Meeting the Needs of a Suburban Herding Dog

It's Training Cats and Dogs!

How do you provide enrichment for a highly active herding dog while you’re living in the suburbs? Naomi talks to Kristina Mok about her cattledog pup Lexa and her elder cat Pippi.

In this episode we discuss:

Our cast of characters: Lexa and Pippi

• Lexa is an Australian cattledog pup, full of excitement and energy
• Pippi is a former rescue cat that’s been part of Kristina’s family for thirteen years

Starting Problems

• A very activity driven puppy and an old cat sharing a household
• Living the suburbs
• First-time dog owners
• An older woman means running with a cattledog is not her forte

What did Kristina think Enrichment meant before joining the Club?

• Hadn’t done a lot of reading but what she’s read said there was more than just running your dog.
• Use its brain and then it will be more tired.
• Needs more activities to play and use her brain
• Dogs get naughty when they’re bored

What kinds of Enrichment has Kristina been doing with Lexa

• A lot of sniffy walks
• Slept really well after walks despite not doing any running
• Training during walks
• Stop/sit at roads
• Release of food items she finds
• Activities at home
• Snuffle mats
• Food dispensing toys
• Hiding things in yard to sniff out
• Paper bags to rip apart to find things

Working backward to develop Enrichment

• Didn’t realize how to work backward until learned in the Club
• Learn what she needs in her day rather than just giving her all the things to do
• Focus more on the behavior/needs
• Think about the times of day and what she might need
• First thing in the morning playing some tug before she eats
• Keeps agitation down because she’s had a play and Kristina can continue on with her day
• If she’s overstimulated
• Scatter feed, snuffle mat to help bring her back down with focus activities
• If she’s chewing on things she shouldn’t
• When did she last have her bone?

Enrichment is not for us, but for them

• Shift the focus to their needs, not the behaviors that we want to see
• Satisfy their needs and then the good behaviors will come
• Develops good communication
• Agency for the pet. Give them some choice
• Allows you to understand pet’s needs more

Enrichment is not just for dogs

• Pippi the cat also benefits from enrichment though it takes a different for to Lexa’s
• Quiet sitting and companionship (social bonding)

Enrichment catered to the individual

• Give the option of different activities but allow them to guide what they like the most
• Different animals enjoy different things
• Eg. Social bonding over physical activities (play)

Next Enrichment projects?

• Lexa: Canine nose work classes
• Pippi: Building some places for her to go up high and safe

Enrichment: one step at a time

• Take it one activity at a time
• No need to overwhelm pets with lots of different enrichment plans

Who’s in this episode?

Naomi Rotenberg

https://www.instagram.com/praiseworthypets

https://www.praiseworthypets.com/

Kristina Mok