Engage and Entertain your Gun Dog
Engage and Entertain your Gun Dog
Believe it or not, one of the simplest ways to entertain and engage our gun dogs, is to do life with them. We can over complicate our relationship with our dog when we think every training session needs to be formal and designed. We can also confuse our dog when we aren’t consistent in our relationship.
Let me explain, “A dog’s always learning, so we’re always training.” – Jeremy Moore. Sure, formal, thought-out training sessions are valuable and necessary, but when we do life with our dogs, we have a plethora of opportunities to entertain them.
When we capitalize on the “ordinary” moments in our day to increase our dog’s foundation, we entertain them. These are moments we’re already doing or could be doing, like working on our dog’s foundation with elements like place, steadiness, heel, socialization, etc. Because our dogs aim to please, they are engaged by our praise. “Good dog!” not only lets the dog know you’re pleased with what they are doing, it lets them know you saw them and that you’re not going to miss celebrating them. Together, you’re having fun.
Consistency Matters
When we expect obedience one day, but not another, we create confusion in our dog and frustration in ourselves. Another way to state this is, that when we set expectations for our dog, but then let the expectations be fluid, we remove the opportunity for any of us to have fun.
Consistency doesn’t mean you have to take your dog to work every day, but it does mean that when you do, you uphold the same values as the last time. Consistency means that if you expect your dog to sit before they go outside, you expect them to sit every time they go outside. Consistency allows our dogs the opportunity to obey. Obedience equals praise and praise equals entertainment. Consistency also allows our dogs to learn and increase their abilities and/or foundation. Learning draws celebration and celebration equals fun.
Not Everything Has To Be A Drill
You can still uphold your values and expect obedience without having every moment with your dog be a drill. Don’t hesitate to throw the bumper just for fun. Take your dog out to play in the snow with your family. Go to a local pond for a swim. Hide treats, antlers or frozen birds around your house or yard for a game of hide-and-seek. Go for a walk or run (or at least do something that allows the dog to run…maybe you ride your bike or drive your UTV).
Do Something
Like most of us, our dogs don’t like extended periods of inactivity. When we keep them cooped up mentally and/or physically, we enable them to get bored. Like us, bored dogs go back to bad habits, find new trouble, become unruly and honestly, they become annoying. Along with physical exercise, our dogs need mental exercise. Working on our dog’s steadiness is just as necessary and beneficial as taking them for a walk, run or swim.
Keep Learning
Maybe you don’t know where a good body of water is to swim your dog, ask around. Maybe you don’t know where good grounds are to train your dog, ask around. Maybe you don’t know if you can take your dog to work or to certain stores, ask. Maybe you’re not connected to a training club/chapter, research what’s in your area. Maybe you need some fresh ideas for training/engaging your dog, ask the experts. Don’t overthink this. If you do, you’ll probably find yourself stuck.
by Kyle Dana
May 2024
