are many models you can choose and your dog will be more than happy to work for his food.

4. Hide and Seek

Hide and seek can be a very fun game to play inside with your dog. All you need are some treats and some very fun spots to hide. Just go ahead and hide, and call out your dog. As soon as he finds you, give him a treat, and go again. This is a game you can play with the whole family!

5. Teach new tricks and commands

In case you didn’t get the time so far to teach your dog every little command, now it’s the time. You can buy yourself a clicker and start teaching your dog to do all sorts of things.

6. Sleep

Even though you’re in lockdown, it doesn’t mean you can neglect sleep. An adult dog needs to sleep between 12 and 14 hours a day, and a puppy needs about 18 hours a day. Make sure you give him the time to rest and prepare for a new series of activities.

At the same time, make sure to adjust his diet. It’s very important to protect your pup. If he doesn’t have a lot of physical activity, you may need to give him a little less food. Obesity can affect every dog and you may have a hard time fixing it.

Keeping in mind your dog’s best interests, make sure he gets all the activity he needs. Even though it may be hard, there are always things you can do. Be there for him with every adjustment and maybe teach him a new trick.

Contributed by Nicole, editor in chief of ALPHATRAINEDDOG ]