Why throwing the same stick or ball will tire your dog out less

Yesterday morning it was Fathers’ Day. Congratulations to all of the Dads out there.

My first child was of course my four legged companion, Minttu.

Wanting to also spend yesterday with my kids and head off to do a few activities, I found myself going on a two hour hike at 7:00 a.m. to fit in my Daddy Dogter quality time.

I knew that the rest of yesterday would be busy, between family and then planning the Walking Week, so I wanted to tire my puppy out.

Border Collies are renowned for their love of balls. Tennis balls, footballs, even balloons will be herded and adored.

But did you know that if you want tire your dog out and work it’s nose and mental capacities, then random sticks will be much more effective. “Why?”, I hear no one ask.

I have previously written about dogs’ unrivaled sense of smell and the way they can detect direction and movement over time based on the manner in which they smell.

A tennis ball or the same stick which has been used for more than two throws will emit a much stronger & familiar odour.

This makes it almost no challenge or brain work for your dog to find the toy or stick. You need to increase the challenge.

However in picking up a random stick, take off your glove if you have one on. Clasp the stick firmly in your palm, and then throw it where your dog cannot see exactly where it landed.

Most dogs will be able to recognize the scent on the stick from the skin cells and odour particles which were left on it when you touched it.

If you want to make this game harder, you can pick up the stick with less and less skin contact. I enjoy thumb and first finger pincer-like pick up to make Minttu work.

Using a glove will also make it trickier for your puppy to identify exactly which stick was thrown.

It may seem like an over-the-top methodology, but let me assure you quite how hard your dog will need to work and how tired it will become from needing to search out a new scent and stick each throw or two.

This approach also means that you will not require your dog to bring back the stick which you have thrown …. but remember to congratulate and praise your dog when it finds the correct stick. Our dogs just want to please us, and this praise will reinforce the game for future occasions.

Doggies: Hedda, My, Lotta, Kuling and Haraka