Animals naturally want to work for food – when we feed them for free they may not have acceptable outlets for those feeding behaviours that they don’t need for finding food…

Week 1 – Earning Your Keep

Dogs come with lots of behaviours that are inbuilt; most of these behaviours are in conflict with what we humans like…

Providing your dog with entertainment and enrichment will allow your dog to carry out these behaviours in a more appropriate and acceptable way.

So, this week we are going to work on teaching your dog to earn their keep by working for their food (food is currency to dogs!). This way your dog gets lots of opportunities to carry out doggie behaviours (without annoying the humans!) and you get plenty of time to relax while your dog does the work (this is lazy dog training)!

Dogs with plenty of mental exercise (along with appropriate physical exercise) are happy, healthy and a joy to live with.

Week 1 Training Games

• using your dog’s regular food for fun & brain-games

• the nose knows – sniffing games for dogs

• fun & brain games – puzzles for dogs

• pacifying & energising enrichment activities

• tricks for treats

What’s my dog learning?

• I have outlets for doggie behaviour so don’t feel bored and am less likely to develop unwanted behaviour.
• I am content from both physical and mental exercise so can settle myself calmly.
• My problem solving abilities are improving so my confidence will grow and I will become easier to teach.
• I can occupy myself with my own activities.
• Games with rules teach me responsiveness, even when excited.
• Balancing both physical and mental exercise can prevent more serious behaviour issues developing

See? This is more than just fun and games…

You can download a more printer friendly, but abbreviated, version of the Week 1 plan here.