Activities For Affen Border Terriers

1k Views
0 Comments
0 Votes

Prepare for unexpected vet bills

Find pet insurance Find pet insurance

Introduction

The Affen Border Terrier is a hybrid mix of the Affenpinscher and the Border Terrier.  This combination results in a pint-sized dynamo who is strong-willed, intelligent, loyal and playful.  With parent breeds bred for hunting rats and foxes, your Affen Border Terrier has quite the sensitive nose and excellent tracking abilities.  We'll wager that you've had some exciting walks through the neighborhood as your pet attempts to chase small animals and follow unusual scents.  Because this hybrid mix creates an energetic bundle of furry love, managing the abundance can be challenging.

Agility Training

Popular
0 Votes
Sunny Day
Moderate
Normal
2 hrs
Items needed
Collar or harness
Leash
Drinking water
Kiddie tunnels or tubes
Wood for hurdles
PVC pipe
Hula Hoops
Activity description

Both parent breeds of this hybrid mix are small active dogs, with the feistiness and spunk that typically follows the terrier breeds.  As such, managing those seemingly limitless energy levels can be challenging. It makes perfect sense to include an instinct or behavior in your dog's exercise regimen.  One of those behavioral traits of the terrier variety of canine is their inclination toward agility games and training. By incorporating agility training into your play time with your dog, you are keeping them healthier and happier, playing into their need to expend that energy in a fun way.  Of course, this type of enterprise requires specialized equipment and classes, whether you choose a facility built for these events or whether you choose to construct a track in your backyard, and the sport needs lots of practice for your precious pup to be able to participate and compete. While being involved in both the training and any competitive races that evolve from this activity, there are many health benefits to be derived for you as well in this particular endeavor with your pal.

Step
1
Locate local classes or construct a course
As your first step in this activity, locate any local facilities that offer agility training. Finding these venues can include internet searches, talking to friends, family, local vet and groomers for referrals. If a home track is your preference, set up the track with the obstacles and space them out to provide challenge for your pup, increasing the distances and heights of them as your spunky little terrier catches on. If you’re agile, and if you’re game enough, you could even navigate the kiddie tunnel, jump the hurdles and weave through the poles to “teach” your canine companion how it’s done.
Step
2
Gather supplies needed for classes
Once your dog is ready for additional training and you choose commercial venues for that training, be sure to ask questions about price, schedule, levels of courses, age limits and equipment needed to participate. Also, ascertain what documents are needed for both you and your precious pooch. Your dog will thoroughly enjoy the challenge afforded by a change of course, and they’ll love interacting with other dogs, too. Your involvement as your dog traverses the obstacles may be running alongside giving the occasional treat as encouragement, or even demonstrating how some of the obstacles are conquered. Be prepared to get as fit as your pup does!
Step
3
Observe an amazing performance
Now that your pup has experienced an agility camp, you’ll be able to mix and match between the course at home and the commercial one. Your pooch will love changing the makeup of your home track, like reversing the direction or changing the obstacles or the height of the hurdles, to challenge them even more. You could try some of these different options on a weekly basis so they don’t get bored with this versatile activity.
Love this activity?

Flyball for Dogs

Popular
0 Votes
Sunny Day
Moderate
Normal
30 - 60 min
Items needed
Collar or harness
Leash
Drinking water
Activity description
Flyball for dogs is an exciting competition that your dog will love.  It requires the dog to race through the course, negotiating a variety of obstacles built into it and tapping a spring-loaded pad at the end of the track to release a tennis-type ball.  Once the ball is released, the dog has to retrieve it and return it to the starting point to complete the course.  The competition is a team event, usually consisting of four dogs and their humans per team.  The game, run in relay style, requires one dog to complete the course before the next one can begin.  The winning team is the first one that has all four dogs complete the race.  During training, the human handler runs along with the dog, encouraging and giving commands but during the race, the dog is off-leash without the human controller alongside.  The game is lots of fun, very competitive and affords both the dog and their owner with plenty of opportunity for beneficial exercise.
Step
1
Locate local flyball facilities
Locating flyball facilities in your area is your first step. Try looking in the local telephone directory for organizations that provide this type of canine competition. Your veterinary professional or groomer is another source to utilize for referrals. And, be sure not to ignore those valuable words of mouth references provided by family and friends, as sometimes these are the best options you can get. Once you have your list of flyball venues make contact with them and ascertain your cost for participation, the levels of challenge available, the schedule of the events, equipment and documents needed for registration and completion. Gather the necessary items and documents.
Step
2
Practice fetch and return at home
Slip on your dog's collar and attach the leash. Since flyball involves the dog racing toward the ball-release mechanism, practice at home by getting your dog to run toward another family member who is holding a ball or toy. Encourage your pup to use their paw to prod the holder of the ball, tossing it back toward you. Your dog will need to catch the ball and return it to you. To enhance the learning experience and fun, invite a friend to bring their dog along to participate so that both dogs will learn to work together in this relay sport. Expect at least a short learning curve in this training as your smart four-legged family member will catch on pretty quickly. Practice daily until you take your pooch to the flyball facility so they’re ready to roll on that day.
Step
3
Enjoy the thrill of the race
Once you arrive at the flyball event, present the needed documents and register your dog. Put on those running shoes and follow directions given by the course leaders to the starting area, where joining a team is necessary for participation. It would be nice to be able to tell you to find a beautiful spot and relax to watch your dog run the course, but relaxing is NOT what you're going to want to do! Instead, locate the perfect vantage point from which you can direct and command your dog during the race and urge your dog to win!
Love this activity?

Earth Dog Events

Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Moderate
Normal
2 - 3 hrs
Items needed
Collar or harness
Leash
Drinking water
Snacks and dog treats
Activity description
Your Affen Border Terrier's heritage anchored in ratting and control of fox population demonstrates the hunting and tracking abilities contributed by both breed parents. Honing and maintaining these skills plays into the DNA of your precious pet, making Earth Dog events the natural choice of many terrier owners.  Earth Dog events are designed for small, short-legged dogs, involving man-made tunnels dug for competitive tracking and hunting trials.  The canine must be an approved breed to be able to participate, as determined by the American Kennel Club and various other organizations which sanction the events.  During the competition, the dog tracks their "quarry" (usually a couple of rats), traveling through the tunnels, eventually "cornering" their quarry at the end of the tunnel.  The dog must then exhibit some dynamic behavior like barking, scratching, digging or pawing to indicate that the dog has cornered the quarry (safely separated from the dogs by wooden bars placed between them and the dogs).  This is a timed event, and at no time during the competition is either the dog or the quarry endangered in any way.
Step
1
Locate local Earth Dog events
Availability of Earth Dog events will vary depending on your area and the popularity of such activities. Locate possible venues by consulting your local telephone directory or newspaper for any advertisements for these adventures. Don’t forget to search for them on the internet as well and make a list of those venues found. Now, take the list and make contact, asking questions regarding the cost to participate, the schedule of the events, the level of challenge involved and equipment needed for completing it. Find out what they want to verify the immunization and health status of your dog as well as what identification types they desire for you or your dog's handler for appropriation registration.
Step
2
Prep your pup
Before you can take your dog to earth dog events, there is a bit of practice and acclamation required. Since most of our precious pets haven’t used their natural tracking skills for a long time, perhaps never, it will be necessary to “awaken” those instincts. Practice this at home by hiding toys, snacks or other items and encouraging them to seek them out. Since their natural prey is small animals who hide in out of the way places, you might need to get creative as you plan your hiding places to give your pooch the opportunity to do a bit of problem-solving while they seek out the hidden objects. Be generous with your praise and only correct them in a positive way so that they learn more quickly. Once your pup has gotten the idea, you’re ready for the event.
Step
3
Gather and go
Gather your documents, water and snacks, slip on the dog’s collar and leash and head for the event. Now that you've arrived you can now register your dog, presenting all of the previously requested documents for the registration process and proceed to the starting point, following the instructions given by the event facilitators. Prepare yourself and watch in amazement as your dog performs as they were designed to do.
Love this activity?

More Fun Ideas...

Hunt for Dinner

This activity is one in which you can involve your dog anytime and anywhere you choose to feed them.  Hide your pet's kibbles or treats in some challenging places, inside the house or out. Watch and enjoy as your dog seeks out the hidden food items and then devours their tasty reward.

Puzzle Games

There are many puzzle games or toys on the market that challenge your dog to use their problem-solving skills.  The puzzles, built to allow you to hide treats in them, require the dog to figure out how to release the snack with the so retrieved tasty tidbit being the reward for their efforts.

Treat Hide and Seek

This activity is similar to the puzzle game, but it doesn't involve the puzzle.  Hide your darling doggie's favorite treats in places which aren't hard but offer some challenge.  Enjoy the entertainment provided as they seek out the snacks, willingly devouring their tasty reward.

Tug of War

Tug of war is a cost-free activity that you can do with your dog any time and virtually anywhere.  It requires an old tube sock or piece of rope that you in which you can knot both ends. While you're holding one end, offer the other end to your pup and gently tug on the sock or rope.  The learning curve is short for this one, your dog quickly catching on and even adding their audio to the mix.

Conclusion

These are not the only activities that Affen Border Terriers will love.  They are intended to trigger your imagination, enabling you to discover or design your unique canine enterprise to gain benefit from the energy expended as well as the opportunities for quality time spent together with your furry best bud and the bonding that is available.