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I lived in a 3-level condo with my border collie mix for a few years - needless to say city living didn't appeal to him, especially when the weather was cold and we couldn't spend all day at the park.
I would play hide-the-Kong with him for hours. I'd put him in a sit/stay or down/stay and go upstairs or downstairs and hide the Kong from him. When I had it hidden I'd tell him "OK" and he'd go find it.
I'd hide it in shoes, in the arms of clothes (don't pick your nice work shoes/clothes), on the tub ledge, under the bed, in boxes downstairs - the trickier the better.
I've taken to playing ball in the house (I can hear my mom now) on those days I'm too busy for longer walks. I toss a tennis ball down the hall or bounce it off walls from my office and he goes after it and brings it back. One of the benefits of living alone I guess. I can do these things without anyone bitching at me, lol.
Location: Montreal -> CT -> MA -> Montreal -> Ottawa
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I always threaten that one day I'm going to teach Artie how to do the laundry and unload the dishwasher. Both boys in the house (Artie and husband) think I'm nuts. I'm not nuts -- I just want to be lazy.
Fivehorses, I wish you knew the name of that book. I'd love to get ahold of a copy.
Ask and ye shall receive my friend.
The one I'm referring to is the first on the list - "Fun Nosework for Dogs" by Roy Hunter. I'm given to understand that some of the others are for more group based working environments. "Fun Nosework" is definitely for 1-on-1.
Hello, I have a working dog breed that needs a job. But I am not a farmer or rancher. As a 9-5er, what kind of simple jobs can we give him to fulfill that purpose?
I have heard that giving the dog a water bottle to carry while we are doing outdoor chores on the weekends is one idea. Any others?
Thanks!
My husband and I have owned American Pit Bull Terriers for several years. APBTs are also a working breed, not to mention they are very high energy. We learned that several walks a day with the dogs wearing doggy backpacks (with water bottles or something like that is in pockets for some extra weight), is great! I'd suggest, if you can, getting up 30-45 minutes earlier and taking your dog for a walk (with a doggy backpack) before work. Then, also walking him (with the doggy backpack) when you get home from work and/or a couple hours before bed. But, I'd also make at least 1 of the afternoon walks (if you choose to do 2), longer. Maybe 45-60 minutes. Another thing that we have done that we would highly recommend is making your dog stay next to or behind you on a walk. That helps your dog to know that you are the "pack leader" and remember to respect you. The way we did that was we would make our dogs stay right next to us, or behind us if that's where they wanted to walk. And for the 1st half of the walk we just walked. No sniffing, marking, etc. The 2nd half of the walk is when they get to sniff around, mark things, etc, but they earn that by being good in the beginning. However, even when they get to do their own thing, they still have to be respectful and do things by your rules.
Another things that we found out that helps a lot is to work on training for a while each day. Or at least a few times a week. You don't necessarily have to teach him anything new if you don't want/need to, though that would be good, but just having him do something to earn something is very good. Also, the fact that he gets to spend that quality time with you, doing things to please you while at the same time getting a treat or something for himself, is great! Along with the daily walks, if you could just take 15 minutes out of every day (or, like I said, at least a few times a week) and have him sit, stay, lay down, roll over, do some tricks, etc, etc, etc, I think he would really enjoy that.
The walks help get some energy out, and are good for socialization (they get to see, smell and hear new things), and with the backpack, it helps the dog to feel like they are working. Then the training is good for training, obviously , and it is a good way to spend some quality time with your dog and have him "work" to earn something.
I think it's great that you are thinking about the fact that you own a working type breed, and you are trying to help him fulfill his need to work. Too many people that own working type breeds, or even just high energy breeds, don't even try to figure out ways to help their dog get energy out and feel like they are working. And, as I'm sure you know, dogs like that need that, if they don't get the exercise and everything they need, that's when behavioral problems can start to develop. Anyway, so again, I think you are doing a great thing for your dog. Good luck!
I have an aussie and I've taught him to fetch me things I drop, grab the remote off the coffee table, find my keys, etc. etc. He is very oral, always has something in his mouth so it wasn't hard to teach him that bringing me those things will get him praise and reward.
Now I am always being brought various items. I even have a little basket by my computer desk to hold all the random stuff he brings. It keeps him busy when I'm not able to interact with him, and it's very useful if I don't want to get up and grab the remote!
I always threaten that one day I'm going to teach Artie how to do the laundry and unload the dishwasher. Both boys in the house (Artie and husband) think I'm nuts. I'm not nuts -- I just want to be lazy.
Hey, let me know if Artie can separate whites from coloreds, and I'll promptly send my loads up to ya! We all know that men, canine or otherwise, are color blind and mix black socks with white undies!
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I'd love to get ahold of a copy.
, and it is a good way to spend some quality time with your dog and have him "work" to earn something.
Too many people that own working type breeds, or even just high energy breeds, don't even try to figure out ways to help their dog get energy out and feel like they are working. And, as I'm sure you know, dogs like that need that, if they don't get the exercise and everything they need, that's when behavioral problems can start to develop. 
Anyway, so again, I think you are doing a great thing for your dog. Good luck! 
