Activities For Small Working Dogs

One of the small breeds that was originally a working group is the Terrier. This includes the Jack Russell Terrier, the Westie, and the Schnauzer. Dogs in the Terrier group are tenacious, and they don't easily give up on a task - even if it is something mischievous. They love to run, chew, tear, and dig. The key is to give your Terrier activities that allow them to work out their natural instinct. Doggy disc is another name for playing Frisbee with your dog. While you can play with a real Frisbee disc, a doggy disc (available at any pet supply store) is less likely to make your pup's mouth sore. A mere half-hour outdoors session will help to quell those terrible tendencies for your terrific Terrier.

Small bird dogs such as the Cocker Spaniel and the miniature Poodle will thoroughly enjoy a game of Go Fetch. Certainly, these dogs instinctively hunt small prey (such as your tennis ball). They naturally run after their prey, and they flush the prey out. (Picture the ball rolling under a table in your hallway and your pup nudging the ball our with their nose.) In many ways, Go Fetch is a natural game that your pup is likely to pick up rather quickly. It can be played indoors or outside, and weather is no issue because this game can be played anywhere. Just a half hour two or three times a week provides great exercise for your working dog.

Do you have an Australian Cattle Dog? Perhaps you have a Collie? Have you ever noticed the dog nipping at your - or your children's - heels? For the two aforementioned breeds, herding is almost as much a part of their demeanor as eating or breathing. However, many people now purchase these breeds as companions, not as herders. In order to train the dog not to nip at your heels and to stop herding children or small animals, why not allow your dog to practice what they do best? Herding Humans will require four or five participants, and, in this case, this is a great outlet for children as well as the herding dog.