Activities For Ski-Collies

The official game of Treibball uses 8 large, but soft, balls for the dogs to herd. It also uses soccer goals for the dogs to herd the balls into. This might be a bit difficult to accomplish at home without a very large garage to store everything in. Because of this, you can start out with just a couple regular exercise balls and anything that slightly resembles a goal for your Ski-Collie to heard the balls into, such as a couple of fence posts or some buckets for example.

A few basic commands that are needed for Treibball include "stay", "come", "lie down", and "go out". The "go out" cue is the most important as it teaches your dog where to lay down and place themselves on the field. You can find excellent tutorials on how to teach this online; just remember that this is not an easy thing to learn or to teach as it doesn't come naturally! However, one your dog understand what you want, the "go out" cue will be wonderful both in real life scenarios and while playing the game. Along with the "go out" cue, the other verbal cues are what will help the dog understand what they need it to do before, after, and during the game. If your Ski-Collie does not have these skills mastered quite yet, don't worry! Working on treibball at home is a great way to teach your dog these tricks in a fun way. Just be sure to remain patient and reward often so that it stays a positive experience.

Once you have your equipment and the commands figured out, it's time to understand just how the game is played! Basically, the handler stands in one area of the field, while the dog lays down (facing the owner) about 10 feet away on a specific marker. The balls should be set up in a triangle formation. Once the handler is ready, the dog should be cued to "go out" and around the balls, then lay down and face the handler once more. While the rules in the official game are much more complicated (having the dog move "the point" ball into the goal first), at home you can just have fun with it! Cue your Ski-Collie to move the balls with vocal commands, hand signals, and whistles. Not only will this cause your pup to think and burn energy moving the balls around, it also builds an awesome bond between the two of you, where your Ski-Collie will learn to understand your verbal and non-verbal cues! How cool is that?

It will take a bit of time, depending on the dog, for your Ski-Collie to learn a particular toy's name. Spend time showing the dog the toy and saying its name often. If you throw the toy and the dog brings it back, treat them. Slowly add a cue such as "get (toy's name)". Eventually, the dog will associate the name with that toy and will learn to bring it back when you ask.

Remember to stay patient and if you or your dog get frustrated during training, take a break. Keep it a fun experience for your pet so that they look forward to playing with you! Once your Ski-Collie knows a few names of their toys, you can begin to play with your dog in the ways mentioned above. Hide the toys, mix a particular one up in a pile, or add a new toy to the mix. Whatever you chose to do, this is a great activity to keep your intelligent Ski-Collie on their toes.

Most ski resorts aren't going to allow dogs on the slopes, for obvious reasons. If you and your Ski-Collie want to shred together, you will most likely need to go to a backcountry spot. This may be one that you know and love well, or it could be a new adventure that you and some friends decide to explore. Regardless of how well you know the area and what your experience level may be, it is always important to keep your dog's best interest first in your mind.

Even dogs that are bred to withstand cold, such as Malamutes and American Eskimo breeds, are going to have some issues with their paws after long exposure to the cold. Because of this, it is so important to get your dog some booties for their feet. You can find these at places like Amazon or REI and they are a great investment for other activities as well; such as rock climbing, hiking, and more. Be sure to pay attention to your dog's behavior as you hit the slopes. If your Ski-Collie is limping, whining, or slowing down it is probably a good cue that they need a break.

When it comes to doing anything off leash, it is so important that your dog knows how to listen to your commands. This is because you are going to need to keep your Ski-Collie safe from all kinds of different threats while off leash in the backcountry. Wild animals, avalanches, steep cliffs, and other people on the mountain are just a few examples of what could cause harm to your Ski-Collie. Your own equipment can be a danger as well so your dog must know how to understand and obey in order to keep them well protected and having fun! Teach commands such as "stay", "wait", "go out", "come", "stop", "heel" and "place" before you fully commit to any kind of backcountry adventure (even if it is something like hiking or snowshoeing off leash). Doing so will help to ensure a safe and good time for everyone involved!