Activities For Border Newfies
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Prepare for unexpected vet bills
Introduction
If you love large, adorable dogs, then there is no doubt that the Border Newfie hybrid breed is one you should look into. This breed is a combination between the Newfoundland dog and the Border Collie. With the potential of reaching up to 120 pounds full grown and possessing the high energy of the herding and working class dogs, a Border Newfie will need a lot of varying activities to work their bodies and minds. The classic activities such as a hike, walk, run, or obedience training are great ways to exercise your Border Newfie, but check out the options below if you want to try something new!
Bob for Apples
Popular
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Any Day
Cheap
Easy
30 min
Items needed
Apples
Bucket or Bowl
Water
Activity description
Even though bobbing for apples is traditionally a fall activity enjoyed by humans, you can really do it during any season and include your dog, too! Simply grab some apples and a container with some water to watch your Border Newfie have an awesome time exercising their brain. It can be a hilarious activity with a cost that is almost free. Going for the apples will cool your energetic pup off if it's hot and cause them to think about how to grab the delicious treats as quickly as possible.
Step
1
Set up the game
The first thing you'll want to do is slice up the apples so that your border Newfie can grab them easily out of the water. If you are doing the activity outside, you can simply put the bucket on the grass and fill it up with a hose. If you are inside, playing in the tub can be a great option; or place the bucket in the kitchen on a towel.
Step
2
Introduce your dog
You might need to warm your Border Newfie up to the activity at first. Take an apple slice and let them take a nibble of it, then throw the piece back in the water. Keep doing this until the dog realizes that the treats are in the water for the taking. Be sure to take some photos or even video of the activity. They are sure to be adorable!
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Pull a Cart
Popular
0 Votes
Sunny Day
Free
Normal
1 hr
Items needed
X-back harness
Small Cart
Leash
Treats
Activity description
Newfoundland dogs are known for their strength, so if you have a Border Newfie that is on the larger size (or have a small cart lying around) this is a great skill that is useful to learn! You can have your Border Newfie help pull around firewood, kids, or maybe even another dog if you have one! This will help to give your dog a job with no cost to you as long as you have a cart on hand to use, while also providing your sizeable companion with physical exercise. If you want to involve socialization in the mix, join a carting club.
Step
1
Get used to the harness
The harness is going to be one of the first obstacles to overcome when teaching your Border Newfie to pull a cart; the second will be having weight attached to it. Ease your pup into things by first having them wear the harness around the house with nothing else attached to it. Once they are comfortable with that, you can move on to the next step.
Step
2
Introduce weight
There are a couple of options when it comes to introducing weight to the harness, the first of which would be to have you stand behind your dog with a leash attached to the harness, and slowly apply pressure. Once your dog learns to continue walking around with that pressure, you can move on to using items such as wood, weights, or some other heavy object.
Step
3
Cart and command
Now that your Border Newfie is used to the harness and weight, you can add the cart into the equation. Take it slow and let them get used to it little by little (unless they are just super comfortable right off the bat). Then, you can start using hand and voice commands to direct your Border Newfie around. At first you'll need a leash as an aid, but over time, your dog will pick up on what you're asking and move around just by obeying your commands.
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Bake Dog Treats
Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Cheap
Easy
1 hr
Items needed
Favorite Dog Treat Recipe
Oats
Wheat Germ
Cheeese
Broth
Eggs
Activity description
Baking delicious dog treats is a great way to spoil your pup while also spending time with them. It is a cheap and easy activity that can be done with items that are most likely already in your home. Hop over to Pinterest or Google, as there are tons of awesome recipes just waiting to be tried. Then pull out your baking gear and get started! Your Border Newfie will love to be the taste tester of these healthy treats. Ingredients like oats, wheat germ, broth and eggs can be used to whip up some delectable snacks for your hungry dog!
Step
1
Find the recipe
You can find lots of pawsome dog treat recipes online. Know what your dog likes and can or cannot eat, then pick a recipe that works well for you. Add healthy ingredients to every recipe you make and not only will you be doing the best thing for your pup, but the treats will also be very tasty, too!
Step
2
To bake or freeze
If it is cold outside (or if you do not have a Kong) then baking treats is an excellent option. These take, at most, 15 minutes to make (depending on the recipe) and will be wonderful training items as well. If it is warm out and you need something easy to prepare ahead of time, frozen Kong recipes are a must. These are also great for crate training as they last a long time and give your pup something positive to focus on.
Step
3
Enjoy
Once the treats have been made, you can prepare something for yourself and sit back to enjoy a delicious snack with your Border Newfie. Whether baked or frozen, your dog is sure to ask for more. Incorporate some training into your Border Newfie's day and use the homemade snacks as a reward.
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More Fun Ideas...
Teach Hand Commands
As the Border Newfie is part Border Collie, there is no doubt that this breed will pick up on hand commands quickly. Just spending a few minutes a day working on hand commands is not only excellent for working your pup's mind, but it is also useful for situations where you cannot speak or perhaps later on if your pup should lose hearing; this way they will always know exactly what you mean for simple things, such as "sit", "stay", or "down".
Get Nails Trimmed
It is important to start this activity young, so that your Border Newfie is comfortable getting their nails trimmed. This is a great activity to do at the end of the day when your Border Newfie is tired and ready for some cuddles. You can trim their nails and then give a little petting session to end the day.
Doga
If you are a Yogi, then you may have thought about what it would be like to do Yoga with your dog. Even if they don't actually do any poses, per se, you can still enjoy this time with your Border Newfie. Have them sit beside you while you meditate or breathe, giving a nice back rub for your pup. If they lay down and get comfortable, you can even move down to the paws for ultimate relaxation!
Conclusion
All of the activities listed here are perfect for working both the mind and body of your Border Newfie. Bobbing for apples is a fun game that causes your pup to think, while pulling a cart can wear them out physically. Doing some training, such as with the hand signals, or practicing something like Doga (or just a doggy massage) are great ways to bond with your pup in a comfortable and easy way.