Gail Fisher, All Dogs Gym & Inn - The perfect place for pets and their people

N.H. Sunday News - Dog Tracks Column - 9/7/08
By: Gail T. Fisher

• Do something focused with the dog for ten to twenty minutes, several times a day. The activity should be interactive with you, and should involve the dog using her brain as well as her body and instincts. This could be practicing learned skills such as the manners taught in obedience class; teach new behaviors and skills that use the dog’s brain; or play catch or retrieve for no more than 10 minutes.
• If the dog doesn’t have a repertoire of trained behaviors that can be used to engage her brain, additional training is called for. While the reader’s dog does have some foundation training, most basic obedience courses, including ours, cover the bare minimum of dog manners. Most dogs need more training than a basic course provides. Training is an outstanding outlet for a dog’s energies, and has the additional value of giving the family a better behaved dog overall.
• Consider doggie daycare at least two or more days a week. Although not appropriate for all dogs, if the dog plays well with others, this is an outstanding outlet for the dog’s natural instincts and energies. Often two days a week such as Tuesday and Thursday works well. Such a schedule provides a mix of tiring play days interspersed between quiet recovery days. Over the weekend, the dog will do things with the family and play with the kids, so Monday will likely be a calmer day, too.

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