The Labor of Dogs

In celebration of Labor Day Weekend, it seems the opportune moment to discuss the work ethic of our canine companions. Yes, even your couch potato, needs to have a purpose in life. 

In defining the "work" of dogs, we can discuss those specialized breeds who have specific skill sets that professionals and hobby-dog workers alike capitalize on. There are the obvious jobs- seeing eye dogs, bomb/drug sniffing canines, hunting/retrievers, the farm dogs. But every single dog will create a job for itself even if you do not train it do so. 

For example, let's talk about the alarm-bell dog. Dogs who are hyper vocally reactive to outside stimulus like the mail carriers, delivery trucks, or become the unofficial neighborhood watch are often times totally bored and creating work for themselves to pass the time. Once this becomes a pattern, you can end up with a dog who basically has decided that it's primary purpose in life it so to push away intruders. That behavior is reinforced when routine postal workers/delivery drivers/kids walking home from school leave (in dog's mind, from their barking), creating a cause/response pattern that can be really challenging to change.  

There are some great ways to integrate more work opportunities for the unemployed house dog. This is by no means a complete list, but let's just call it some of the available "entry level" positions for your pooch.

1. One of the common mistakes that families make is to leave dry kibble available, full time, buffet style for their pet. This is something that creates a disconnect between people and their pets. Beyond that, it can significantly reduce food motivation. A dog may be much less likely to work for a treat if they know that even if they ignore you, there is plenty of food they can graze on all the time. Feed 2 meals per day for adult dogs, and 3 meals per day for puppies under 10ish months old. A little longer with 3 meals a day is also totally fine, depending on what breed puppy you have, their metabolism/weight etc. When feeding your dog, make it an activity. Ask for a sit, and wait/hold before releasing them to eat a meal. Help them make the connection that fulfilling your requests is rewarded with food. Only leave food available for a reasonable amount of time, 20-30 minutes per meal, anything left goes away until the next opportunity. It's okay if your dog misses a meal while you are teaching, they will eat when they are hungry. 
2. Along with controlling the timing and portions, you can also build more satisfaction in mealtimes for your dog by adding challenges. Kongs are easily available and highly versatile dog toys. Mix a little bit of wet food in with a portion of your dog's dry food, and you have an evisceration task for part of their dinner. You can even stick it in the freezer for an extra challenge. There are also really great slow feeder bowls, which are great for dogs who have a predisposition to eating to quickly or bloat, but also for the busy-mind. The type that have ridges that look like a maze (and not just a center post) are ideal for creating a more challenging meal time. For advanced pups with really strong work drives or scent work breeds, check out a "snuffle mat"- you can even make your own! Basically, turn meal time into a task rather than tossing kibble in their general direction as you bolt out the door. 
3. Even predominantly couch potatoes really do need to stretch their legs in a physical task. Dogs love walks- but it's not enough to just attach a leash and let them drag you around the neighborhood. We can tire a dog out in a much shorter time period by offering a walk that is structured in a nice loose leash. Teaching loose leash is one of my favorite tasks, because it asks our dogs to pay attention to us as the most interesting thing on a walk, strengthening our connection. We can increase our pace and slow way down, making them keep step with us. We can also add extra tasks, like carrying a weighted back pack or practicing basic commands. Dogs need the opportunity to meet the expectations of their owner, and understand that the purpose of the walk isn't just for potty- but a concrete job they can do on a regular basis. 
4. There are so many games that you can capitalize on to help your dog scratch the itch of knowing their "work" in your family. Fetch is the obvious one, but you can also teach your dog to play "hide and seek" and find you in various rooms after holding a long stay command. You can even teach them to put away their own toys. The ultimate goal remains the same no matter what- engage with your dog, give them a positive roll in the house, and you will avoid a lot of the less pleasant tasks they assign themselves. 

We live in a country where we are expected to work long hours, with less opportunities to advance in many cases. We know that this can create tension and stress. That is kind of the frustration that can happen to our canine pals, regardless of breed, when we don't offer them some engagement and enrichment to their daily routine. They get a little cabin fever, and a little stir crazy. But with some simple, consistent changes our dogs can thrive and more than that- spending more time with your pup can give you so many insights into their personality, enjoy your time together more, and deepen their command reliability. 
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