Activities For Bascotties
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Introduction
Bascotties result from mixing Basset Hounds with Scottish Terriers; as a result of having two very intelligent dogs for parents, Bascotties are able to think their way through a number of complex issues in ways that simply wouldn't occur to other dogs. Bascotties also have very curious personalities and have a knack for finding hidden objects using their impressive senses of smell. If you're thinking about adopting a Bascottie, you may want to get a number of materials that you can use to play a few scent games with this dog; tennis balls, fetching sticks, and scents and aromas of all kinds are must haves for someone looking to care for a Bascottie.
Scented Fetch
Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Cheap
Easy
20 - 30 min
Items needed
Tennis Ball
Fetching Stick
Spray on scents
Activity description
This fun activity is easy for you and your Bascottie to get into as it takes very little time, effort, or money to start up. Scented fetch, as its name implies, is very similar to regular fetch only you'll be encouraging your dog to find the objects that you'll be tossing with their noses rather than just with their eyes. During a normal game of fetch, you'd likely wiggle the item you'd like your dog to get in their face before tossing it a few yards away. With scented fetch, you're going to let your dog smell the item you'd like them to find before you send it flying sky high.
Step
1
Getting started
The first thing you are going to need to do before diving into the game is gather all of the items you're planning on using during the session and spray or coat them with a specific scent. You can do this by acquiring a few dog-safe fragrances (check with your vet) and spraying the items with them, or you could get a hold of your dog's favorite food and rub it against the fetching item until the item has the scent.
Step
2
How to play
After all of the fetching items have been coated with a particular scent, you just need to let your dog take a whiff before tossing the item a few yards away. To give your dog an added challenge, try tossing the item in an area where it is be visually obscured, like behind a tree or a rock.
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Scented Hide and Seek
Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Cheap
Easy
30 min
Items needed
Scents and Fragrances
Dog Treats
Activity description
Scented hide and seek is another activity that calls for your dog to solve a problem by following their nose. The idea here is that you're going to spray yourself with a smell that stands out before you hide yourself out of your dog's sight and then prompt them to find you. This activity can be tricky to pull off alone, so you may need someone to help keep your dog calm and still while you head off to hide but, just like scented fetch, there isn't much you need to do or pay for to set this game up. The game can be played just about anywhere, including both inside or outside venues.
Step
1
Spray away
Just like with scented fetch, the first thing you'll need to do is pick out the scents you're planning on using only you're going to then coat yourself with them as opposed to coating some other objects. We'd recommend going with scents like lavender or peppermint to maintain some level of normalcy, but if you don't mind smelling like bacon for a minute then we say go for it.
Step
2
Hide in plain sight
Like we mentioned earlier, it can be tricky to get your dog to hold still while you set off to hide. If you've managed to teach your dog how to sit and stay, then you may be able to issue that command before heading off then calling your pup's name to let them know that the game is a foot. If you haven't, or if you know that your dog doesn't tend to do well by themselves, then have a friend or family member play this game with you so that they can comfort you dog and guide them to your location if need be.
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Dog Puzzles
Popular
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Any Day
Moderate
Normal
30 - 45 min
Items needed
Dog Puzzles
Dog Treats
Activity description
We mentioned earlier that Bascotties hail from two very intelligent parent breeds, so we figured we'd talk about an activity that'll put your puppy's brain to the test. Dog puzzles are neat little games that require canines to think outside of the box in order to complete puzzles and receive tasty rewards. Dog puzzles come in all shapes and sizes, with them further being divided based on which age range they're intended for as well as their difficulties. Bascotties, being the intelligent pups that they are, will enjoy having their brains teased by these quizzical devices - and will enjoy the taste of victory even more after they solve a puzzle and reach the dog treat inside.
Step
1
Dog puzzles and treats
Dog puzzles coax your pet into biting on various knobs and handles so that they can slide puzzle pieces around a board. Most of the time, these pieces have to be moved around in a specific order, so your dog will have to spend some time simply thinking about their next move and trying to figure out which piece goes where. Once your dog has successfully moved each piece to its preset destination, they'll be able to reach a dog treat that you would have placed inside earlier.
Step
2
Best practices
From our experience, we've found that it's definitely best to start off with easier puzzles first so that your dog can get used to the whole concept of manipulating puzzle pieces in the first place. After they've been able to consistently solve puzzles of a certain difficulty, then they'll likely be ready to move on to the next level. We also think it's a good idea to keep the size of the treats small - especially if your dog is on a diet.
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More Fun Ideas...
Ring Stacking
Here's another activity that will tease your dog's brain; ring stacking refers to an age old activity where one has to lift an assortment of rings, that each have various sizes, from one pole to another. Ring stacking is a game enjoyed by both humans and dogs, feel free to get in on the action from time to time as well.
Hula Hoop
Hula hoop fun is less about testing your dog and more about rewarding them. If your Bascottie has been a good pup recently, consider getting them a hula hoop so that they can play with their new toy to their heart's content. Although you can get a hula hoop from just about anywhere, we'd suggest getting a good quality hula hoop from your local dog store.
Conclusion
Hopefully, we've been able to demonstrate that Bascotties can be very fun pets to own; their great sense of smell will allow the both of you to play a number of scent based games together and their natural intelligence will help them pick up new lessons and skills pretty darn quickly. We didn't list too many physical activities because Bascotties, like many smaller dog breeds, don't need as much physical activity as other dogs - a regularly scheduled walk around the block should take care of their physical needs more often than not. Moreover, Bascotties tend to prefer activities where they can put their natural gifts to use.