Give Your Dog A Job #1

Zookeepers give the animals in their care enriching activities that allow them to engage in their natural behaviors — essentially, giving them a job. Enrichment is just as important for our dogs.

Wolves, the furry forebears of dogs, hunt and scavenge for their food. From the perspective of evolution all dogs — from the tiniest Chihuahuas to the mightiest Mastiffs — are anywhere from 10,000 - 40,000 years away from being wolves, and retain much of that hunting and scavenging behavioral software. Anyone besides me have a dog that lives to chase rabbits?

Most of our dogs don’t have enough to do and end up giving themselves jobs — tipping the trash, chasing the cat, and getting underfoot. So, ditch the bowl and enrich your dog’s environment by feeding him in one or more of these ways. Letting your dog work for her meals isn’t as easy (for you) as putting food in a bowl twice a day, but it’s a whole lot more fun (and tiring) for your beloved canine companion.

Janice Z Dog Training uses force-free, rewards-based training methods grounded in applied animal behavior science to create behavior that works for people and their dogs. Based in Medford, Mass., Janice Z Dog Training currently holds all one-on-one training sessions live and online. No need to wear a mask or worry about being 6' away from others, no need to bundle the dog into a car, tidy the house for the trainer’s visit, or get a babysitter for the kids. Visit Janice Z Dog Training for more information!