Dog Activities Revealed Part 1

This month’s bonus item outlines the five different types of activities that should be provided when dogs are playing off-leash. Keep reading to learn more about the first three activity types.

1. Games

Games are primarily about play and physical exercise.  Sue Sternberg says in her book, Serious Fun, Play Like a Dog, that

“Play and exercise are the two most important components to having a happy, contented, well-behaved dog.”

Have a variety of games on a list for staff to lead as not all dogs enjoy a game of fetch.  Assess the quality of the games played in your sessions with this criteria:

• Green body language (specifically playful and curious emotional states)
• Physical activity – dogs are up and moving around the play area
• Mental engagement – dogs are using their minds by responding to leader cues and instructions
• Interest and participation by a majority of dogs in the playgroup

2. Observe dogs playing with each other

Social interaction with other dogs is a primary reason clients select off-leash playgroups as an activity for their dogs.  As pet professionals it is your responsibility to ensure that the interactions are positive and safe.  Remember that safety means both physical and emotional well-being of all the dogs in the playgroup.  Assess the quality of the interactions when dogs are playing with each other using this criteria:

• Low arousal levels between the dogs playing
• Green body language, play postures and behavior (lateral movements, taking turns, exaggerated movements)
• Minimal stress signals observed
• Dogs take breaks naturally or initiated by staff leader using splitting and redirecting
• Attentive leader that keeps eyes on dogs and is up and physically moving while dogs are playing together
• Leaders control access to toys (removed during high risk periods)

3. Relax

There is a natural ebb and flow to high quality off-leash playgroups that includes dogs taking a break from play to relax.  When dogs feel safe they will take breaks from play to lie down and rest.  When dogs relax, the leader can still be engaged with the dogs with low-key activities.  In addition, the leader can sometimes help the dogs relax by engaging in some of these activities.  Several of the relaxing activities recommended are multi-purpose as described below:

• Read or tell a story – Keeps staff leader connected with dogs and can help force dogs to take a break as a group; leaders can sit and invite dogs to come lay around their chair during “story time”.  Be sure they are on the webcam or share photos on social media for clients to enjoy.
• Individual Petting and Scratching “sweet spots” – Important time to interact individually with all dogs.  Great time to focus on “wallflower” dogs that do not push for attention or participate in games.  Most clients expect you to know their dog as an individual so individual attention is a great way to confirm this by knowing their favorite petting spots.  Encourage staff to physically scan each dog from nose to tail during these interactive moments and report anything out of the ordinary in a dog feedback form to the client.
• Shakes/high fives – These cues work the dog’s mind and are a fun way to interact with dogs.  You may even teach a new “fun trick” to some dogs that will really impress the client at pick-up.
• Physical scan of dogs – You can combine this with your recall exercise as a multi-purpose activity.  You want to find any physical injuries that occur during play sessions so recommend each day start and end with a physical scan.  This activity can also be life-saving during extreme weather conditions by checking dogs who may be experiencing early effects of heat or cold temperatures, so would increase frequency in the schedule during hot/humid and very cold days.  Refresh staff on the symptoms of heat and cold distress so they check each dog during the physical scan activity session.

Next week in Dog Activities Revealed Part 2 we’ll go in depth with leadership exercises and dog engagement.