When we train our dogs as puppies, it's quite often we train the usual 'sit' 'stay' 'down' type commands, but have you thought of helping your pup learn settle and be calm?
One of the first things I started to teach Hazel was how to settle, I did this with a mixture of things.
This can be applied to dogs of any age but lets use 8 week old Hazel as an example.
Alongside the usual routine of a puppy, I introduced her to the snuffle bowl from day 1, usually for her lunchtime and dinner time meals.
With the snuffle bowl adding mental enrichment and some additional physical movement, this set her up greatly to feel content and calm after her meals, which set her up for success with choosing to settle, at which point I would reward her for the positive settling behavior she made a choice to do, simply with a little treat.
Snuffling/foraging for food is part of a dogs natural instinct, so adding a snuffle bowl to meal times can fulfill the foraging instinct as well as providing a stress reducing and fun activity!
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