Social Distancing and Canine Enrichment

by Ariel Wolf, co-editor for the Wire~News Magazine

The world is currently experiencing a lot of distress from the Coronavirus
(Covid-19) pandemic. The recommendation in the U.S. is “social distancing” with no unnecessary travel and no gatherings of more than
10 people to prevent the spread of the virus. This means that for the time
being, there will not be many (if any) dog shows, field events, training
classes, or informal dog play-dates. Our dogs are loving us being home
more, but without the ability to engage in their favorite activities, here are
some other fun activities you can try together:

• 101 Things to Do with a Box
  Requires: A cardboard box of any size, bite-sized treats, clicker
  (optional)
  This is an exercise in free-form shaping. You present the box to the dog
  and click (or mark using a word like “Yes”) and treat the dog for
  interacting with the box. It doesn’t matter if it’s a sniff, a paw, or if the dog
  picks it up and tosses it across the room. If you have an idea of a
  behavior you’d like, such as all four feet in the box, you can click and
  treat every time the dog does a behavior that gets closer to your goal.
  This exercise will make your dog think about what behaviors you like and
  then building upon them is very mentally stimulating.

• Find the Hidden Treasure
  Requires: Your dog’s favorite toy
  Show your dog their favorite toy and put it out of sight. You can cover it
  with a blanket, put it on a shelf, or under the bed. Tell them to find it.
  Make sure to help them search for it until they understand exactly what
  they’re supposed to be looking for. Once they find their toy, play with
  them! Rinse and repeat until one of you is tired.

• Treat Trails
  Requires: Bite-sized treats and/or your dog’s kibble. A combo can be
  used for variety.
  In your yard or inside your house, place a trail of treats spaced about 3-
  6’ apart. If your dog is new to Treat Trails, consider spacing the first few
  treats more closely to help them get the hang of searching. For more
  difficulty, incorporate obstacles such as going around a tree in the yard
  or behind the sofa. End the trail with a “jackpot” handful of treats.

• A Trick a Day Keeps the Boredom Away
  Requires: Bite-sized treats, clicker (optional)
  Spend 10 minutes a day training tricks. You can work on several tricks or
  work on chaining pieces of a multi-step trick, like opening the fridge to
  get you a beer and then close the fridge again. Trick training is a fun way
  for you and your dog to work together to accomplish a goal. You can
  even train helpful tricks, like picking up dog bowls after meals, fetching
  your slippers, or even finding your phone and bringing it to you. You can
  even earn Trick Dog titles. Learn more at:
  https://www.akc.org/sports/trick-dog/

• Go Hunting, Hiking, or Biking
  Requires: Any gear you need, your dog, and the great outdoors
  Social distancing means humans should segregate themselves from
  each other for the time being. Dogs cannot catch Covid-19, and neither
  can birds. You can have a great time and be active outside with just you
  and your dog without worries of catching or spreading anything from
  other people.