Dogs can improve fitness and muscle development by searching for objects in long grass. This activity engages different muscle groups, promotes brain and nose engagement, and fosters persistence. It is particularly beneficial for young dogs to develop core strength and prevent potential injuries. Early exposure to this activity can lead to well-developed dogs. [Source: dogs4motion.com]
Author Archives: Elina Halonen
The evil ball thrower
The use of ball throwers for dogs is controversial, as repetitive throwing can cause harm. Despite this, they can be beneficial for certain activities on walks, providing mental and physical exercise. Throwers allow for longer throws and unpredictable trajectories, engaging the dog’s senses and reducing the risk of injury. Consider their constructive potential.
Time with dogs is relative
The author reflects on the different experiences of raising dogs at various stages of their lives. They express the privilege of witnessing their pets’ journey and the bittersweet nature of their short lifespan, emphasizing the deep bond formed in the time shared together. This introspective piece highlights the unique connections formed through different stages of companionship.
Teaching a puppy to walk in a retractable leash
I’ve seen probably hundreds of claims about how flexi leashes “make your dog pull”. Unfortunately, universal statements without caveats are easily falsifiable… you only need one black swan to prove not all swans are white, so I wanted to show that a retractable lead does not automatically make or teach a dog to pull andContinueContinue reading “Teaching a puppy to walk in a retractable leash”
Enrichment tip & on the benefits of sniffing for puppies
As I was cutting up the stinky dry tripe, I thought… jeez, the things I do for my dogs. In a “wow, I’m a crazy dog lady” kind of way, because if I tried to explain this to anyone normal, I’d definitely sound bonkers. Then I thought… why not make a video about it, becauseContinueContinue reading “Enrichment tip & on the benefits of sniffing for puppies”
The anatomy of a breed standard
The key reason why breed standards matter even when you are focused on the potential performance of a dog is that not all dogs are physically suited to the activities we want to do with them. I’ve previously written about why structure matters even for working spaniels – it’s not just about performance, unless youContinueContinue reading “The anatomy of a breed standard”
Sniffing for treats as a tool
Searching for treats on cue is a very useful behaviour for a dog to learn – it’s an example of a cusp behaviour, which means it broadens the dog’s behavioural repertoire and opens up the possibility for learning other behaviours. This is why I was doing it with Grace’s puppies from an early age soContinueContinue reading “Sniffing for treats as a tool”
Thoughts and tips on puppy exercise + book recommendation
I recently started re-reading a book I bought a while ago called “How to Build a Puppy” and stumbled on some interesting stuff, so I posted about it on our kennel’s Instagram account and thought it would be useful to share on the blog too. Since I only thought of sharing it here afterwards, here’sContinueContinue reading “Thoughts and tips on puppy exercise + book recommendation”
Puppy training 101: disengaging from humans
For one reason or another, Astra has found humans mesmerising for a long time – not just hypergreeting in close proximity like Nell, but intentionally seeking them out, as you can see here. I’ve been working on this consistently on every walk, and to be honest, it’s quite frustrating for me after living with Grace,ContinueContinue reading “Puppy training 101: disengaging from humans”
Training puppies to disengage and recall
Disengaging from distractions is perhaps THE most important life skill for a puppy, and the sooner they learn, the better. Of course, their brains are not yet capable of a lot of things – impulse control being one of them, because the parts of the brain that control activation develop faster than the parts thatContinueContinue reading “Training puppies to disengage and recall”
BusyDoggie 