Activities For Glen Of Imaal Terriers
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Introduction
The Glen of Imaal Terrier is a rough and tumble terrier that is a bit more laid back than the typical terrier and usually only requires moderate exercise. Puppy Glens should not be expected to participate in strenuous activities until they are older. They do tire easily and need to rest often. Once your Glen has grown and matured, they will have more stamina and be willing to dive into almost any activity. There are several activities you can do with your Glen of Imaal Terrier that will help keep them in shape and happy. Even though they have moderate activity levels, they still need daily interaction or they can become a destructive and unhappy companion.
Barn Hunt
Popular
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Any Day
Moderate
Normal
45 min
Items needed
Straw Bales
Plastic Tubes
Live Rats
Collar/Leash
Treats
Activity description
Barn hunts are becoming more popular and dogs of all shapes and sizes are enjoying the fun of the hunt. This is a newer dog sport that was initially only open to breeds that were ratters. The Glen of Imaal Terrier was bred to hunt badgers and fox; however, they also were used to keep rodents from invading homes. Therefore, the Glen of Imaal Terrier should excel at barn hunting because of their natural ability to ferret rodents out of homes. The main objective of a barn hunt is to quickly locate the rat and signal to their handler that the rat has been found. A live rat is used but it is placed in a pet-safe tube to keep it protected from the dogs during the barn hunt. There will be decoy tubes filled with used rat litter in the maze and your dog must be able to differentiate between the decoys and the actual live rat. Make sure you have learned the rules of barn hunting before jumping in; rules are strictly followed, especially at AKC sanctioned barn hunts. Barn hunts are held in all types of weather so be sure to watch your weather forecast before heading out and plan accordingly. Most barn hunts are moderately priced, although each dog club sets the entry fees so it can get pricey if you choose to participate in several.
Step
1
Study the rules
Barn hunts have an official rulebook that can be downloaded and should be closely studied. All officials at a barn hunt will adhere closely to the rulebook and will expect participants to know the rules and follow them. Some dog clubs are a little more lenient when it is your first barn hunt and will help you learn the rules, while others may only give you one warning before dismissing you and your dog. Barn hunts were established as a family-friendly sport and some of the rules do ensure that everyone participating is treated with respect and fairness. Any foul or harsh language is strictly prohibited and unsportsmanlike behavior is also not tolerated.
Step
2
Introduce the rat
Live rats or mice are used in barn hunts; therefore, you must make sure your dog has had some experience around a live rat or mouse. You can expect your dog to be curious about the live rodent and become overly excited. Since rodents generally become defensive when introduced to such an excitable canine, it is best to put them in a well-ventilated cage so your dog can smell the rat and get used to seeing them move around in their cage. Some people may be a little uneasy about handling a live rodent; you can talk with your local breed clubs and see if they offer barn hunt training so you can introduce your dog to the live rat without actually having to handle the creature.
Step
3
Hide the tubes
Once your dog has been introduced to the live rat or mouse; it is now time to hide the tubes so your dog can learn to find the right one. Put the rodent in a clear, pet-safe tube and hide it in an easy to find place. Once your dog becomes proficient at finding the tube in easy hiding places, it is time to start adding the decoy tubes and hiding the live rat in a more difficult spot. Remember, if you are not comfortable with working with a live rodent, you can have someone else hide the tubes or work with a dog club that offers barn hunts. Many members will train together to cut costs and encourage each other.
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Digging Party
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Any Day
Cheap
Normal
1 hr
Items needed
Sand pit or dirt area
Toys
Treats
Rake
Activity description
Most people try to stop their dogs from digging but terrier owners know this is an impossible task! Why not encourage your digger to break up the soil in one specific area instead of excavating your entire yard? A digging party may sound odd, but if you have friends with terriers you can make it a full-fledged party and invite them over for some digging fun. This party can be hosted in any weather, but warm, sunny weather will probably be the most enjoyable for you and your Glen of Imaal Terrier. It is relatively inexpensive to host a digging party unless you are going to set up a sand pit for digging rather than use the dirt in your backyard. A sand pit can be costly, but once it is put in place, it will be a great investment for your Glen to enjoy for years to come.
Step
1
Set up the dig pit
A dig pit for your digging party can simply be an area that is cleared in your backyard that has the ground turned over already for easy digging or it can be a sand pit that makes digging more fun for your Glen of Imaal Terrier. To ensure that your dog enjoys their digging pit, hide some toys and treats in there so they have to dig o find them. This will keep them interested in the party for quite a while.
Step
2
Hide the toy
Do not just toss some toys on top of the pit and be done with it. That would not be much fun for your terrier. They want to dig for the simple enjoyment of digging, but they also want to find treats and toys along the way. Cover the toys with dirt and encourage your dog to find them while they dig. If you are hosting a party with other digging dogs, make sure you space the toys throughout the dig pit so every party-goer has a chance to find a fun toy.
Step
3
Clean up
Cleaning up is never the fun part of the party, however, it can be done quickly if your dog is digging in a sand pit. Usually, a quick brushing will remove the sand from their fur and they will be good as new. When digging in dirt, your dog will probably require a full bath to get all the dirt out of their fur. After you have cleaned up your Glen of Imaal Terrier, you will then need to clean up the dig pit. Remove the toys and rake the dirt or sand back into the pit. To keep your dog from digging in the pit every time they go outside, you will probably want to cover the pit with a tarp or other covering.
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High Five
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Any Day
Free
Easy
15 min
Items needed
Treats
Activity description
Teaching your dog to give you a high five is a simple and easy trick for them to learn. You will also impress your friends with your ability to trick train your Glen of Imaal Terrier! Giving a high five is one of the easiest tricks to teach your dog; it only takes about 15 minutes a day to teach. Training your dog to give you a high five can be done in any weather and in any place; to start you will probably want to work with your dog in a quiet place in your home to avoid unnecessary distractions. Once your dog has learned to give you a high five, you can practice the trick anywhere you go. This is a very cheap activity, it will only cost you a few treats each training session.
Step
1
Teach basic sit
Before your dog can learn how to give you a high five they will need to learn the basic sit command. Give your Glen of Imaal Terrier the “sit” command, then tuck their hindquarters under them so they move into the sit position. Praise them and give them a treat. Keep practicing until your dog will sit on command. Make sure to give them plenty of praise so they know that they have done what you asked of them correctly.
Step
2
High five command
After your Glen has learned how to sit on command, it is time to start teaching them the “high five” command. Put them in a sit and then say “high five” and lift the front paw you want them to use and lightly tap your hand against it. Then praise them and give them a treat. Repeat this until your dog starts tapping your hand without you having to help them. Praise and treats will be the key to keep them focused and wanting to do the activity.
Step
3
Practice makes perfect
Just like with any other trick training, practice is essential so that your dog does not forget the trick. When learning the trick, take about 15 minutes each day to practice. Once you are sure they know how to give you a high five and are being consistent in giving you a high five, you can go to just doing a five minute a day refresher. Remember, with giving a high five, your dog can practice this anywhere. You can take a breather while you are walking and have your Glen give you a high five, or while you are watching television, have them come over and give you a high five. Praise them when they do it correctly and let them know they are a good dog.
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More Fun Ideas...
Doggy Massage
Dogs love attention, especially from their family, and the Glen of Imaal Terrier will let you give them a massage anywhere and any time of the day. All you need to do is start rubbing their sides and then move to their back. Once they relax, you can start rubbing their legs, their chest, and their stomach. This is a good way to help them relax and strength the bond between you and your Glen.
Pick Up Toys
Another trick to train your dog to do aside from
giving you a high five is to pick up their toys. You can start by moving a toy
box to where your Glen of Imaal Terrier can easily access it. Have your dog
pick up a toy and then tell them to drop it into the toy box. When they do,
give them a treat and praise. Keep repeating this activity until they have
cleaned up their toys and dropped them in the toy box. Be consistent with them
and practice this activity daily.
Conclusion
The Glen of Imaal Terrier is not a typical terrier. They are active dogs, but they are not high energy dogs like most terriers. As a puppy, the Glen should not be involved in any strenuous activities. However, when they are adults, they can participate in almost any activity that other terriers participate. They are a more laid-back terrier and only require moderate exercise to keep them happy and healthy.