Activities For Mini Foodles
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Introduction
Mini Foodles are a cross between the Mini Fox Terrier and the Poodle. Poodles are regarded as regal dogs, but they were actually bred thousands of years ago to hunt waterfowl and truffles. The toy variety of the Poodle was popular among the wealthy as a companion animal. The Mini Fox Terrier got their start hunting foxes, making them a popular choice among the rich who hunted for leisure.
A combination of the two make a small, energetic pup. Fast and agile, Mini Foodles love games of all kinds. Their high energy level makes them perfect for homes with active pawrents and other dogs. They require about an hour of exercise or play every day, especially when they are young.
Swimming
Try swimming with your pup and there is a strong chance they will take to the water like a duck. It’s in their DNA; Poodles were used as waterfowl hunting dogs before they became the royal, well-groomed show dog we know and love today. Swimming can be done in any weather except lightning, though many people (and dogs) prefer sunny days. If you have access to a lake or swimming pool, it’s a cheap activity to do. All you really need is water and a dog life vest.
Bigger cities often have therapy centers for dogs that are open to the public, though such activities don’t come cheap.
Tracking
Your dog has double the tracking instincts! Poodles used to track waterfowl and Mini Fox Terriers hunted foxes by scurrying into the fox dens and driving them out. Your pup has an excellent sense of smell and the intelligence to use it. If done at home, tracking is a cheap activity. It can be done inside or out, if you feel that your dog has strong enough recall training off-leash.
There aren’t many options for tracking classes, so you would likely have to train your pup yourself. Their natural instincts should make training easy, but there is also a risk outdoors of them taking off after a different scent than the one you put out for them to track. The breed has a high prey drive that can make them chase smaller animals if left off-leash.
Name Game
The name game is when you train your pup to retrieve a certain toy of theirs by a name you’ve given the toy. This is a great way to teach your dog to pick up their toys after a play session. It also helps keep them mentally stimulated. Of course, with Mini Foodles being so active, this game might go on and on like the song that never ends. Dogs are like kids in this instance -- when you get one toy out of their box, they decide they want to play with all of the toys in the box at once. With this game, you can even train your Mini Foodle to help you clean the house or bring in groceries.
More Fun Ideas...
A Few Tricks Up Their Paw
A dog is never too old to learn new tricks. Your Mini Foodle pup loves to be at the center of attention, and training them to do cool tricks will make them the hit of any part. You can teach them to “play dead,” “shake hands” or even teach a more acrobatic trick of jumping through hoops or catching flying discs.
Hide-and-Seek
Mini Foodles are inquisitive, nosy and excellent hunters. A game of hide-and-seek lets them explore those hunting instincts without putting any other animals in danger. Have another family member distract your pup while you hide. Once you’re in place, the dog is released and the hunt is on. Using their nose and skills, your pooch will sniff you out. Just try not to giggle and give away your location.
Conclusion
The Mini Foodle is extremely active for their petite size. They require at least several walks per day, but prefer more strenuous activities. The Poodle part of their ancestry retrieved waterfowl for hunters, giving your Mini Foodle an inherited love of water and swimming.
Activities such as tracking and hide-and-seek allow your pup to use their intelligence and their nose, as their Mini Fox Terrier ancestors did. An intelligent breed, the Mini Foodle enjoys learning new tricks and pleasing their owner. Teaching Fido new tricks is a bonding experience for you and your dog, but it also keeps them mentally stimulated, which is very important to keep such an active breed from turning boredom into destruction.