Private fields; Boredom busting a regular dog walk

Private dog walking fields are a fantastic way to keep you and your groups safe, or your reactive dogs relaxed, but walking in the same place each time can become boring, not just for the dogs, but for you too! So how can we make a dog walk more exciting?

While dogs may have routines and enjoy familiar walks, they can also benefit from variety and new experiences. Just like humans, dogs can become bored or restless if their daily walks become monotonous and lack stimulation.

We’re lucky that dogs ‘see’ the world through their noses, so each time they go somewhere, there will be new smells for them from the dogs before or wild animals who may have been in the field overnight.

But adding to those new sniffs and enriching the walk with new activities just builds the enjoyment the dog is having, and adds value to your walk which can set you apart from other walkers in your area.

Introducing new scents, sights, and sounds during walks can engage their senses and prevent boredom. Additionally, varying the pace and intensity of the walk can help keep your dog physically and mentally stimulated. Incorporating interactive activities, such as playing fetch or practicing obedience commands during walks, can also make the experience more enjoyable for both you and your dogs.

Let’s take a look at how we can make each and every walk a brand new experience for your dogs, wherever you walk.

Enrichment activities for walks in private dog walking fields

Bubbles

I first saw a woman in my local park walking her own dog and blowing bubbles for him from one of those little plastic pots you buy for children. The dog loved it!

I’ve since found that you can buy dog specific non toxic bubbles in beef flavour for your dogs…who knew?!

Frisbees

If you’ve got tennis ball lovers on your books and they’re fit and healthy, why not try a frisbee for a change?

They’re far less effort to throw, travel further and you can get squishy frisbees which will take up less space in your bag or pocket than a tennis ball would.

Hide and seek

You

If you’re in a private, secure field then playing hide and seek with the dogs is a great bonding exercise.

Just wait until they’ve gone ahead of you (or throw a ball up ahead to distract their attention), then dive to the side behind a tree or bush and wait…

Don’t hide for too long in case they start to worry but short little ‘hides’ can teach your pack to keep an eye on you, so it helps with recall and keeping them all together when perhaps you’re not in a private field.

Food/toy

As long as you haven’t got any resource guarders in your group, you can try a little hide and seek with a toy, or some food.

Because you can’t ask them to close their eyes and count to 50 you’ll need to utilise the environment. So throwing a toy into the long grass and encouraging them to go find it should work

Parkour

Or should that be Barkour?

Parkour for dogs, also known as canine parkour, is a training and fitness activity that involves teaching dogs to navigate and overcome obstacles in their environment.

This can include jumping, climbing, crawling, and balancing on various surfaces.

Take a look around you for tree stumps and benches to jump over, crawl under and generally have fun with.

Changing direction/ follow you

Encourage your group (or solo) to follow you by squeaking a toy or encouraging them with your voice, and then change direction and see if they follow.

Next time, let them go ahead and then switch direction and squeak that toy so that they notice and follow.

This is another great exercise in building a bond and making sure they keep their eye on you on walks.

Follow your dogs

I’m a big fan of this one in forest type environments.

We humans tend to follow others and stick to paths or tracks when we walk, whereas our dogs love to go off piste exploring. So why not follow them?

If they happen to run up a bank at the side of a path, follow them. Go a little off road from time to time, you’ll both enjoy the walk more, I promise.

What if your group walk doesn’t seem to engage?

If your dogs are reluctant to try new activities or seem uninterested in enrichment during walks, it’s essential to proceed with patience and respect for their comfort levels. Here are a few suggestions to help encourage your dog to engage in enrichment activities:

1. Start Slowly: Introduce new activities gradually and in a positive manner. Begin with small changes or easy challenges that your dog can easily accomplish. For example, you can start by hiding treats in plain sight along the walk path, gradually progressing to more challenging hiding spots.
2. Use High-Value Rewards: Find treats or toys that your dog finds particularly enticing. Using high-value rewards can help motivate your dogs to participate in enrichment activities. Reward them generously when they show interest or engage in the desired behavior.
3. Use Positive Reinforcement: Praise and reward your dogs when they show any interest in the new activities, even if it’s just a small step forward. Positive reinforcement can help create positive associations and encourage your dog to try new things.
4. Be Patient and Consistent: Some dogs may take time to warm up to new experiences. Be patient and persistent in your efforts. Keep offering new activities and gradually increase the level of difficulty or novelty over time. Consistency and repetition can help your dog become more comfortable and willing to participate.

Remember, not all dogs will be enthusiastic about every activity, and it’s important to respect their individual preferences and comfort levels. It’s perfectly okay to modify or explore different activities until you find what resonates with your dogs and makes the walk more enjoyable for all of you.