Build an indoor obstacle course to create hours of fun, while your dog gets some exercise. Use the ideas in this article and your imagination to build different courses. The idea is to use household items to create a fun session.
First, decide which area in your home will be suitable for the course. Will it include stairs? Will it start in one room and lead into another? Or is there just one room in your home that will be safe for your dog? Keep this information in mind when you ‘design’ and build the course. In this issue, we explain two basic exercises.
Jump through
Place a hula hoop on the floor so that your dog can jump into it. Then, when he is comfortable, lift it up but keep the one end on the floor so that your dog can jump through it. Gradually lift the hula hoop higher.
How to do it:
Step 1 Place the hula hoop on the floor. If you can, sit inside the hula hoop yourself and call your dog. If he gets inside the hula hoop, give him a treat.
Step 2 Place a treat inside the hula hoop while you’re standing outside the hula hoop. If your dog gets inside to get the treat, praise him.
Step 3 Let him jump in and out of the hula hoop while it’s lying flat on the floor and praise him every time.
Step 4 Ensure that your dog has mastered step 3 before you continue with the next step. Pick up the hula hoop so that one end touches the floor. Stand on the other side of the hula hoop and call your dog. If he runs through the hula hoop, praise him and give him a treat.
Step 5 Raise the hula hoop a few millimetres off the ground at a time and call your dog to jump through the hula hoop. Every time he jumps through, say the cue, like ‘jump’ and praise him when he gets it right. Remember to reward him immediately with a treat.
Jump over
Find items that are small and light enough for your dog to jump over, especially when you first start the exercise. One example is plastic cups placed in a line. Start with a single line of cups and as he masters this, stack more cups on top of each other to make it higher, but only a few millimetres at a time.
You can also use pillows or use a rolled-up blanket that is low enough for him to jump over. If his jumping skills aren’t developed yet, and he doesn’t jump far enough, then his landing won’t be as hard.
How to do it:
Step 1 Unpack a line of plastic glasses, pillows, a rolled-up blanket or other items you can find in your home.
Step 2 Stand on one side of the line and call your dog. Make sure that you have small treats on hand. If you’re not sure how many treats he can have, use some kibble from his next meal.
Step 3 Allow your dog to sniff at the items – this is part of his game and it will make it easier for him to jump over if he has already smelt them.
Step 4 With your dog on one side and you on the other, hold the treat slightly above his nose so that he can smell it. If he reaches up, give him the treat.
Step 5 Hold the treat slightly higher and a little further away. It’s okay if he bumps over the glasses or other items. Allow him to sniff the items again if he wants to.
Step 6 This step might take a little longer to achieve. Hold the treat on your side of the ‘line’ and the moment he reaches over the line, and attempts to jump over it, praise him and give him the treat.
Step 7 Practise step 6 until he jumps over the line by himself and reward him for the jump. The moment that he jumps, say the cue, like ‘jump’, so that he can get used to the cue. Then reward him for his hard work.
