Activities For Shethunds

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Activities For Shethunds

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Introduction

Don’t be fooled by this small, adorable, and friendly dog. For even though all signs point to them not being in need of fast-paced physical stimulation, they require more than you think. These Dachshund and Shetland Sheepdog hybrids are small, sweet, loyal, and suit family life perfectly, but they also require you to dedicate up to two hours of time per day to their activity requirements. After all, both parent breeds traditionally had a job to do, so you need to make sure their offspring do too. Stuck for ideas? Check out these below.

Agility Courses

Popular

0 Votes

Sunny Day

Expensive

Normal

1 hr

Items needed

PVC pipe

Treat

Leash

Weave poles

Tunnels

Wood boards

Activity description

For a dog that has bursts of energy when they are already a high-energy dog, fast-paced stimulation is crucial. Even if you can rely on the kids to wear them out through chasing and games, they still need a fun activity that tests their physical and mental levels to the limit. Agility courses tend to be expensive, but they do provide an hour or more of entertainment in sunny conditions that your Shethund may find relatively challenging. As a result, it could be the very thing they need to burn off energy and stimulate their senses at the same time.

Step

Build or attend

The first step to having your Shethund work on their agility training is to figure out whether you will attend a pre-built course and facility or build one yourself. If you would prefer the convenience of staying at home without spending any money, building one could be an excellent option. However, you will need something to act as weave poles, a dog walk, jumps, a pause table, tunnels, tire jumps, and a teeterboard.

Step

Build the course

Using items you have around home to construct the main components of an agility course, you can now build it. Pay attention to the layout of the course, making sure it compares to one you would pay money to use. Otherwise, it’s not going to be the same challenge for your Shethund. PVC piping, ski poles, coffee tables and pieces of wood will all come in handy. Make sure any slippery surfaces have grippy tops so your dog doesn’t fall off anything and injure themselves.

Step

Run the course

With your help and your dog on a leash, use kind words of encouragement and treats to guide your Shethund through the course. The first few times may be slow, and you may even need to take a break in between. However, once they learn the course and get to know what it includes, they will begin to pick up the pace.

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Dog Park

Popular

0 Votes

Sunny Day

Free

Easy

1 hr

Items needed

Leash

Doggy waste bag

Toy

Activity description

Nothing burns a dog’s energy quicker than time with other dogs. Therefore, if you find that you can’t keep up with your furry friend’s need to run and play, then a trip to the park is an excellent idea. Here, they can meet new friends, socialize, and run and jump to their heart’s content. The best part is, it’s entirely free. Bring your dog on a leash, a toy to play with and a bag to pick up their waste, and you can have an hour of fun in the sunshine. Even if you don’t have a park nearby, the car ride is another fun activity you can include to get the best of both worlds.

Step

Choose a park

The most popular type of dog park is one that’s fun, free, and near to your home. However, each park has a different set of features that will appeal to you and your furry friend more. For example, a park with separate enclosures for small, medium, and large dogs may be a better fit or one with a mixture of all three. Don’t be afraid to look online and do your research before settling on a park.

Step

Check it out

Before you unhook your dog’s leash and put them in the pen, take the time to wander around the park and get a feel for the place. Is it neat, tidy, and in excellent condition? Are all the enclosures properly fenced and hole-free? Remember, Shethunds can have a high prey drive and herding instinct which makes them prone to running off. You need to make sure you’re entirely happy with the security.

Step

Play

If your park of choice ticks all the boxes, then it’s time to play! Invite your dog into the enclosure then let them sniff around and get a feel for it. When you’re satisfied that they are confident in their surroundings, you can let them off their leash. For the next hour, they will race around with their new friends and may even play with the toy you brought along.

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Weasel Ball

Popular

0 Votes

Rainy Day

Cheap

Easy

30 min

Items needed

Weasel ball

Activity description

Shethunds show a firm interest in small animals - be it your family cat or a smaller dog. While they can live in harmony with other animals, you may like to curtail the predatory behavior with a toy such as a weasel ball. Weasel balls are affordable to purchase online, are easy to play with, and only require batteries. You can then release them onto the ground while your pup spends at least half an hour in awe of what they’re doing. If you want to provide your furry friend with something fun and different to do, then a weasel ball could be the answer.

Step

Buy the toy

If you’re looking to spend the least amount of money but still provide your dog with hours of entertainment, then it’s time to buy a weasel ball. If you look online, you are bound to find a vast variety of options to appeal to your dog. When you purchase a weasel ball, however, pay attention to the size of the plastic ball. It needs to be bigger than what your dog could carry in their mouth.

Step

Clear space

Weasel balls have a mind of their own - they control themselves. Once you put batteries into them, they flip around on the floor, rolling around by the weight of the ball. As a result, you need to clear space in your house for the weasel ball to roll free. Because your dog will be chasing it as well, make sure no prized antiques are nearby!

Step

Play

Once you have cleared a path and set the weasel ball on the floor, it’s time to play! The hilarity that ensues is video-worthy, so feel free to capture your dog sprinting laps around the living room floor, burning off energy as they chase a soft toy attached to a plastic ball! This fun and affordable activity is one that’s bound to offer the much needed mental and physical stimulation they require.

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More Fun Ideas...

Chew toys

If you don’t have time to head out for a walk with your Shethund, then you can’t leave them to their own devices. Instead, you need to make sure you thoroughly stimulate them with the likes of a chew toy. The best chew toy for your dog is one that features a hard and durable rubber material and lasts a long time. The last thing you want is to be picking up rubber confetti in five seconds!

Walk

If you have an hour to spare and the sun is shining, why not put on your sneakers and head out for a walk? The kaleidoscope of smells is sure to grab your dog’s interest, while also putting all their senses on high alert. Because they are having to use their mental and physical senses, you will find that upon arriving home, they are spent and ready for a sleep!

Conclusion

It’s easy to assume that a small dog has a small need for exertion, but with a Shethund, that couldn’t be further from the truth. When it comes to catering to their physical and mental stimulation requirements, you need to put your best paw forward. Otherwise, you may find they can bark a lot, get into mischief, and have the time of their life chasing the family cat!