STOP TIRING OUT YOUR DOG THE WRONG WAY! OUTDOORS EDITION

Welcome back to TheProPaw pup guide! Last week we covered how to mentally stimulate your dogs mind with activities while indoors. This week we will be covering the same topic but outdoor activities instead! Here are some of our top picks for outdoor activities:

• Scent game: A scent game is where you grab a couple of treats your dog likes and have them use their nose to find it. First you'll find a grassy area like a yard, then you'll scatter treats all around the designated area, finally you will bring the vacuum(your dog) out and have them begin sniffing out for those treats. It brings them back to their roots when dogs used to be used for hunting but it's for treats now! 

• Interactive games with commands: Incorporate obedience training with games like tug of war or fetch. Teaching verbal cues like "leave it" or "drop it" will help stimulate your dogs mind and also teach them a new skill. This is a good way to also introduce a verbal rewards for your dog listening such as: "Great job!" or "Yay!". Using positive reinforcement will not only help your dog remember verbal cues, it will keep them curious and also is a great enrichment activity.

• Trips to pet friendly stores: One of the activities I've seen tire out dogs the most is going to a pet friendly store like Lowes, Petsmart and even TJ MAXX. The variety of sights, sounds, and smells in a store provides excellent mental stimulation. This can help keep your dogs mind active and engaged, which is especially beneficial for breeds that thrive on mental challenges. This is also a great way to help your dog socialize and get used to seeing people and other dogs.

• Going to the park: A park stimulates a dog’s mind with diverse smells, sights, and interactions with other dogs and people. The variety of environments and physical activities, such as running and playing, engage their senses and help reduce stress. Exploring different terrains and encountering new stimuli challenge their mental skills and curiosity. Overall, a park provides both sensory enrichment and opportunities for socialization and exercise.

These are just 4 ways I have seen that are most effective in tiring out a dog and stimulating their mind the right way. If you have any others you know of, post them in our forum as you can help someone else with your opinion!

Tune in next week where we will start talk about all things dog grooming!