Top Activities For Baraks

Introduction

A Barak, or Bosnian-Coarse-haired Hound, is a beautiful dog with a big name but a small body! This breed hails from Bosnia, and it’s quite rare to come across one out of their country. Primarily, people would use them for hunting and tracking, and they have a high prey drive as a result. This muscular breed has a shaggy coat, a friendly nature, and a high need for physical activity too. They also do well with regular training, stimulation, and learning new skills. In essence, the Barak is a dog with which you will need to spend a lot of time. Not sure where to start? Try these activity options below.

Scent Games

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Rainy Day

Cheap

Easy

20 min

Items needed

Cups

Treats

Toys

Activity description

If the rain won’t stop falling and your Barak is getting tired of being inside, then consider playing some scent games with them. For a scent hound such as the Barak, they will take to these games like a duck to water, all the while grabbing their attention for at least 20 minutes. What’s more, you will enjoy that such games don’t cost a lot of money, as you only need treats, a few cups, and some toys. You may even already have all these things inside. Once you gather what you need, you can then get to work stimulating your dog’s senses.

Step

1

Pick the hand

The first game to play with your Barak is Pick the Hand. Use a smelly food such as cheese so your dog won’t have any problem identifying (and wanting) it. Form a loose palm and let them sniff it while telling them to find it. Open your hand and let them have it while saying “find it” again. Keep repeating while swapping hands, before moving back and closing both fists to allow your dog to choose.

Step

2

Hide and seek

Hide your dog’s treats and toys around your home, as well as a few odorous food items such as deli meat and cheese. Keep these in prominent places, so you don’t forget where they are! Walk your dog around your house, telling them to “find it.” Pull out a few items to help them out before letting them discover them on their own.

Step

3

Find the food

Place food in one cup (preferably plastic) and have two empty cups along with it. Show your dog the treats, then place all three cups down on a surface. Tell your Barak to “find it” and encourage them to go to the cup with food in it. Keep swapping the cup around once they find it.

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Leash Training

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Sunny Day

Free

Hard

30 min

Items needed

Leash

Treats

Harness

Activity description

Because a Barak is a scent hound with a high prey drive, they can be quite excitable on a leash. They want to pull, run, and bring you along for the ride. Fortunately, there are a handful of things you can do to stop or at least manage the behavior. Leash training only requires a leash, harness, a treat, and around half an hour of your time on a sunny day. You can head out on a regular walk, but with the intention of trying out a few things to help them be a bit more pleasurable to walk. There’s no denying leash training can be a challenge, but it can make your trips outside far easier.

Step

1

Stop pulling

Because Baraks have a high prey drive, they want to run toward every small thing that moves. It can make walking them less than pleasurable. If you want them to stop pulling on the leash, then become a tree. Every time they try it, stop dead in your tracks and refuse to move. Once they cease pulling, resume your walk. It won’t take long for your Barak to get the hint.

Step

2

Stop lunging

Baraks have a high prey drive which means they want to chase everything and anything – including people, small critters, dead leaves, everything! You can stop the inevitable lunging by redirecting their attention when you reach a “hot zone” for activity. Give them a treat and create space between you and what’s causing your pooch to lunge.

Step

3

Stop barking

Baraks can be barkers, especially when they think they’re “tracking” something when you’re out on a walk. They want you to see what they do so you can go and get it. Such a natural trait is helpful when you’re out hunting with them, but it’s not so ideal when you’re going for a casual wander. Take notice of your dog’s bark triggers then distract them. Give them a treat and create distance between you and the barking trigger.

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Ball Throwing

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Sunny Day

Free

Easy

40 min

Items needed

Ball

Activity description

A Barak can take a lot of hard work to wear out, which is why you need to think of activities that don’t need much effort on your part but require a lot from your dog. Ball throwing could be perfect for you and your furry friend. All you need is a beautiful summer’s day, a ball, and 40 minutes of your time. You can then head out to your yard or go to a dog-friendly area with fencing for your dog to run to their heart’s content. Such activity will bring a lot of joy but will also see them tired and ready for sleep once you head inside.

Step

1

Choose a ball

Baraks are not typically chewers, but the continuous throwing and catching can cause an inferior quality ball to succumb to the teeth marks before long. Buy a toy that will last. Instead of a regular tennis ball, opt for a thick rubber one that they can gum and chew to their heart’s content, but that won’t puncture. Such a toy will cost a little more but will pay for itself ten times over.

Step

2

Choose your area

Think about where you want to play ball. Is your yard big enough for you to throw a ball a long distance? Or, do you need to head to a field or local dog park? Find somewhere with as few distractions as possible so that your dog’s eye is on the prize instead of any small critters or action going on around them.

Step

3

Play ball

Throw the dog’s ball as far as you can and encourage your pooch to take chase. If you don’t have a strong arm, use a ball thrower which allows you to clip a ball into place and use the force of the stick to launch it farther than you could with your arm alone. The further you throw it, the more running your dog has to do. Before long, you will be able to tire them out and take them home.

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More Fun Ideas...

Nature Run

Baraks love to run – especially out in nature. If you like to pound the pavement regularly, then take your Barak with you. Put a harness and leash on them, choose a running route with as few distractions as possible, and spend at least an hour out in nature. The break away from reality will do you both a world of good.

Dog Park

While Baraks don’t do all that well with small pets at home, they do typically get on well with other dogs. Some even prefer to hang out in packs. On the odd occasion when you don’t have much else to do, take your Barak to the dog park for an hour of fun. They can run and play and check out all the new smells.

Conclusion

A Barak can be your best friend for life, providing nothing but love and loyalty throughout their many years on earth. If you want to return the favor, it’s impawtant to have a whole stack of activities lined up that will see them fully stimulated. Runs and walks and trips to the park, as well as playing ball are all excellent options for tiring them out and getting in that much-needed bonding time between owner and man’s best friend.