How to occupy your dog during confinement
Here we are all stuck at home for a few days while waiting for this unprecedented health crisis to pass. The Covid-19 or coronavirus forces us to limit our contacts and to remain confined to our homes. But what about our dogs? To feel good about themselves, they need to exercise, meet other people and sniff some good smells outside. Let us remember here that this behavior, which puts us off so much, is assimilated for them to reading the newspaper. Each smell of pee gives them news of friends in the neighborhood: who has been there, when, in what state was he….
In short, we will have to be creative to occupy our furballs indoors! Of course, you have the right to take your dog out for his needs, but forget the long walks for a few days. Are you stuck with your dog at home? This is a great opportunity to have a good time with him. Stop being depressed, indoor games are yours!
Here are 10 ideas to keep you busy with your dog while staying confined to your home. You will see, you will have fun!
Play hide and seek with your dog
This is Musher's favorite game. We both play it very often to relax… It's an easy game that you all know. I place Musher on his rug in my living room and go hide in a room in the house. When I'm hidden, I call him to give him the start of his search. And she rummages around the house.
A variation she also loves is hiding treats rather than hiding me. There are thousands of possible caches in a house!
Start with simple hiding places and increase the level when your dog is sufficiently trained. No need to hide a candy from him in the back of a closet if he has no training. He will be frustrated not to find anything, you also find nothing and your game will end in fiasco. Progression!
Dance or sing with your dog
Musher is a die-hard Celine Dion fan. Launch “I will go or you will go” and you will see that she throws herself on the dance floor barking at the top of her voice! Like me what! hehe…
On depressed days or when we need to evacuate a little stress or too much energy, we move the furniture away from the living room and we dance like morons while singing.
It usually does us both a world of good. I recommend it to you !
It's easy, it's free and it feels good in these times of confinement due to Covid-19!
Indoor sports with an obstacle course
Here is another activity to do with your dog that is easy to set up. All it takes is a few chairs, stools, tables and cushions... to make a great obstacle course for your dog. Your dog needs to exert himself daily and to play sports. Given the unprecedented health crisis we are going through, we will have to do indoor sports instead, so go! Get started!
Jumping, crawling, crossing, slaloming... Have fun!
You can also spice things up a bit by adding a pick-up workshop to your route. Your dog will have to pick up a toy and place it in a basket to complete this step.
Be careful, if your dog is not in the mood, do not force it. The goal is to have fun with him!!! And if he doesn't understand what to do, be patient and show him.
Take the opportunity to review the basics of his education
We all need to stay confined to our homes. So why not “take advantage” of this confinement to strengthen your bond with your dog and teach him some new tricks? With Musher, we embarked on the online training from Canidélite : a series of positive education training courses allowing us to establish a relationship of trust and to review the basics of canine education "sit, lie down, stay still, stop..." but also new tricks, such as "turn on yourself, slalom between the legs… ”. Relax and have fun: share these innovative trainings with your dog! The methods of Canidelite come to thwart the archaic and violent methods of canine education and this requires the education of the master above all!
At the end of this confinement, you and your dog will be even closer and ready for Wow Good outings!
Surf on EmmèneTonChien.com to prepare your next vacation
And yes ! Currently, it is the crisis. It's bleak but if everyone plays the containment game, we should be able to move on "quickly". What if it's the right time to calmly plan your next vacation? Dreaming of the aftermath of the crisis when you're snuggled up on your towel in idleness mode or in your best hiking shoes while climbing in the mountains... In short, dream! Go to our sections accommodation et activity to prepare your next vacation WITH your dog, W'ouf course!
The Making of an Eternal Footprint
And it was time to be creative? Here is an activity that your children will enjoy too.
Whether it's salt dough or paint, treat yourself to the paw prints of your little companion forever. How ? By applying it directly to the dough, or in the color then on a sheet!
PS: if you opt for painting, you may have to take a short walk through the shower box. And it was time for a good bath for your dog?
Watch a report on dogs
Desire for nothing ? A packet of cakes or crisps in front of the TV? We can't blame you for it... Take the opportunity to watch a great documentary on dogs to learn more and more about your little companion or a great movie with a dog as the hero.
I recommend these few documentaries, films or cartoons:
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The 101 Dalmatians, Lady and the Tramp or even Rox and Rouky
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White Fang
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like beasts
Create a dig mat or bottle game
Your dog needs mental occupation too. He has to exercise his brain so what better than a game with treats to stimulate his senses?
Here are two games that are easy to set up at home:
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the excavation mat : rug made up of strips of fleece fabric easy to make yourself. It's easy to do but long to do… Here's something to take care of yourself. here is a little demo video from the Snow Garden blog. What to understand well how it is done and how it works. You can also order the Kerbl brand search mat.
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spin the bottle game : several pierced bottles full of treats are suspended from a rope. As soon as the dog hits a bottle, a treat comes out! In this little demo video, the masters of this dog have made a wooden stand, but a rope stretched between two pieces of furniture will do.
You can also order some interactive games for your dog such as:
See the whole list of Early learning and strategy toys for dogs
Massage your dog
Do doga – yoga with your dog
show solidarity
In this time of crisis, we absolutely must ALL be united. The first and easiest thing to do is to #stay at home! If you want to make yourself useful for others and do more, means have been put in place to help the dogs of hospitalized people, elderly people who can no longer go out and our everyday heroes (caregivers , cashiers, police, etc.).
Many of you have asked me what to do with your animals in the event of a problem? Borrow My Doggie et Owl, two animal care platforms, are committed in their own way by entering the solidarity chain to protect our animals. They both call for everyone's solidarity by offering a 100% free and supportive childcare service. Borrowing Mon Toutou is a platform dedicated to dogs and Bibou is a daycare site for all our pets.
On a voluntary basis, you can register on one of these platforms to:
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take care of the dogs of fragile people who are afraid to go out and expose themselves to the virus
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take out the dogs of people mobilized against the coronavirus and who have to go to work
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take care of the dogs of sick people who must be hospitalized
Of course, you will have health precautions to respect:
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Custody offers must only be made in your immediate vicinity.
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Respect for social distancing measures is essential during the meeting between the owner and the caretaker (more than 1 meter distance, minimum contact with objects then hand washing)
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Entrust a minimum of accessories to the guardian by disinfecting them beforehand (toy, mat, cushion, leash, etc.). If care is urgent (in case of hospitalization), the caretaker puts all the accessories in a plastic bag and washes them at home.
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Don't forget to complete a derogatory travel certificate each time you take care of an animal.
Above all, don't abandon your furry friends, you see that in case of emergency, solutions exist!!!!
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Before leaving you, I'll slip you a list of cool books to order to find other activities to do with your dog:
- 365 ideas to make my dog happy
- Play with your dog around the house
- Brain sport for my dog
- Boost your dog's intelligence
- 101 dressing tricks
As a bonus: the instagram account @evasion_maison created by one of our Wouafer's. You will find many ideas, activities, recipes, lists of podcasts, books, films, sports content, well-being...
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Take care of yourselves friends, take care of your family and pets.
Want to keep up to date with the situation? Read and re-read our article “Dogs and the coronavirus – Covid-19: should we be worried?”. We update it regularly.