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Dog A-Z > B > Boredom prevention > Outdoor fun and games
Outdoor fun and games
Outdoor walks are great to wear dogs out physically, but used to the full will also exercise your dog mentally. Some dogs who are exercised when hungry can show problems with aggressive behaviour, so try to feed about an hour before going out. Consider the following:
- Letting your dog have a really good run off lead in a safe place is essential. Giving him the opportunity to sniff around at will and meet other dogs helps him use his doggy communication skills and allows him to use his sense of smell – all things that use his brain and help keep him happy and contented. Remember that nothing is better for him than a good run and play with a doggy friend – so if you can arrange walks on a regular basis with a canine companion, he’ll really benefit from this.
- Take a favourite toy out with you that you keep only for walks. This will make it very special to your dog. Active playing will wear him out a lot more quickly than just walking alone – after you’ve let him have a good sniff and greeted doggy chums of course! Playing with you will also help to keep him under control if he is prone to running off. If you and his toy are the most interesting thing on his walk, he won’t want to leave you.
- Play hide and seek with your dog. If you are in a safe wooded area or if there are bushes around, wait until your dog is not looking at you and then hide. Call your dog and wait for him to find you. Give him lots of praise and a tasty treat when he does, so that it becomes an exciting and fun game for him. If you are walking your dog with another family member, take turns holding your dog whilst the other hides.
- Why not do some training when you’re on a walk? Try some recall training; call him to you for a really tasty treat and then let him go and play. Do this several times during your walk. As well as encouraging him to keep his attention on you and teaching him that coming on command does not have to mean the end of his walk, you’ll be training a perfect recall for any sticky situation.
