Animal Talk – July 2019

activities

PETTA LK

F

etch seems to be the most natural game to play with your dog

• a game that only requires a ball or a toy. It is an easy game
  that provides great exercise for you both. Ensure that the ball is big
  enough so that Fido won’t swallow it in his excitement.
  Less energetic people get the chance to become more active
  while Fido gets a good workout. Even older dogs can play a game of
  fetch as they need exercise too while having fun. It is also a fun way
  to teach your dog commands like ‘fetch’ and ‘give’.
  STEP 1 – Introduce the ball or toy to your pet in the garden. Most
  pets instinctively know that they should retrieve the ball if you start
  throwing it. You might have to coax him and run after the ball a few
  times to show him what to do.
  STEP 2 – Once he retrieves the ball, call him to bring it back to
  the spot where you are standing. Encourage him to ‘drop’ the ball –
  you can swop it for a treat or even another ball. Every time that he
  brings the ball back to you and drops it, praise and reward him. This
  makes the game more fun!
  You can play this game outdoors or indoors provided that the room
  is uncluttered. Puppies and children can play the game.
  Small animal veterinarian

Fetch, Fido

How can I teach my dog to play fetch?

T

he good news is that any dog who is physically healthy can

start agility training – even puppies of four months and

older – as the initial training does not involve strenuous physical

exercise. It is not advisable for puppies or beginner dogs to perform

actual obstacles until they are physically capable, and trained, to

do so.

Agility trainers often start with training called ‘groundwork’,

where the dog performs tasks with all four feet in contact with the

ground – no jumping or negotiating of contact obstacles. Depending

on the age of the dog, this period may be shortened or extended.

A training session is usually kept short, and it may vary

depending on the dog’s age. Stopping while your dog is enjoying

himself, rather than being completely exhausted, means that he will

be keener and more interested the next time training starts.

Rob Hall

Starting agility

At what age can my dog start agility training?

DID YOU HEAR?

Agility trainers sometimes use

a dog’s natural prey drive to

get him to run (drive) forward.