How to make the most of the bad weather with your dog

With this recent bad weather we have been getting, it is sometimes difficult to get our dogs out for long walks.

Playing scent games with your dog on a rainy day is a good way to mentally tire them when you can’t get them out for as long as you’d like to. There are all sorts of different games you can play with your dog that encourages him to use his natural foraging behaviours, a 20 minute scenting session with your dog will have him tired for hours!

When you first start playing scent games with your dog, start easy and then progress at your individual dog’s speed. Have him in a stay, or have someone holding him back, and walk away and place a small smelly treat in front of him. Then tell him “find it” and release him to get the treat. As he gets better and better at this game you can make things more difficult and interesting. You can have him out of site when you place the treat, or hide the treat under items, or at different levels in your house. The better they get the harder you can make it, but always throw in the odd easy find to keep him eager and motivated when he has the harder sessions with you.

Even with rainy weather, it is important to get your dog out on a walk, but it is understandable not to want to stay outside for very long, so playing scent work games is a fun alternative to miles of trudging with your dog on a wet and windy day!

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