Activities For Gardeners With Dogs
1k Views
0 Comments
0 Votes
Prepare for unexpected vet bills
Introduction
If you’re a gardener, then there are few places you’d rather be than in your garden on a warm spring day or on a cool summer morning. The feel of dirt under your nails doesn’t bother you a bit. You absolutely live for the moment when something you’ve buried months back finally surfaces anew. Our dogs know this feeling as well. They don’t necessarily plant things for beauty or for food, but they do enjoy being outside and occasionally burying something that they can rediscover later. Stay tuned for some activities that will keep your dog entertained while you’re at work in your flourishing garden.
Laundry Day Dig
Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Cheap
Normal
1 hr
Items needed
Laundry basket
Toys and Treats
Pillows and Blankets
Activity description
Gardeners miss being near their plants and crops on rainy days. We know they're soaking up the good water, but we miss them, nonetheless. Your dog can actually miss playing when the weather isn’t pleasant. When we’re inside, we tend to sit around more. But you can be active in the house. And you can even entertain your pup when you’re doing maybe your least favorite chore: laundry. Keep reading for a way to satisfy your burrowing boy or girl. Every time they see you head for the hamper or washing machine, they’re going to wonder if it’s time to play that wonderful game they love.
Step
1
Gather supplies
So, you’ll need to grab all the short laundry baskets in the house. If you only have one, that’s fine. You’ll just have to restock buried items a little more frequently. Find their favorite toys and grab a few treats from their stash. You’ll need blankets, throws, and pillows for your burying material.
Step
2
Get to burying
In all the twists and turns of blankets, you can bury the toys and treats. You can put a toy on the bottom of the basket and wrap some up in the blankets themselves. Make it easy, to begin with, and then make it more difficult as your doggo continues to play. They’re going to love digging through the pillows and throws, hunting for treasures.
Step
3
Ready, set, go
Let them at it! They can smell those items, and they’re ready to literally “uncover” each one. Step back as they nudge and lift the material in a grand effort to locate their prized possessions and some tasty snacks. When the game is over, play again. Load the blankets again and toss them back into the laundry baskets.
Love this activity?
Tunnel Time
Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Moderate
Normal
1 hr
Items needed
Agility Tunnel
Treats/toys
Activity description
Our loveable fur children have a lot of energy most days. Just like a human child, we have to find a way to let them exert that energy so that they stay happy, healthy, and exhausted. It’s fun to sit on the couch, pop in a movie, and snuggle up with your little sleepy head, but it’s difficult for them to feel tired if all they’ve done all week is curl up and nap. Tunnel time is great for the outdoors and even indoors if you have space. And it will certainly satisfy the puppy heart that loves to burrow more than anything!
Step
1
Purchase agility tunnel
You can find these at your local pet store and certainly place an order online. Within a few days, you can introduce your adorable sweetheart to agility tunnels. They may be a little insecure at first. What is this large, worm-like hole anyway? But if your pooch loves to burrow, they’re about to catch on quickly.
Step
2
Train your dog
As gardeners, we sometimes have to train our climbers and creepers to behave a certain way. It’s the same with our dogs. If you have a friend to help you, you both can wait at either end of the tunnel. Entice your dog to run back and forth with treats or toys.
Step
3
Add more
After your companion gets the hang of running back and forth through a single agility tunnel, you might look into purchasing more tunnels and creating a sort of obstacle course or maze. Depending on space, this can work indoors or outdoors. Whichever, it’s a great way to let your pup expend a heap of energy.
Love this activity?
Diggity Dog
Popular
0 Votes
Sunny Day
Expensive
Normal
2 hrs
Items needed
Chew toys
Treats
Sandbox or pen
Activity description
If you own a Dachshund, Husky, Schnauzer, or Border Collie, you probably already know how much they like to dig. The fact that you’re doing some digging in the yard might actually encourage the favorite task of theirs. It’s in a great many dogs’ nature to dig; dogs of the wild still do this for warmth and protection. Burrowing can occur simply because your pup likes the action or because they feel this innate sense to do it. While some owners may seek to limit this kind of behavior, others may enjoy giving the pooch what they love most. A chance to get down and dirty with their beloved digging.
Step
1
Chew toy options
You know what your doggo loves to dig for best, but here are some options in case you’re trying to decide. You might use chew bones or treats if your dog is a beginner. They’ll definitely go for what they can eat. Old shoes, baseballs, and rolled up newspapers also work.
Step
2
Designate a space
You’ll want to designate a digging space, or your entire yard seems like fair game for your pup. Block off space and fill it with dirt and sand. (Some people use sandboxes.) It’s like a fruitless garden for your fluffy buddy! Train your pal that this area is their digging spot. If you’re burying toys and treats there, they’ll pick up on the idea quickly.
Step
3
Dig, dig, diggity dig
Let them have some fun! Bury a few items for them to find, that way you can spend some time in your garden, weeding, pruning, and fertilizing as they play. When all of the toys or treats have been discovered, take a break and re-hide the treasures. Dogs will more than likely need a bath before heading back indoors if that’s where they stay.
Love this activity?
More Fun Ideas...
Hide-and-Dig Toys
There are actually digging style toys that you can purchase. A plush toy is placed inside of a hollow toy. Your dog is responsible for working to remove the plushie.
Playing in the Hose
As the weather warms up and you’re watering your garden more regularly, your dog might enjoy the occasional squirt of water from the hose. Have some fun together and cool off while doing it. They might even play in the sprinklers!
Conclusion
Your pooch can enjoy garden time along with you. We know you’re busy making sure your plants bloom and flourish, but don’t forget to make time for your four-legger that loves you more than digging itself. Let them join you. They can chase butterflies, sniff all the outdoor smells, and even take a little nap in the sun.