How to Mentally Stimulate your High Energy Dog

How to Mentally Stimulate your High Energy Dog
By: Miguel Ruiz

            When dealing with a high energy dog it’s hard to think of ways to drain and get rid of all their pent up energy. Usually the most energetic breeds are Huskies, Pit Bulls, Malamutes, German Shepherds, Australian Shepherds, Labradors, and Cattle Dogs. There are other breeds that are very energetic, but these breeds are the hardest to challenge while keeping them calm and focused. When people decide to get one of these high energy dogs, they don’t realize that they must engage with them on a physical and mental level, almost on a daily basis. Dealing with clients, I have gotten many excuses for their high energy dog’s bad behaviors, such as “He has a big enough back yard” or “He has toys and another dog to play with”. Sticking a breed that needs physical and mental stimulation in your backyard and saying “it’s good enough”, just doesn’t sit well with me as a Trainer.
             Walking your dog daily is one way and maybe the most important way to drain your dogs energy, which also gives your dog a mental challenge as well. Personally I walk my dogs twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. Some may increase the frequency of their walks, but it all varies on their dog and owner. My walks are roughly an hour each, and walking them correctly gives them that mental “job” as well. When I refer to a mental “job” it simply means that they are focused on the walk, not sniffing the ground or distracted, I mean they are at my side and focused on walking and walking only. It takes some time to get your dog to understand that walking is a job for them, and it’s also beneficial for us as well. Believe me, we all get lazy and don’t want to take our dogs on a walk, but if you break out of that lazy cycle, you will see major changes in your dogs behavior and also a may see some changes in your own as well. The most frequent excuses I hear for not walking your dog daily are “I have no time”, “I work”, or “My dog pulls!”.
               If your dog is pulling then it’s time to rethink the way your going about your walk. If your does not walk nicely on leash, don’t resort to a prong collar, choke chain or any other medieval device that have been used by many compulsion trainers for years. These simply train your dog to feel pain whenever they pull, learning by association dogs will “stop pulling” when ever they pull on leash, which isn’t the case for all. A simple solution for pulling is putting a back pack on your dog. Backpacks are a great way to drain energy, it’s the same principle as humans. A person working out will put weights on his or her legs to give them a better and more strengthening work out, same works for dogs. This also gives some working breeds the sense of having a job, and will help your dog get into the mind frame of a mental “job”. I would not recommend a backpack for a puppy under the age of 8 months due to them still growing, using a backpack at a young age might mess up their hips, which could lead to a expensive vet bill in the long run. You don’t want to weigh your dog too much, but just enough to give them a sense of carrying something.
            Another reason for not walking your dog might be that your dog is reactive to certain things, such as dogs, people, and are hard to control on the walk. Things will get worse if you don’t challenge your dog with a walk, or any other physical activities. They will become more frustrated with all of their pent up energy, which leads most high energy dogs to resort in aggressive or territorial behaviors to release that energy.  If your dog is reactive, change the style of your collar. Gentle Leaders and the Halti have worked for me in the past, and are easy to help redirect your dogs head away from what they are reacting to in a positive way. These do not work for all dogs but might be a management tool for some. Although these tools will help, they will only manage the problem for the time being, teaching your dog a “Leave it” with what they are reacting to might help making that wanted behavior permanent.
            For those of you who don’t have enough time to take your dogs for a walk there are other ways to drain your dogs energy. Working with a lot of Pit Bulls I have had to think outside the box. Instead of feeding your dog a full bowl of food, use each kibble to practice your training commands. Make your dog do all of his or her commands while giving them their food one by one. This helps with the stubborn and very independent dogs, it essentially makes them work for their food draining energy in the process. Another easy way is to purchase a KONG Wobbler, if you stick your dogs entire meal in the Wobbler they will have to push it around to get their kibble out. Walking your dogs, giving them both mental and physical stimulation is the best way to go, time will tell if you follow a routine of walking your dog, you will see an improvement in a matter of days. Give your dogs plenty of mentally challenging things to do, such as giving the a Kong, or think up different games to play such as the game below:

Bobbing for Treats (Game)

Items Needed:
1.Old Cupcake Tray 
2. 6 or 12 Whiffle Balls (Depending on Sheet size, cheepest at the 99Cent Store)
3. Your Dogs Favorite Treets

How to Play:
First your going to fill only a couple of the cupcake holes with some of your dogs favorite treats. Cover each hole with the whiffle balls, so that all holes are covered. Call your dog over to you, using only positive methods, place the tray right in front of your dog. Put your dog in a “Sit”, and make your dog “Wait”, once your dog gives you 3 secs of eye contact say “Go Ahead” and let them figure out the game, if they do find the treat and remove the ball to get it, quickly reward your dog by telling them “Good Boy” or “Good Girl”. At first you will have to stand next to your dog while they play the game to get them used to rewarding themselves, which you must do for them once you introduce them to this game.

Enjoy!