Mental exercise matters too!

One of the first things that everyone learns about dogs is that they need walking. We all come into our dog owning lives envisioning wonderful relaxed walks, watching our dogs joyously gambolling around green spaces, playing with other dogs and having a marvellous time once or twice a day.

For some of us, those visions come to a screeching halt. For those of us with reactive dogs, the very act of going out for a walk becomes an experience potentially filled with stress that cannot be imagined if you have not experienced it. I speak from experience - my old dog is one I can take anywhere, he's incredibly easy to have around as he loves all people and gets along merrily with all dogs.

My young dog, on the other hand, is not easy. I would love to be able to take him rambling around the countryside but he's reactive to both people and other dogs, so the only way we get a relaxed walk where he can run loose and both of us get home having enjoyed ourselves is to go out at four in the morning. Yawn inducing but pleasant enough in summer, but it becomes rather more of a chore the further into autumn we progress.

Yes, we work on his issues with a careful plan of counter conditioning, but that still means that walks have to be carefully planned and are frankly exhausting as my eyes somehow have to be able to go in all directions at once to spot any potential triggers, including out of control dogs.

Reactive dogs, if they have reacted to something on a walk, are full of hormones caused by stress. These hormones take time to dissipate. Because of this, the levels of hormones in the dog's body can rise again before having a chance to return to normal levels. A life filled with constant raised levels of these hormones will make the dog ill in time. What can we do to avoid this problem? Well, there is the 4 a.m. walk, but that will not suit everyone, and may not be enough for some dogs alone.

Indeed, many trainers will recommend what some call a 'cortisol break' for reactive dogs - a few days in which they do not take their scared pooch out for a walk so that they can avoid all triggers and give the hormone levels in the dog return back down to baseline normal levels.

This is where owners of reactive dogs have to get a little inventive, and find ways to exercise body and mind at home. This can be done in the form of training sessions at home and in the garden, or canine enrichment with toys and brain games, often involving requiring the dog to work to get his food. These are also good for dogs that are on restricted exercise for some reason, whether recovering from lameness or surgery, or older dogs that cannot run around as much as their brain would still like to!

Finn definitely approves of this enrichment toy we won in a magazine competition!

There are a massive range of enrichment toys and equipment on sale, and it can get very expensive buying the latest 'must have' dog toy. There are alternatives to expensive enrichment equipment however.

One of Finn's favourites is an old cardboard box filled with cardboard tubes like you find in the centre of toilet rolls or kitchen towels. Stand these up to fill the box and sprinkle treats inside then let your dog have fun trying to get to the food. Finn needed a little encouragement to get started shoving the tubes aside to get to the kibble, but now they go flying all over the place as he's in search of the goodies! You can also do something similar by filling the box with recycled paper packaging fill, ripped up cardboard, or even stuffing boxes and paper inside other boxes. Get creative with your card and paper recycling and watch your dog have loads of fun searching for their food.

Another food search idea can be made using a plastic non slip sink mat (one of the ones that looks like a grid) and strips of fleece.

It IS time consuming - this one took me 3 hours, but it was my first attempt!

With so many strips of fleece packed in so tightly, this really makes your dog hunt for the treats, but might be best reserved for dry treats only, or it will start to smell really quickly!

Mat rear shows why it takes time. Each hole has 4 strips of fleece going through it, in every direction.

These mats can be purchased ready made, but this took me an evening sat in front of the television, and Finn absolutely loves it.

There are so, so many ways of exercising dogs' brains, and problem solving is empowering for them just as it is for us. For more ideas on how to add interest and challenge to your canine enrichment without necessarily having to spend a fortune, have a look at the Facebook groups Doggy Dilemma - Problem Solving for Canine Empowerment or Canine Enrichment.

Next time, I will look at some of the fun training ideas you can try with your dog at home, to build on your bond as you exercise their body and mind together.