Activities For Smooth Fox Pinschers
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Introduction
Your Smooth Fox Pinscher, a highly curious and energetic canine companion, is an intelligent hybrid, resulting from breeding the Miniature Pinscher with a Smooth Fox Terrier. Both parent breeds contribute significant amounts of energy, curiosity, spunk, and mischief. Because of the Fox Terrier’s hunting influence, exercising your pet requires extra precautions to prevent an unplanned scamper through the neighborhood after the next door cat or the squirrel who dared make their presence known during your morning walk! That highly sensitive nose leads them down paths you’d prefer they not travel. The intelligence contributed by both sides of the bio equation creates a frisky friend who, to avoid the destructive behaviors we pet parents have all come to dread, needs to be kept busy, both physically and mentally!
Lure Chasing
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Sunny Day
Cheap
Easy
15 - 20 min
Items needed
Fishing line or string
Dog treat
furry or feathery toy
Activity description
Lure chasing is an activity in which you attach a fuzzy, furry or feathery toy to one end of a length of fishing line or another type of string, then drag it along the ground while your Smooth Fox Pinscher pursues it. The length of the line or string depends on your height, the size of your pet and the size of the game area. You’ll want enough range to allow the pursuit of the toy, keeping a reasonable distance between you and your pup. The small toy, intended to resemble a fox, squirrel or rat becomes the target of the sight search for which the parent's breeds developed in Germany and England. By engaging your canine comrade in this type of exercise, you build upon the instincts hiding in their DNA. The cost of the activity is low, the game easily taught and played, and it provides many hours of fun in the sunshine and fresh air for both you and your best bud, deepening that critical bond between the two of you. Who knows, this engaging and fun enterprise could lead to a formal competition!
Step
1
Engineer the enticement
Gather the elements of the game: fishing line or another type of string and the “lure.” Be sure that you have enough string, line or twine to provide sufficient distance to keep the lure moving ahead of your dog, maintaining their interest and focus. The bait, a small toy resembling a squirrel, fox or rat attached to one end of the length of cord, should be wee and light enough to facilitate light and quick movement. Cat toys work well for this step as long as they don’t contain catnip.
Step
2
Tap into the talent
Next, you’re going to tap into that sight-hunting instinct lying hidden within your Smooth Fox Pinscher's DNA. Since many “family companions” don’t often get to exercise this particular skill, it sometimes gets lost in the genetic shuffle. Then one day, while playing fetch in the unfenced backyard, your pup spots movement, taking an unplanned trip through the neighborhood in pursuit of a small animal, with you close behind. Wiggle the toy to get their attention, and begin to drag it along the ground. Watch with delight as your frisky friend does what comes naturally. Be sure to reward them with treats when they snag the lure!
Step
3
Catch a competition
Your doggie darling will love this game so much that they’ll likely want to play frequently. Keep the play periods to 15 to 20 minutes duration, with multiple rest and refreshing breaks to avoid overtiring and overheating. You can provide more challenge to the game by changing the design of the “course,” adding obstacles which must be jumped or otherwise negotiated. There are formal lure chasing competitions available for you and your canine comrade to watch - and, who knows, the excitement levels exhibited by your pup may cause you to join in the competition!
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Flirt Pole Pursuit
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Any Day
Cheap
Easy
15 - 20 min
Items needed
PVC pipe
rope
Dog toy
Snacks
Drinking water
Activity description
A flirt pole is a simple type of toy that incorporates a length of PVC pipe (¾ inch in diameter), some rope and a dog toy. The length of tube and line dependent upon your height, the size of your dog and the size of the play area, and may be found in the garage, shed or basement. As a pet parent, the chances are quite high that you already have both a variety of toys and doggie treats in the house. If the pipe and rope aren’t readily available, they can be purchased inexpensively at many department or DIY stores. Though easily assembled at home, you’ll find the kit available for purchase in many brick and mortar as well as online pet or department stores. You can even personalize the pole by decorating it with electrical tape, found in many colors and patterns. The activity itself, played indoors or out, in any weather or climate, has the potential to expend tons of pent-up energy that could otherwise result in some unacceptable destructive or annoying behavior. As a result of the high levels of energy consumed in this adventure, we recommend that you limit the play period to a maximum of 15 to 20 minutes, allowing multiple rests and refreshment breaks. Frequent treat rewards for your pup keeps the game exciting and engaging for them.
Step
1
Purchase the parts
The elements needed to create this toy are simple and straightforward, most of them possibly already found laying around the house. Be sure to allow enough length in the pipe and cord to permit free movement, keeping the dog clear of perimeter obstacles for safety. If you don’t have the necessary parts, purchases at your local DIY store will remedy that situation. Though construction is easy, if you don’t feel mechanically inclined, the flirt pole is available for purchase at most pet stores, keeping in mind that some assembly may be required.
Step
2
Component construction
Now that you’ve gotten your components, it’s time to assemble them. Thread the rope through the tube and tie a sturdy knot at one end of it to keep it from pulling through it. Next, fashion a similarly sized knot in the cord at the other end of the pipe prevent it's sliding in and out of the pole. The next step involves securing a favored toy to the loose end of the cord, an activity that will surely get your pup’s attention! Feel free to give a special touch of your own by decorating with multi-colored electrical tape, wrapped around the pole. This final touch provides a better grip for the pole-handler.
Step
3
Playful pandemonium
The play area, large enough to allow you to swing and twirl the pole assembly, with your dog in close pursuit, needs to be without the dangers of damage or injury to perimeter objects, people or other animals. Swing, twirl or jump the toy at the end of the pole, watching as your Smooth Fox Pinscher pursues in playful pandemonium. At first, keep the moves low, slow and uncomplicated, increasing in speed and challenge as they become acclimated to the game. The play period should be held to a maximum of 15 to 20 minutes so that you don’t overtire or overheat your frisky friend. Be sure to allow sufficient rests and refreshment breaks!
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Cup Game
Popular
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Any Day
Cheap
Easy
15 - 20 min
Items needed
3 to 4 sturdy cups
Dog treats
Drinking Water
Activity description
This activity utilizes the scenting skills in your precious pooch. The Smooth Fox Pinscher comes from the breeding of two parent breeds, both of which contribute scenting and hunting abilities in the DNA. This game involves nose work from your dog, skills that most family companions don’t get to employ often enough today. Problem-solving is another skill needed for this enterprise, and that four-legged furry family member who is lurking around the corner will probably surprise you with their expertise in this area. The physical energy levels aren’t the only attributes needing management in this spunky, scrappy little canine - their intelligence creates periods of boredom if not suitably entertained and challenged. As pet parents are all well aware, boredom (and the behaviors which accompany it) is something to be avoided if at all possible. The exercise played inside or out, is one that you’ll want to repeat any time of day and in any weather as often as your time allows. It is not difficult or expensive since you probably already have sturdy (relatively untippable) cups and dog treats around most of the time.
Step
1
Place the cup
The play area consists of an open, flat space - on the floor, the ground outside, or a table. You will need 3 or 4 sturdy cups which are relatively untippable and not easily moved by the nudge of a canine nose. Arrange the cups on the flat surface of your choice, preferably not immediately adjacent to each other to provide more challenge for your nosy pup. Before the next step, be sure to remove your pawed playmate from visual observation of the play area.
Step
2
Tuck the treat
The next step involves hiding your Smooth Fox Pinscher's favorite snack under one of the cups. Once you’ve tucked the treat, call your best bud into the play area. Tease them with one of the tasty tidbits to get them interested in the game, allowing them to lick, sniff and nibble on it. Command and encourage them to find the treats, then sit back and watch as they playfully plunder the cups in search of that yummy treat. Be sure to rebait the cups as the snacks are found and consumed, keeping in mind that you don’t want to overfeed your dog.
Step
3
Play time
Keep your play periods to about 15 to 20 minutes duration to limit the number of treats consumed and avoid overtiring and overheating (if done outside). Frequent rests and refreshment breaks will keep energy expenditures and snack ingestion under control. Your Smooth Fox Pinscher will enjoy this game so much that you’ll probably have to buy more snacks (and cups)! As the saying goes, “rinse and repeat” for ongoing fun and entertainment.
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More Fun Ideas...
Go Shopping
Most people enjoy shopping under certain circumstances, and your pup is game for this activity, too!. Pet stores are lovely places to take your Smooth Fox Pinscher, where they are permitted to wander up and down the aisle (under your supervision, of course), sniffing and investigating to their little heart’s content. Shopping is another excellent nose work adventure, too!
Toy Toss
This game is probably as basic as it gets. Pick one or more of your pet’s favorite toys and then toss them across the room, or the backyard, encouraging your pup to pursue, retrieve and return. Be warned, however, compliance with the return part may be more difficult!
Conclusion
If you've had your Smooth Fox Pinscher very long, you already know how important it is to keep them engaged and entertained as much as possible. This fact may already be in evidence by the chew marks on the coffee table legs, or the pieces of your slippers found on the living room carpet this morning. The significant amounts of energy potential in this hybrid make finding the perfect mix of physical and mental stimulation essential for the happiness and well-being of everyone in the household. We offer these suggestions to bridge that critical gap in the lives of your family and your playful pawed playmate.