As of: February 2, 2024, 7:30 a.m
By: Larissa Strohbusch
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Keep your dog busy, stimulate him mentally and at the same time find support in everyday life?
That works!
By training your dog to help around the house.
The majority of dog breeds are bred to work.
But which dog still herds sheep or digs through foxholes these days?
Even if you go for long walks every day, your four-legged friend may be overwhelmed and dissatisfied.
Most dogs are smart and want to be mentally challenged.
Make it easy for yourself: involve your dog in the household!
This also helps anxious dogs to gain more confidence in themselves.
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Have your dog trained and helped around the house
Dogs can't do the dishes and vacuuming is difficult - but they have some talents that can be put to good use: Most dogs like to fetch, they are talented sniffers and have a basic understanding of logical processes.
With these skills they can take on some tasks.
With a little training, your dog will soon be able to help around the house.
© Pond5 Images/IMAGO
Teaching the dog to clean up
There are children's toys everywhere and the dog also distributes everything?
He can clean it up himself!
That's how it's done:
Start with soft objects like stuffed animals.
But it shouldn't be the dog's favorite toy.
The dog should work and not play.
The first step is for the dog to learn to hold something in its mouth.
To do this, present the dog with a toy and encourage him to pick it up and carry it for a short time.
Motivate the dog to pick up the object from the box where it ultimately belongs.
Always name the object clearly.
Ideally, every action has an overarching command.
If that works well, it works the other way around.
The object is in the room - the dog should pick it up and bring it to you.
You hold your hand over the box.
If the dog lets go of the toy, pull your hand away and the object falls into the container.
Praise the dog extensively.
So he knows that it was exactly planned.
Eventually you can expand the game to other parts.
Make sure that the dog cannot injure itself.
It shouldn't be too small - danger of choking!
Scattered Lego bricks still have to be cleared away by human hands.
Another plus point: With this exercise you can also teach the dog to throw laundry into the washing machine!
The dog as a messenger
Never again pick up the remote control from the table or bring your partner a pen: the dog will do that in the future.
In this case too, the animal must learn to recognize the object.
To do this, repeat the name of the object again and again.
If the dog reacts to this, he is praised extensively.
Many dogs can fetch just by throwing sticks.
Here the dog has to learn to pick up and give up a piece on command.
If that works well, he can also carry light shopping bags for you.
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Teach dog commands and no longer have to look for anything
Are you constantly looking for your wallet or keys?
The sniffer dog will take care of this in the future.
Teach the dog that a certain smell (such as a key) is part of a command.
Now hide the object you are looking for, initially very easily, then increasingly more difficult - and in the future sit back comfortably before you leave the house.
Close doors, turn off lights
Useful when you constantly have to get up to close the doors behind your children - or when you're trying to turn on the lights with your hands full.
The dog helps out here too.
Install a pull rope on the latch.
Now train the dog to grab and pull this with its mouth.
The door is already open.
The other way around, a post-it can help: teach your four-legged friend in small steps to touch it with its snout.
Now you can distribute the sticky note wherever you want the dog to intervene: for example on doors that you want to close or on the light switch.
Don't forget the appropriate commands!
Training the dog – only works with a lot of good will
Basically, every dog – regardless of breed – can learn little tricks.
Some companions are more willing to learn than others - but they all have one thing in common: they want to be rewarded for it.
So use your favorite treats to help.
Each exercise should only last as long as the dog enjoys it, which he can express, among other things, by wagging his tail.
After 15 minutes is enough.
End the training with an easy task such as sitting. And at the end, your darling is praised and cuddled extensively.
So he ends the lesson with a positive experience.