Activities For A Golden Sammy
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Prepare for unexpected vet bills
Introduction
The Golden Sammy is a wonderful hybrid breed for those who love fluffy, cuddly, and downright adorable best friends. As a combination between the Golden Retriever and the Samoyed, this breed is medium to high energy and loves to please their owner. Typically their appearance is that of a fluffy Golden Retriever with the larger size common to both breeds. If you are looking for a best friend that is both active, but also a big snuggle bug, then the Golden Sammy may be the perfect breed for you! Check out the activities below to get some ideas on what you can do with your Golden Sammy.
Visit the Infirm
Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Free
Easy
1 hr
Items needed
Leash
Harness
Activity description
There is nothing that warms the heart more than a dog's smile and a warm furry hug. For those people who are stuck inside a hospital or nursing home, a light in their day can be a visit from a family member or friend; and in this case, a big loving Golden Sammy! All you need to accomplish this wonderful activity is a well behaved, easy going dog and a harness with leash. This will ensure that everyone is as safe as possible, while also having a wonderful time. While this activity isn't as much to burn your dog's energy as it is to bring other people happiness, there is no doubt that spending time with those who need it most will be well worth the effort. Although many establishments that help the sick and elderly allow dog visits, some will require the dog to be certified. Your Golden Sammy is the perfect candidate for training, should you choose to go that route.
Step
1
Contact the location
Before just heading into a hospital or nursing home, be sure to call ahead and confirm that dogs are allowed and when a good time may be for you to stop by with your Golden Sammy. This will allow the staff to prepare and either gather people into one location, choose some rooms that you can visit, or warn people who may be afraid of or dislike dogs.
Step
2
Know your dog
Be sure that your Golden Sammy is well socialized and good with crowded or noisy situations before heading out to see lots of people. Thanks to the Golden Sammy's personality, this shouldn't be an issue at all, but each dog is different so to be safe, know your dog and what they can handle before jumping into anything. This will ensure that everyone has a positive experience during your visit! When going for a therapy dog certification, dogs are assessed first for their adaptability to noise, quick movements, medical machinery and more. Then, training is given to ensure that the dogs and their trainers are comfortable in all scenarios.
Step
3
Have treats on hand
Some of the people you visit may want to give your Golden Sammy something to nibble while you are there, so to avoid any issues, have some of your pup's favorite treats that you can give to the residence. This way, your dog will trust them further and you won't have to worry about them being fed anything that you don't want them to have. If you and your pup enjoy this introduction into the field of therapy work, look into getting certification.
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Step Up
Popular
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Any Day
Free
Normal
30 min
Items needed
Treats
Stool or other sturdy item
Activity description
Teaching "Step Up" is a great way to not only work your Golden Sammy's mind, but also teach them a trick that will aid in other activities such as taking photos or obedience competitions. All you need to get started is a stool or some other sturdy object they can step up on without the fear of the item sliding out from under their paws. Because of this breed's willingness to learn and their intelligence, it won't be too difficult to get the Golden Sammy to step up on any item that you need them too; just be sure to have yummy treats on hand for a reward!Â
Step
1
Set up the stool
First, you will want to get your stool or another sturdy item into position. If you have a rubber mat or carpet to use as a base, that will be more stable than a slick surface (such as hardwood floor). Gather your treats together as well and bring your Golden Sammy over to the object.
Step
2
Step up
To teach this trick, all you need to do is hold a treat in your hand and place it in front of your dog's nose as a lure. Pull the treat forward and up slightly until your Golden Sammy puts both paws up on the stool in order to reach the treat in your hand. Say "yes" or click and reward your dog. Give them verbal praise as well.
Step
3
Add the cue
Once you lure your dog into position a few times, you can begin to add the command at the same time as you lure your pup's paws up onto the stool. Say "step up" or "paws up" to cue your dog. After a few times, say the command first and then move your dog into action. Eventually, with practice, you will be able to point at an item and say "Step up", cueing your dog to put their paws up onto that item for a treat.
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Backpack Hiking
Popular
0 Votes
Sunny Day
Free
Easy
2 hrs
Items needed
Dog backpack
Treats
Water
Doggy bags
Activity description
When hiking, it can get a bit burdensome to carry all of your items along with anything that your dog may need. A great way to solve this problem is to teach your Golden Sammy to carry their own little backpack! This activity is not only a way to provide the dog with a job, but also teach them a skill that will make hiking trips far easier for everyone. The only thing to keep in mind is that because of the Golden Sammy's thick fur, they can overheat on a hike during a hot day, so keep an eye out for a dog pack with plenty of ventilation to keep your dog safe. Hydrate often as well.
Step
1
Find the perfect pack
When choosing a pack, ventilation is going to be the number one factor for your Golden Sammy. Secondly, you will want plenty of pockets to hold all of your dog's items; such as treats, water, collapsible bowl, leash, and doggy bags for any messes. Once you have all of this together, you can begin introducing your dog to the new item.
Step
2
Introduce the backpack
Thanks to the Golden Sammy's disposition, most likely they will have no problem with the pack and will warm up to it right away. However, it is important to introduce any new item slowly as to make it a positive experience! Let your pup sniff the pack and once comfortable, move on to placing it on their back (do not strap it on yet). Once your dog doesn't care about the pack touching them, you can snap it on and check the fit.
Step
3
Add weight
Now that the pack is on, you can begin to add the items. If you notice that your dog doesn't seem to care about the additional weight, you can add as much as you'd like and move on. If, however, your pup seems hesitant about the extra weight, just add one item at a time until they are completely comfortable. Then you can head out for hikes with total confidence!
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More Fun Ideas...
Get Groomed for the Holidays
Due to the long and thick coat of the Golden Sammy, grooming is a must. Daily brushing should occur and bathing should happen at least once a month. Because of their large size and amount of fur, this may get taxing. So, if you are headed to a special event or merely want to have a break, find a trusted (and talented) groomer who will listen to your needs (as this breed's fur should never be shaved) and allow someone else to pamper your pup for a change. They will look and feel amazing, while you stay hair free.
Pull a Cart
Thanks to the large size of the Golden Sammy and their gentle disposition, this breed is excellent if you need a medium weight cart to be pulled. This means it could be a small child, or perhaps even fire wood to be carried to the house. Whatever the case may be, having your dog learn to pull a cart is a help to you and provides the dog with a job (which intelligent breeds need) which will keep them healthy and happy.
Jump Into the Car
Learning to jump into the car for a trip can be extremely helpful when it comes to having a dog, especially one as large as the Golden Sammy. Simply lead your dog up to the car and say the words "load up" or "hop in". Then use a treat and your leash to guide the dog up and into the car. You can also help lift them in the first couple of times if they are still a bit confused. After a few trial and error attempts, your Golden Sammy should be hopping into the car in no time!
Conclusion
Because the Golden Sammy is a mid-level energy breed, you can rest assured with knowing that just a few hours of exercise and play time a day will be enough to keep your pup healthy and happy. Quality time is what this breed will crave the most and whether you are doing a grooming session or taking your pup to visit the sick and elderly, there is no doubt that it will be time well spent.