[NAGDU] Keeping the dog entertained

[Danielle Sykora]

I'm a grad student, so all of my classes switched to online for the
rest of the semester. I live in a pretty rural area, which allows me
to take almost daily walks around my development without getting
within six feet of most people. There's only so many streets to walk
though, and it's pretty boring and repetitive. On the plus side, it
does give us a chance to work on dog distractions, because everyone is
out walking there dogs on nice days.

I have four dogs. Three of them do play together sometimes, which is a
decent energy outlet. I have a fenced yard that is great when the dogs
can go out, but it's been so muddy most of these past weeks. Playing
fetch in the fenced yard or individually on a flexi is the favorite
activity of my guide and retired guide. Typical retrievers. Tug is
also a good energy outlet on rainy days. I'm not one to do much of
repetitive obedience sessions, preferring to scatter obedience
throughout daily life. I've been brushing up on obedience with
distractions while I have the time though. For example, heeling across
a trail of dropped food and holding extended stays with toys being
squeaked and tossed around.

I've been doing some trick training to get the dogs thinking. Some
tricks and tasks I've taught either my guide, retired guide, or both
include:
*rolling on their side
*giving paw
*spinning in a circle
*closing a door
*retrieving designated objects (leash, bowl, etc(
*locating dropped objects
*putting front paws up on a surface
*resting head in my lap

I've also been training my retired guide in nose work. It's super fun,
and maybe we'll even compete in trials in the future.

Danielle

On 4/7/20, Cindy Ray via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I think I have the perfecdt answer to your problem. Get Krokus a pet! Look
> at what fun Rox's dogs have. LOL. Fisher is so old I think he sleeps away
> the boredom.
>
> Cindy Lou Ray
> cindyray at gmail.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione via
> NAGDU
> Sent: Tuesday, April 7, 2020 10:58 AM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
> Subject: [NAGDU] Keeping the dog entertained
>
> I'd be interested to hear how people are keeping the dog entertained in
> this
> time of lockdowns.
>
> I am working from home full-time.  Before, I was working from home 3 days a
> week, but we had 2 days of going into New York, which kept us both sharp.
> Now, I try to take a walk every day it's not actually raining.  However, I
> keep away from the main streets, because Krokus naturally has no idea about
> social distancing, and there are still some people walking around on the
> main drag.  There are some on the backstreets too, but I can hear them
> before we come up to them, so we don't get too close.  It does rather limit
> our walks, though.  I try to go around the big circle different ways, make
> different turns, etc, but it's still the same big circle, and he knows it.
>
> I've also started taking Krokus into the backyard on his Flexi-leash.  On
> his own, he always eats bark and dirt, then throws it up at 3 AM.  On his
> Flexi, I can keep him away from those snacks, and he seems to enjoy having
> a
> nice sniff around.
>
> And of course we have some play sessions.  But I still think he's a bit
> bored (as are many of us.)
>
> Tracy
>
>
>
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