Activities For Siberian Retrievers
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Prepare for unexpected vet bills
Introduction
We think you guys are really going to flip out when you get a load of these hybrid hounds! Siberian Retrievers are the result of mixing a Siberian Husky with a Golden Retriever. On the surface, these two breeds are about as different as night and day; Siberian Huskies were born and bred to thrive in the cold as snow dogs while Golden Retrievers were made for the express purpose of helping humans out in warm, sunny climates. But both of these breeds are very well mannered, easily trainable, and flexible. Their Siberian Retriever offspring were bred to capture the best of both worlds and can participate in a varied assortment of activities as a result!
Trick Training
Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Cheap
Easy
50 - 60 min
Items needed
Leash
Toys
Activity description
At the top of our guide for Siberian Retrievers, we've placed trick training as one of the first activities you should try out with your dog. Even though they aren't as well known as either of their parents, Siberian Retrievers are starting to gain a solid reputation for being great listeners who can follow instructions to the letter. This makes it much easier to train one of these dogs than another, more wily breed. Best of all, trick training doesn't take a whole lot to get into; you'll need some dog treats to reinforce certain behaviors, but otherwise, you don't need to spend a lot for this activity.
Step
1
Show them the way
A major part of this activity is guiding your dog through a trick manually before commanding them to do it without your help. For instance, to teach your dog how to sit, you'll need to hold a dog treat in front of them and then you'll need to slowly lower it down to the ground until your pup is fully prone. Do this while saying "sit" and continue to repeat the motion slowly at first.
Step
2
Test their memory
We used sitting as our example for the first step, but that general outline can be followed for any other trick you want to teach your dog. "Give a paw," "roll over," and "down" are just a few of the commands that can be taught. The idea is that you'll then test your dog by repeating the command you gave them while you were "showing them the way." If your dog goes prone after you've said "sit" then it looks like they've got the trick down and you can give them the treat you've been tantalizing them with!
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Scented Hide and Seek
Popular
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Sunny Day
Moderate
Normal
45 min
Items needed
Dog-safe scents
Favorite Foods
Activity description
We're putting another modern twist on an old-school activity with this one. The main principle behind scented hide and seek is smell; you'll want your dog to find you via sniffing you out, as opposed to seeing your leg sticking out from behind a tree and then running over to you. You may need someone to help you with activity, as it can be tough to get your dog to stay put as you disappear from view. But whether you have someone else holding your dog steady while you hide or not, you definitely will need a wide open space like a park to play.
Step
1
Scents and smells
This activity is all about getting your Siberian Retriever to use their sense of smell to the best of their ability. That being said, it's going to be entirely up to you to figure out which smells and smells your dog absolutely loves. From our own personal experience, we've found that dogs will react to the smell of their favorite food, or the smell of good old bacon, very well.
Step
2
Hide away
Now that you've got yourself smelling like a rose, or a strip of bacon if you followed our advice from earlier, you need to hide out of plain view so that your dog will have to use their sense of smell to find you. Also, it wouldn't hurt to have a dog treat, or a strip of bacon, on hand so that you can reward your dog when they manage to find you.
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Agility Training
Popular
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Any Day
Moderate
Hard
1 hr
Items needed
Leash
Weave Poles
A-frame
Tunnel
Treats
Activity description
Agility training will put your dog's skills to the test; their ability to follow commands, their agility, their natural intuition - it'll all be tried and tested here. Even if you don't plan on entering your Siberian Retriever into any dog shows, the training routines that are associated with them can really help whip a dog into shape as well as refine their innate gifts. There are really only two ways you can go about doing this activity; the do it yourself route or the paid professional route. Both methods have their pros and cons, which we'll discuss further below.
Step
1
The DIY route
The pros for the DIY route are primarily based on skill development - not just for your dog, but for yourself as well. If you do it yourself, you'll develop your ability to plan out routines and set up obstacle courses for your dog while your pet will learn to adapt to unusual terrain and new challenges. The cons are that you'll have to go through a lot of personal effort setting up obstacle courses, so this route may not be for you if you're more of the "hands off" type. Your nearest home hardware store and the internet will give you the tools you need to create the course which may include a tunnel and an A-frame obstacle.
Step
2
The paid professional route
There aren't many cons for this method, so let's get them out of the way right off the bat. The only con you really have to deal with here is the cost; some trainers can charge quite a bit for their services, so find one that suits your needs. Otherwise, the pros are plentiful; a certified professional will be teaching your dog - you and your dog will have more time to focus on bonding. A pro will have tried and true techniques for mastering tough obstacles like weaves poles and jumps.
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More Fun Ideas...
Hoops and Hurdles
This activity would typically fall within the category of an agility training sport, so it has the added benefit of helping your Siberian Retriever get ready for a dog show or rescue team tryouts. The idea is that you set up a number of hoops and hurdles, then you encourage your dog to jump through then without knocking any of them down.
Canine Musical Freestyle
We know what you're probably thinking; "what kind of activity has such as strange name as this?" While the name "canine musical freestyle" might sound really out there, this activity is grounded in obedience training and positive behavior reinforcement. The idea is that you 'll come up with a dance routine that you and your dog can participate in together and then the two of you will rehearse until your both able to complete the routine without fail.
Dress Up
Not many dogs are really all that down to play dress up with their human family members, but Siberian Retrievers tend to be the exception to that trend. Whether you'd like to go the practical route, seeing which scarves and which harnesses look great on your dog, or whether you'd like to doll your dog out in the craziest clothes you can find, your Siberian Retriever will be more willing than the average dog.
Conclusion
After reading about all of the different kinds of activities you can try out with a Siberian Retriever, we're hoping that you'll come to see these dogs as the adaptable and flexible breeds that we've come to see them as. Siberian Retrievers want to make a great impression on their caregivers more than anything else, so they'll be willing to try out just about any activity you introduce them to. The way we see it, this gives you the opportunity to think of some incredibly unique activities that you can only try out with your Siberian Retriever. Stay safe, but also get creative - don't be afraid to think outside of the box, as Siberian Retrievers are some of the most unconventional dogs a person could ever meet.